ADA: Dermatologists Need to Lead on Climate Health
Key Takeaways
The American Dermatological Association (ADA) frames climate change as a pressing dermatologic and public health issue and urges leadership from within the specialty.
Recommendations include carbon reductions in dermatology practice, expanded climate-health education, and new ICD codes for tracking skin disease linked to environmental exposures.
The American Dermatological Association (ADA) has issued its first comprehensive policy statement on climate change, publishing the document in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology.
The statement authors framed the climate change issue as a growing public health threat with direct consequences for skin health, dermatology practice, and health equity.
"The skin functions as the primary interface with our environment, and many dermatologic processes and diseases are climate sensitive," the authors wrote in the policy statement. "Dermatologists, themselves, live and practice in this rapidly changing environment. As such, climate impacts and government-level responses have direct impacts on dermatologists, their patients, and the practice of dermatology. Therefore, it is critical that the field has a “voice at the table,” advocating on dermatology-specific issues."
In the document, the ADA calls for immediate action to decarbonize dermatology practice, with recommendations for conducting baseline emissions assessments, promoting teledermatology, partnering with industry to reduce supply chain waste, and incorporating climate sustainability into medical education and residency interviews. The policy also emphasizes a need for expanded research and data collection, including the development of ICD codes for climate-related skin conditions and patient vulnerability tracking.
"Beyond the moral imperative to address climate-induced health hazards and disparities, dermatology must stay vigilant to the mounting practice pressures in the face of growing climate impacts," the document said. "Opportunities exist to educate dermatologists, reduce their professional carbon footprint, advocate for patients, improve the care of the populations dermatologists serve, and enhance dermatology’s climate readiness."
Source: Parker ER, Rosenbach M, Davis MDP. J Invest Dermatol. 2025;145(6):1251–1256. doi:10.1016/j.jid.2024.12.015