{"id":1504,"date":"2008-12-12T04:00:45","date_gmt":"2008-12-12T08:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/smarttan.com\/blog\/index.php\/todays-headline-story-dr-bernard-ackerman-prominent-dermatologist-who-challenged-his-peers-about-melanoma-dies-at-72\/"},"modified":"2008-12-12T04:00:45","modified_gmt":"2008-12-12T08:00:45","slug":"todays-headline-story-dr-bernard-ackerman-prominent-dermatologist-who-challenged-his-peers-about-melanoma-dies-at-72","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/todays-headline-story-dr-bernard-ackerman-prominent-dermatologist-who-challenged-his-peers-about-melanoma-dies-at-72\/","title":{"rendered":"TODAY’S HEADLINE STORY: Dr. Bernard Ackerman, prominent dermatologist who challenged his peers about melanoma, dies at 72."},"content":{"rendered":"

Dr. Bernard Ackerman \u2014 a pioneer in the field of pathology for dermatologists who was himself an avid suntanner and believed strongly that UV light exposure is not related to melanoma incidence \u2014 died of heart failure at the age of 72, The New York Times reported Thursday.<\/p>\n

\"2008-12-12-ackerman-copy.jpg\"<\/a>According to the Times, “He often argued for unpopular positions. Recently he expressed strong skepticism that exposure to sunlight causes melanoma, saying the case was not proved. He also lamented what he saw as a trend toward overtreatment of benign skin conditions.”<\/p>\n

The Times quoted Ackerman from a 2005 interview in which he stated, “There has been a mania for taking off these moles that are of no consequence. We\u2019re talking about billions and billions of dollars being spent, based on hype.\u201d<\/p>\n

Earlier this year Ackerman released the second edition of his book exploring the history of dermatology’s mistakes in proclaiming a UV-melanoma connection \u2014 a book in which he enthusiastically proclaimed that the International Smart Tan Network\u2019s position on moderate UV exposure and sunburn prevention is more justified than positions taken by the Skin Cancer Foundation, the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Cancer Society.<\/p>\n

Regarding Smart Tan\u2019s Position \u2014 which he quoted extensively in his book, \u201cThe Sun and the \u2018Epidemic\u2019 of Melanoma: Myth on Myth\u201d \u2014 Ackerman said plainly, \u201cThey Got It!\u201d<\/p>\n

Ackerman, who has more than 700 published papers and studies to his name in a career that dates back to 1962, founded the International Society of Dermatopathology and is founder and director emeritus of the Ackerman Academy of Dermatopathology, training pathology students on dermatology related work. He was an advocate of evidence-based medicine and has been highly critical of the dermatology industry\u2019s over-blown, unsupported allegations that any and all sun exposure should be avoided.<\/p>\n

He believes Smart Tan has done a better job advocating the whole truth about melanoma than the Skin Cancer Foundation, the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Cancer Society. \u201cParadoxically, business sometimes is more academic than academe,\u201d Ackerman said, citing this portion of Smart Tan\u2019s Position:<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat About melanoma skin cancer? Melanoma is the only form of skin cancer that is aggressive with any regularity. But you need to understand this clearly: Melanoma skin cancer does not fit the mold of other skin cancers for the following reasons:<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n

\u2022 Melanoma is more common in people who work indoors than in those who work outdoors.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u2022 Melanoma most commonly appears on parts of the body that do not receive regular exposure to sunlight.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u2022 Heredity, fair skin, an abnormally high number of moles on one\u2019s body (above 40) and a history of repeated childhood sunburns have all been implicated as potential risk factors for this disease. But because people who receive regular exposure to sunlight get fewer melanomas, blanket statements that ultraviolet light causes melanoma cannot be made. Indeed, some studies have found that an individual\u2019s susceptibility to sunburn, and not the actual sunburn incidence itself, is the risk factor. Further, most studies on indoor tanning have not shown a statistically significant connection between commercial use of tanning equipment and an increased risk of melanoma.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

That is important, considering that most of the studies did not account for confounding variables such as outdoor exposure to sunlight, childhood sunburns, type of tanning equipment utilized and duration and quantity of exposures. (What\u2019s more, European studies on this topic do not account for regulations in place in the United States governing maximum exposure times for people of all skin types.)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

So the professional indoor tanning industry is doing its part to help individuals of all skin types minimize their risks by teaching them how to avoid sunburn at all costs. We are promoting smart, moderate tanning for those individuals who can promote a tan.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Of Smart Tan\u2019s position Ackerman wrote, \u201cThey got it! But the Skin Cancer Foundation, like the American Cancer Society and the American Academy of Dermatology, does not get it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ackerman slammed those groups for taking money from sunscreen manufacturers in exchange for their endorsement of those manufacturers\u2019 products \u2014 a relationship he believed compromises dermatology\u2019s academic integrity.<\/p>\n

To read The New York Times full story on Ackerman click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dr. Bernard Ackerman \u2014 a pioneer in the field of pathology for dermatologists who was himself an avid suntanner and believed strongly that UV light exposure is not related to melanoma incidence \u2014 died of heart failure at the age of 72, The New York Times reported Thursday.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1504","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\nTODAY'S HEADLINE STORY: Dr. Bernard Ackerman, prominent dermatologist who challenged his peers about melanoma, dies at 72. - Smart Tan News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Dr. Bernard Ackerman \u2014 a pioneer in the field of pathology for dermatologists who was himself an avid suntanner and believed strongly that UV light exposure is not related to melanoma incidence \u2014 died of heart failure at the age of 72, The New York Times reported Thursday. According to the Times, "He often argued for unpopular positions. Recently he expressed strong skepticism that exposure to sunlight causes melanoma, saying the case was not proved. He also lamented what he saw as a trend toward overtreatment of benign skin conditions." The Times quoted Ackerman from a 2005 interview in which he stated, "There has been a mania for taking off these moles that are of no consequence. We\u2019re talking about billions and billions of dollars being spent, based on hype.\u201d Earlier this year Ackerman released the second edition of his book exploring the history of dermatology's mistakes in proclaiming a UV-melanoma connection \u2014 a book in which he enthusiastically proclaimed that the International Smart Tan Network\u2019s position on moderate UV exposure and sunburn prevention is more justified than positions taken by the Skin Cancer Foundation, the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Cancer Society. Regarding Smart Tan\u2019s Position \u2014 which he quoted extensively in his book, \u201cThe Sun and the \u2018Epidemic\u2019 of Melanoma: Myth on Myth\u201d \u2014 Ackerman said plainly, \u201cThey Got It!\u201d Ackerman, who has more than 700 published papers and studies to his name in a career that dates back to 1962, founded the International Society of Dermatopathology and is founder and director emeritus of the Ackerman Academy of Dermatopathology, training pathology students on dermatology related work. He was an advocate of evidence-based medicine and has been highly critical of the dermatology industry\u2019s over-blown, unsupported allegations that any and all sun exposure should be avoided. He believes Smart Tan has done a better job advocating the whole truth about melanoma than the Skin Cancer Foundation, the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Cancer Society. \u201cParadoxically, business sometimes is more academic than academe,\u201d Ackerman said, citing this portion of Smart Tan\u2019s Position: \u201cWhat About melanoma skin cancer? Melanoma is the only form of skin cancer that is aggressive with any regularity. But you need to understand this clearly: Melanoma skin cancer does not fit the mold of other skin cancers for the following reasons: \u2022 Melanoma is more common in people who work indoors than in those who work outdoors. \u2022 Melanoma most commonly appears on parts of the body that do not receive regular exposure to sunlight. \u2022 Heredity, fair skin, an abnormally high number of moles on one\u2019s body (above 40) and a history of repeated childhood sunburns have all been implicated as potential risk factors for this disease. But because people who receive regular exposure to sunlight get fewer melanomas, blanket statements that ultraviolet light causes melanoma cannot be made. Indeed, some studies have found that an individual\u2019s susceptibility to sunburn, and not the actual sunburn incidence itself, is the risk factor. Further, most studies on indoor tanning have not shown a statistically significant connection between commercial use of tanning equipment and an increased risk of melanoma. That is important, considering that most of the studies did not account for confounding variables such as outdoor exposure to sunlight, childhood sunburns, type of tanning equipment utilized and duration and quantity of exposures. (What\u2019s more, European studies on this topic do not account for regulations in place in the United States governing maximum exposure times for people of all skin types.) So the professional indoor tanning industry is doing its part to help individuals of all skin types minimize their risks by teaching them how to avoid sunburn at all costs. We are promoting smart, moderate tanning for those individuals who can promote a tan.\u201d Of Smart Tan\u2019s position Ackerman wrote, \u201cThey got it! But the Skin Cancer Foundation, like the American Cancer Society and the American Academy of Dermatology, does not get it.\u201d Ackerman slammed those groups for taking money from sunscreen manufacturers in exchange for their endorsement of those manufacturers\u2019 products \u2014 a relationship he believed compromises dermatology\u2019s academic integrity. To read The New York Times full story on Ackerman click here.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/todays-headline-story-dr-bernard-ackerman-prominent-dermatologist-who-challenged-his-peers-about-melanoma-dies-at-72\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"TODAY'S HEADLINE STORY: Dr. Bernard Ackerman, prominent dermatologist who challenged his peers about melanoma, dies at 72. - Smart Tan News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Dr. Bernard Ackerman \u2014 a pioneer in the field of pathology for dermatologists who was himself an avid suntanner and believed strongly that UV light exposure is not related to melanoma incidence \u2014 died of heart failure at the age of 72, The New York Times reported Thursday. According to the Times, "He often argued for unpopular positions. Recently he expressed strong skepticism that exposure to sunlight causes melanoma, saying the case was not proved. He also lamented what he saw as a trend toward overtreatment of benign skin conditions." The Times quoted Ackerman from a 2005 interview in which he stated, "There has been a mania for taking off these moles that are of no consequence. We\u2019re talking about billions and billions of dollars being spent, based on hype.\u201d Earlier this year Ackerman released the second edition of his book exploring the history of dermatology's mistakes in proclaiming a UV-melanoma connection \u2014 a book in which he enthusiastically proclaimed that the International Smart Tan Network\u2019s position on moderate UV exposure and sunburn prevention is more justified than positions taken by the Skin Cancer Foundation, the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Cancer Society. Regarding Smart Tan\u2019s Position \u2014 which he quoted extensively in his book, \u201cThe Sun and the \u2018Epidemic\u2019 of Melanoma: Myth on Myth\u201d \u2014 Ackerman said plainly, \u201cThey Got It!\u201d Ackerman, who has more than 700 published papers and studies to his name in a career that dates back to 1962, founded the International Society of Dermatopathology and is founder and director emeritus of the Ackerman Academy of Dermatopathology, training pathology students on dermatology related work. He was an advocate of evidence-based medicine and has been highly critical of the dermatology industry\u2019s over-blown, unsupported allegations that any and all sun exposure should be avoided. He believes Smart Tan has done a better job advocating the whole truth about melanoma than the Skin Cancer Foundation, the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Cancer Society. \u201cParadoxically, business sometimes is more academic than academe,\u201d Ackerman said, citing this portion of Smart Tan\u2019s Position: \u201cWhat About melanoma skin cancer? Melanoma is the only form of skin cancer that is aggressive with any regularity. But you need to understand this clearly: Melanoma skin cancer does not fit the mold of other skin cancers for the following reasons: \u2022 Melanoma is more common in people who work indoors than in those who work outdoors. \u2022 Melanoma most commonly appears on parts of the body that do not receive regular exposure to sunlight. \u2022 Heredity, fair skin, an abnormally high number of moles on one\u2019s body (above 40) and a history of repeated childhood sunburns have all been implicated as potential risk factors for this disease. But because people who receive regular exposure to sunlight get fewer melanomas, blanket statements that ultraviolet light causes melanoma cannot be made. Indeed, some studies have found that an individual\u2019s susceptibility to sunburn, and not the actual sunburn incidence itself, is the risk factor. Further, most studies on indoor tanning have not shown a statistically significant connection between commercial use of tanning equipment and an increased risk of melanoma. That is important, considering that most of the studies did not account for confounding variables such as outdoor exposure to sunlight, childhood sunburns, type of tanning equipment utilized and duration and quantity of exposures. (What\u2019s more, European studies on this topic do not account for regulations in place in the United States governing maximum exposure times for people of all skin types.) So the professional indoor tanning industry is doing its part to help individuals of all skin types minimize their risks by teaching them how to avoid sunburn at all costs. We are promoting smart, moderate tanning for those individuals who can promote a tan.\u201d Of Smart Tan\u2019s position Ackerman wrote, \u201cThey got it! But the Skin Cancer Foundation, like the American Cancer Society and the American Academy of Dermatology, does not get it.\u201d Ackerman slammed those groups for taking money from sunscreen manufacturers in exchange for their endorsement of those manufacturers\u2019 products \u2014 a relationship he believed compromises dermatology\u2019s academic integrity. To read The New York Times full story on Ackerman click here.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/todays-headline-story-dr-bernard-ackerman-prominent-dermatologist-who-challenged-his-peers-about-melanoma-dies-at-72\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Smart Tan News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SmartTan\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2008-12-12T08:00:45+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/smarttan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/12\/2008-12-12-ackerman-copy.thumbnail.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"smarttan\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@SmartTan\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@SmartTan\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"smarttan\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/todays-headline-story-dr-bernard-ackerman-prominent-dermatologist-who-challenged-his-peers-about-melanoma-dies-at-72\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/todays-headline-story-dr-bernard-ackerman-prominent-dermatologist-who-challenged-his-peers-about-melanoma-dies-at-72\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"smarttan\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/#\/schema\/person\/4191f4b1131c0a37b4fd39f876771e7b\"},\"headline\":\"TODAY’S HEADLINE STORY: Dr. Bernard Ackerman, prominent dermatologist who challenged his peers about melanoma, dies at 72.\",\"datePublished\":\"2008-12-12T08:00:45+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/todays-headline-story-dr-bernard-ackerman-prominent-dermatologist-who-challenged-his-peers-about-melanoma-dies-at-72\/\"},\"wordCount\":710,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/todays-headline-story-dr-bernard-ackerman-prominent-dermatologist-who-challenged-his-peers-about-melanoma-dies-at-72\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/smarttan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/12\/2008-12-12-ackerman-copy.thumbnail.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"News\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/todays-headline-story-dr-bernard-ackerman-prominent-dermatologist-who-challenged-his-peers-about-melanoma-dies-at-72\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/todays-headline-story-dr-bernard-ackerman-prominent-dermatologist-who-challenged-his-peers-about-melanoma-dies-at-72\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/todays-headline-story-dr-bernard-ackerman-prominent-dermatologist-who-challenged-his-peers-about-melanoma-dies-at-72\/\",\"name\":\"TODAY'S HEADLINE STORY: Dr. Bernard Ackerman, prominent dermatologist who challenged his peers about melanoma, dies at 72. - Smart Tan News\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/todays-headline-story-dr-bernard-ackerman-prominent-dermatologist-who-challenged-his-peers-about-melanoma-dies-at-72\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/todays-headline-story-dr-bernard-ackerman-prominent-dermatologist-who-challenged-his-peers-about-melanoma-dies-at-72\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/smarttan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/12\/2008-12-12-ackerman-copy.thumbnail.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2008-12-12T08:00:45+00:00\",\"description\":\"Dr. Bernard Ackerman \u2014 a pioneer in the field of pathology for dermatologists who was himself an avid suntanner and believed strongly that UV light exposure is not related to melanoma incidence \u2014 died of heart failure at the age of 72, The New York Times reported Thursday. According to the Times, \\\"He often argued for unpopular positions. Recently he expressed strong skepticism that exposure to sunlight causes melanoma, saying the case was not proved. He also lamented what he saw as a trend toward overtreatment of benign skin conditions.\\\" The Times quoted Ackerman from a 2005 interview in which he stated, \\\"There has been a mania for taking off these moles that are of no consequence. We\u2019re talking about billions and billions of dollars being spent, based on hype.\u201d Earlier this year Ackerman released the second edition of his book exploring the history of dermatology's mistakes in proclaiming a UV-melanoma connection \u2014 a book in which he enthusiastically proclaimed that the International Smart Tan Network\u2019s position on moderate UV exposure and sunburn prevention is more justified than positions taken by the Skin Cancer Foundation, the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Cancer Society. Regarding Smart Tan\u2019s Position \u2014 which he quoted extensively in his book, \u201cThe Sun and the \u2018Epidemic\u2019 of Melanoma: Myth on Myth\u201d \u2014 Ackerman said plainly, \u201cThey Got It!\u201d Ackerman, who has more than 700 published papers and studies to his name in a career that dates back to 1962, founded the International Society of Dermatopathology and is founder and director emeritus of the Ackerman Academy of Dermatopathology, training pathology students on dermatology related work. He was an advocate of evidence-based medicine and has been highly critical of the dermatology industry\u2019s over-blown, unsupported allegations that any and all sun exposure should be avoided. He believes Smart Tan has done a better job advocating the whole truth about melanoma than the Skin Cancer Foundation, the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Cancer Society. \u201cParadoxically, business sometimes is more academic than academe,\u201d Ackerman said, citing this portion of Smart Tan\u2019s Position: \u201cWhat About melanoma skin cancer? Melanoma is the only form of skin cancer that is aggressive with any regularity. But you need to understand this clearly: Melanoma skin cancer does not fit the mold of other skin cancers for the following reasons: \u2022 Melanoma is more common in people who work indoors than in those who work outdoors. \u2022 Melanoma most commonly appears on parts of the body that do not receive regular exposure to sunlight. \u2022 Heredity, fair skin, an abnormally high number of moles on one\u2019s body (above 40) and a history of repeated childhood sunburns have all been implicated as potential risk factors for this disease. But because people who receive regular exposure to sunlight get fewer melanomas, blanket statements that ultraviolet light causes melanoma cannot be made. Indeed, some studies have found that an individual\u2019s susceptibility to sunburn, and not the actual sunburn incidence itself, is the risk factor. Further, most studies on indoor tanning have not shown a statistically significant connection between commercial use of tanning equipment and an increased risk of melanoma. That is important, considering that most of the studies did not account for confounding variables such as outdoor exposure to sunlight, childhood sunburns, type of tanning equipment utilized and duration and quantity of exposures. (What\u2019s more, European studies on this topic do not account for regulations in place in the United States governing maximum exposure times for people of all skin types.) So the professional indoor tanning industry is doing its part to help individuals of all skin types minimize their risks by teaching them how to avoid sunburn at all costs. We are promoting smart, moderate tanning for those individuals who can promote a tan.\u201d Of Smart Tan\u2019s position Ackerman wrote, \u201cThey got it! But the Skin Cancer Foundation, like the American Cancer Society and the American Academy of Dermatology, does not get it.\u201d Ackerman slammed those groups for taking money from sunscreen manufacturers in exchange for their endorsement of those manufacturers\u2019 products \u2014 a relationship he believed compromises dermatology\u2019s academic integrity. 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According to the Times, \"He often argued for unpopular positions. Recently he expressed strong skepticism that exposure to sunlight causes melanoma, saying the case was not proved. He also lamented what he saw as a trend toward overtreatment of benign skin conditions.\" The Times quoted Ackerman from a 2005 interview in which he stated, \"There has been a mania for taking off these moles that are of no consequence. We\u2019re talking about billions and billions of dollars being spent, based on hype.\u201d Earlier this year Ackerman released the second edition of his book exploring the history of dermatology's mistakes in proclaiming a UV-melanoma connection \u2014 a book in which he enthusiastically proclaimed that the International Smart Tan Network\u2019s position on moderate UV exposure and sunburn prevention is more justified than positions taken by the Skin Cancer Foundation, the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Cancer Society. Regarding Smart Tan\u2019s Position \u2014 which he quoted extensively in his book, \u201cThe Sun and the \u2018Epidemic\u2019 of Melanoma: Myth on Myth\u201d \u2014 Ackerman said plainly, \u201cThey Got It!\u201d Ackerman, who has more than 700 published papers and studies to his name in a career that dates back to 1962, founded the International Society of Dermatopathology and is founder and director emeritus of the Ackerman Academy of Dermatopathology, training pathology students on dermatology related work. He was an advocate of evidence-based medicine and has been highly critical of the dermatology industry\u2019s over-blown, unsupported allegations that any and all sun exposure should be avoided. He believes Smart Tan has done a better job advocating the whole truth about melanoma than the Skin Cancer Foundation, the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Cancer Society. \u201cParadoxically, business sometimes is more academic than academe,\u201d Ackerman said, citing this portion of Smart Tan\u2019s Position: \u201cWhat About melanoma skin cancer? Melanoma is the only form of skin cancer that is aggressive with any regularity. But you need to understand this clearly: Melanoma skin cancer does not fit the mold of other skin cancers for the following reasons: \u2022 Melanoma is more common in people who work indoors than in those who work outdoors. \u2022 Melanoma most commonly appears on parts of the body that do not receive regular exposure to sunlight. \u2022 Heredity, fair skin, an abnormally high number of moles on one\u2019s body (above 40) and a history of repeated childhood sunburns have all been implicated as potential risk factors for this disease. But because people who receive regular exposure to sunlight get fewer melanomas, blanket statements that ultraviolet light causes melanoma cannot be made. Indeed, some studies have found that an individual\u2019s susceptibility to sunburn, and not the actual sunburn incidence itself, is the risk factor. Further, most studies on indoor tanning have not shown a statistically significant connection between commercial use of tanning equipment and an increased risk of melanoma. That is important, considering that most of the studies did not account for confounding variables such as outdoor exposure to sunlight, childhood sunburns, type of tanning equipment utilized and duration and quantity of exposures. (What\u2019s more, European studies on this topic do not account for regulations in place in the United States governing maximum exposure times for people of all skin types.) So the professional indoor tanning industry is doing its part to help individuals of all skin types minimize their risks by teaching them how to avoid sunburn at all costs. We are promoting smart, moderate tanning for those individuals who can promote a tan.\u201d Of Smart Tan\u2019s position Ackerman wrote, \u201cThey got it! But the Skin Cancer Foundation, like the American Cancer Society and the American Academy of Dermatology, does not get it.\u201d Ackerman slammed those groups for taking money from sunscreen manufacturers in exchange for their endorsement of those manufacturers\u2019 products \u2014 a relationship he believed compromises dermatology\u2019s academic integrity. To read The New York Times full story on Ackerman click here.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/todays-headline-story-dr-bernard-ackerman-prominent-dermatologist-who-challenged-his-peers-about-melanoma-dies-at-72\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"TODAY'S HEADLINE STORY: Dr. Bernard Ackerman, prominent dermatologist who challenged his peers about melanoma, dies at 72. - Smart Tan News","og_description":"Dr. Bernard Ackerman \u2014 a pioneer in the field of pathology for dermatologists who was himself an avid suntanner and believed strongly that UV light exposure is not related to melanoma incidence \u2014 died of heart failure at the age of 72, The New York Times reported Thursday. According to the Times, \"He often argued for unpopular positions. Recently he expressed strong skepticism that exposure to sunlight causes melanoma, saying the case was not proved. He also lamented what he saw as a trend toward overtreatment of benign skin conditions.\" The Times quoted Ackerman from a 2005 interview in which he stated, \"There has been a mania for taking off these moles that are of no consequence. We\u2019re talking about billions and billions of dollars being spent, based on hype.\u201d Earlier this year Ackerman released the second edition of his book exploring the history of dermatology's mistakes in proclaiming a UV-melanoma connection \u2014 a book in which he enthusiastically proclaimed that the International Smart Tan Network\u2019s position on moderate UV exposure and sunburn prevention is more justified than positions taken by the Skin Cancer Foundation, the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Cancer Society. Regarding Smart Tan\u2019s Position \u2014 which he quoted extensively in his book, \u201cThe Sun and the \u2018Epidemic\u2019 of Melanoma: Myth on Myth\u201d \u2014 Ackerman said plainly, \u201cThey Got It!\u201d Ackerman, who has more than 700 published papers and studies to his name in a career that dates back to 1962, founded the International Society of Dermatopathology and is founder and director emeritus of the Ackerman Academy of Dermatopathology, training pathology students on dermatology related work. He was an advocate of evidence-based medicine and has been highly critical of the dermatology industry\u2019s over-blown, unsupported allegations that any and all sun exposure should be avoided. He believes Smart Tan has done a better job advocating the whole truth about melanoma than the Skin Cancer Foundation, the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Cancer Society. \u201cParadoxically, business sometimes is more academic than academe,\u201d Ackerman said, citing this portion of Smart Tan\u2019s Position: \u201cWhat About melanoma skin cancer? Melanoma is the only form of skin cancer that is aggressive with any regularity. But you need to understand this clearly: Melanoma skin cancer does not fit the mold of other skin cancers for the following reasons: \u2022 Melanoma is more common in people who work indoors than in those who work outdoors. \u2022 Melanoma most commonly appears on parts of the body that do not receive regular exposure to sunlight. \u2022 Heredity, fair skin, an abnormally high number of moles on one\u2019s body (above 40) and a history of repeated childhood sunburns have all been implicated as potential risk factors for this disease. But because people who receive regular exposure to sunlight get fewer melanomas, blanket statements that ultraviolet light causes melanoma cannot be made. Indeed, some studies have found that an individual\u2019s susceptibility to sunburn, and not the actual sunburn incidence itself, is the risk factor. Further, most studies on indoor tanning have not shown a statistically significant connection between commercial use of tanning equipment and an increased risk of melanoma. That is important, considering that most of the studies did not account for confounding variables such as outdoor exposure to sunlight, childhood sunburns, type of tanning equipment utilized and duration and quantity of exposures. (What\u2019s more, European studies on this topic do not account for regulations in place in the United States governing maximum exposure times for people of all skin types.) So the professional indoor tanning industry is doing its part to help individuals of all skin types minimize their risks by teaching them how to avoid sunburn at all costs. We are promoting smart, moderate tanning for those individuals who can promote a tan.\u201d Of Smart Tan\u2019s position Ackerman wrote, \u201cThey got it! But the Skin Cancer Foundation, like the American Cancer Society and the American Academy of Dermatology, does not get it.\u201d Ackerman slammed those groups for taking money from sunscreen manufacturers in exchange for their endorsement of those manufacturers\u2019 products \u2014 a relationship he believed compromises dermatology\u2019s academic integrity. To read The New York Times full story on Ackerman click here.","og_url":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/todays-headline-story-dr-bernard-ackerman-prominent-dermatologist-who-challenged-his-peers-about-melanoma-dies-at-72\/","og_site_name":"Smart Tan News","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SmartTan","article_published_time":"2008-12-12T08:00:45+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"https:\/\/smarttan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/12\/2008-12-12-ackerman-copy.thumbnail.jpg","type":"","width":"","height":""}],"author":"smarttan","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@SmartTan","twitter_site":"@SmartTan","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"smarttan","Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/todays-headline-story-dr-bernard-ackerman-prominent-dermatologist-who-challenged-his-peers-about-melanoma-dies-at-72\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/todays-headline-story-dr-bernard-ackerman-prominent-dermatologist-who-challenged-his-peers-about-melanoma-dies-at-72\/"},"author":{"name":"smarttan","@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/#\/schema\/person\/4191f4b1131c0a37b4fd39f876771e7b"},"headline":"TODAY’S HEADLINE STORY: Dr. Bernard Ackerman, prominent dermatologist who challenged his peers about melanoma, dies at 72.","datePublished":"2008-12-12T08:00:45+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/todays-headline-story-dr-bernard-ackerman-prominent-dermatologist-who-challenged-his-peers-about-melanoma-dies-at-72\/"},"wordCount":710,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/todays-headline-story-dr-bernard-ackerman-prominent-dermatologist-who-challenged-his-peers-about-melanoma-dies-at-72\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/smarttan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/12\/2008-12-12-ackerman-copy.thumbnail.jpg","articleSection":["News"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/todays-headline-story-dr-bernard-ackerman-prominent-dermatologist-who-challenged-his-peers-about-melanoma-dies-at-72\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/todays-headline-story-dr-bernard-ackerman-prominent-dermatologist-who-challenged-his-peers-about-melanoma-dies-at-72\/","url":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/todays-headline-story-dr-bernard-ackerman-prominent-dermatologist-who-challenged-his-peers-about-melanoma-dies-at-72\/","name":"TODAY'S HEADLINE STORY: Dr. Bernard Ackerman, prominent dermatologist who challenged his peers about melanoma, dies at 72. - Smart Tan News","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/todays-headline-story-dr-bernard-ackerman-prominent-dermatologist-who-challenged-his-peers-about-melanoma-dies-at-72\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/todays-headline-story-dr-bernard-ackerman-prominent-dermatologist-who-challenged-his-peers-about-melanoma-dies-at-72\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/smarttan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/12\/2008-12-12-ackerman-copy.thumbnail.jpg","datePublished":"2008-12-12T08:00:45+00:00","description":"Dr. Bernard Ackerman \u2014 a pioneer in the field of pathology for dermatologists who was himself an avid suntanner and believed strongly that UV light exposure is not related to melanoma incidence \u2014 died of heart failure at the age of 72, The New York Times reported Thursday. According to the Times, \"He often argued for unpopular positions. Recently he expressed strong skepticism that exposure to sunlight causes melanoma, saying the case was not proved. He also lamented what he saw as a trend toward overtreatment of benign skin conditions.\" The Times quoted Ackerman from a 2005 interview in which he stated, \"There has been a mania for taking off these moles that are of no consequence. We\u2019re talking about billions and billions of dollars being spent, based on hype.\u201d Earlier this year Ackerman released the second edition of his book exploring the history of dermatology's mistakes in proclaiming a UV-melanoma connection \u2014 a book in which he enthusiastically proclaimed that the International Smart Tan Network\u2019s position on moderate UV exposure and sunburn prevention is more justified than positions taken by the Skin Cancer Foundation, the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Cancer Society. Regarding Smart Tan\u2019s Position \u2014 which he quoted extensively in his book, \u201cThe Sun and the \u2018Epidemic\u2019 of Melanoma: Myth on Myth\u201d \u2014 Ackerman said plainly, \u201cThey Got It!\u201d Ackerman, who has more than 700 published papers and studies to his name in a career that dates back to 1962, founded the International Society of Dermatopathology and is founder and director emeritus of the Ackerman Academy of Dermatopathology, training pathology students on dermatology related work. He was an advocate of evidence-based medicine and has been highly critical of the dermatology industry\u2019s over-blown, unsupported allegations that any and all sun exposure should be avoided. He believes Smart Tan has done a better job advocating the whole truth about melanoma than the Skin Cancer Foundation, the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Cancer Society. \u201cParadoxically, business sometimes is more academic than academe,\u201d Ackerman said, citing this portion of Smart Tan\u2019s Position: \u201cWhat About melanoma skin cancer? Melanoma is the only form of skin cancer that is aggressive with any regularity. But you need to understand this clearly: Melanoma skin cancer does not fit the mold of other skin cancers for the following reasons: \u2022 Melanoma is more common in people who work indoors than in those who work outdoors. \u2022 Melanoma most commonly appears on parts of the body that do not receive regular exposure to sunlight. \u2022 Heredity, fair skin, an abnormally high number of moles on one\u2019s body (above 40) and a history of repeated childhood sunburns have all been implicated as potential risk factors for this disease. But because people who receive regular exposure to sunlight get fewer melanomas, blanket statements that ultraviolet light causes melanoma cannot be made. Indeed, some studies have found that an individual\u2019s susceptibility to sunburn, and not the actual sunburn incidence itself, is the risk factor. Further, most studies on indoor tanning have not shown a statistically significant connection between commercial use of tanning equipment and an increased risk of melanoma. That is important, considering that most of the studies did not account for confounding variables such as outdoor exposure to sunlight, childhood sunburns, type of tanning equipment utilized and duration and quantity of exposures. (What\u2019s more, European studies on this topic do not account for regulations in place in the United States governing maximum exposure times for people of all skin types.) So the professional indoor tanning industry is doing its part to help individuals of all skin types minimize their risks by teaching them how to avoid sunburn at all costs. We are promoting smart, moderate tanning for those individuals who can promote a tan.\u201d Of Smart Tan\u2019s position Ackerman wrote, \u201cThey got it! But the Skin Cancer Foundation, like the American Cancer Society and the American Academy of Dermatology, does not get it.\u201d Ackerman slammed those groups for taking money from sunscreen manufacturers in exchange for their endorsement of those manufacturers\u2019 products \u2014 a relationship he believed compromises dermatology\u2019s academic integrity. 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