As the world adjusts to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more Americans are making skin care a priority. The continued demand for in-office non-surgical skin treatments has even caused the industry to experience a decrease in surgical procedures in 2022, according to new data from the Aesthetic Society (ASC).
The report found a 23% increase in non-surgical treatments, driven by a preference for infusions, in-office skin treatments, in-office body contouring, and treatments with neurotoxins. Skin treatments alone increased by 24%, putting them ahead of highly sought-after treatment options, such as body contouring.
Skin-care treatments have been on the rise for the past year, but what’s the reason? We wanted to find out, so we reached out to our network of skin-care experts to see if they’d noticed the same trend as the national numbers.
Yes, skin-care treatments have seen an increase in the last year, but it’s partly due to younger patients taking advantage of preventative skin care. Many people start their skin-care routine early in life to maintain healthy skin and avoid age-related worries, which has led to an increase in demand for skin-care treatments.
This interest in younger patients is reflected in all areas of aesthetic treatment and procedures. According to the Aesthetic Society, this year, 17-35-year-olds made up 27% of all aesthetic surgery patients — only slightly lower than the 30% of 35-50-year-olds who made up 30% of all patients.
Fresno, CA dermatology doctor Kathleen Behr has noticed the same increase in interest, with her younger patients often leading the way. “I think the whole concept of pre-aging and preventing aging — preventing wrinkles instead of treating them — has become really popular, especially with younger people,” Behr says. “We start to lose some collagen in the 20s.”
In addition, Dr. Behr points out that there is also an economic factor at play.
“I think another reason why these treatments have skyrocketed is because they’re a bit more affordable than CoolSculpt and EmSculpt,” Dr. Behr says. “We saw a surge right after the pandemic ended, but now things are getting more expensive and we’re in a bit of a recession.”
While skin treatments are often associated with younger people, they can be beneficial for people of any age. Skin treatments can be used for a variety of skin types and concerns, including acne, acne scars, skin tone problems, fine lines and wrinkles, sun damage and hyperpigmentation, and even skin rejuvenation.
The beauty of these skin treatments is that they can be customised to fit your individual skin type.
“The Hydrafacial does three things: it cleanses, extracts impurities and then hydrates with custom ingredients,” Dr. Behr says. “So there are different boosters that can be used. It helps clean out the pores, it helps with acne, redness and wrinkles. There are a lot of different types of boosters. Some are for hydrating, others for discoloration and some for acne, so really all skin types can benefit from this.”
Dr. Marmur, a New York-based dermatologist, says the Hydrafacial also has direct benefits for mature skin. “It’s great for older patients who have sun damage or even have pre-cancer spots (which can be treated as part of more complex treatments),” she says.
However, some patients may not be suitable for this treatment, such as those who have active rashes, rosacea, or other skin conditions. “It’s important to talk to a skin-care specialist or dermatologist about whether these treatments are right for your type and condition,” she says.