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. 2021 Jun 14:14:643-654.
doi: 10.2147/CCID.S309374. eCollection 2021.

Skin Quality - A Holistic 360° View: Consensus Results

Kate Goldie #  1 , Martina Kerscher #  2 , Sabrina Guillen Fabi  3 , Cyro Hirano  4 , Marina Landau  5 , Ting Song Lim  6 , Heather Woolery-Lloyd  7 , Kavita Mariwalla  8 , Je-Young Park  9 , Yana Yutskovskaya  10
Affiliations

Skin Quality - A Holistic 360° View: Consensus Results

Kate Goldie et al. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. .

Abstract

Introduction: Skin quality is an important component of human attractiveness. To date, there are no standardized criteria for good skin quality. To establish a consensus for good skin quality parameters and measurement and treatment options, a virtual skin quality advisory board consisting of a global panel of highly experienced aesthetic dermatologists/aesthetic physicians was convened.

Methods: A total of 10 dermatologists/aesthetic physicians served on the advisory board. A modified version of the Delphi method was used to arrive at consensus. Members accessed an online platform to review statements on skin quality criteria from their peers, including treatment and measurement options, and voted to indicate whether they agreed or disagreed. Statements that did not have agreement were modified and the members voted again. Consensus was defined as: strong consensus = greater than 95% agreement; consensus = 75% to 95% agreement; majority consent = 50% to 75% agreement; no consensus = less than 50% agreement.

Results: There was strong consensus that good skin quality is defined as healthy, youthful in appearance (appearing younger than a person's chronological age), undamaged skin and that skin quality can be described across all ethnicities by four emergent perceptual categories (EPCs): skin tone evenness, skin surface evenness, skin firmness, and skin glow. The EPCs can be affected by multiple tissue layers (ie, skin surface quality can stem from and be impacted by deep structures or tissues). This means that topical approaches may not be sufficient. Instead, improving skin quality EPCs can require a multilayer treatment strategy.

Conclusion: This global advisory board established strong consensus that skin quality can be described by four EPCs, which can help clinicians determine the appropriate treatment option(s) and the tissue or skin layer(s) to address. Skin quality is important to human health and wellbeing and patients' perception for the need for aesthetic treatment.

Keywords: EPCs; aesthetic treatment; consensus; emergent perceptual skin quality categories; skin quality.

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Conflict of interest statement

Dr. Kate Goldie reports personal fees from Merz Aesthetics, during the conduct of the advisory board. Dr. Martina Kerscher reports grants from Merz Pharmaceuticals, served in the advisory board member and speaker bureau for Galderma/Qmed, outside the submitted work. Drs. Martina Kerscher and Kate Goldie served as co-chairs of the advisory board for Merz. Dr. Sabrina Guillen Fabi reports grants for supporting the advisory board from Merz, during the conduct of the study; received grants as speaker’s bureau investigator from Allergan, Galderma, Revance, and Merz, outside the submitted work. Dr. Cyro Hirano reports personal fees from Merz, during the conduct of the study. Dr. Heather Woolery-Lloyd reports personal fees from Merz, during the conduct of the advisory board. The authors report no other conflicts of interest in this work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The four emergent perceptual skin quality categories (EPCs).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Skin firmness parameters, measurement methods, and treatment options.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Skin surface evenness parameters, measurement methods, and treatment options.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Skin tone evenness parameters, measurement methods, and treatment options.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Skin glow measurement methods and treatment options.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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