New framework aims to address inconsistencies in how skin quality is described during aesthetic consultations.
Allergan Aesthetics, an AbbVie company, has introduced a new framework intended to standardize how patients and healthcare providers discuss skin quality.
Research published in Dermatologic Surgery identified inconsistencies in the terminology used by patients and providers to describe skin quality and supports the launch of the Skin Quality Index (SQI). The study found that while patients tend to use similar language among themselves, differences often emerge in conversations with clinicians, which may affect consultations and treatment planning.
The SQI establishes 15 defined terms across four dimensions of skin health, creating a shared vocabulary designed to support clearer communication. The terms were refined during the study’s second phase, which narrowed an initial list of attributes to those most relevant to treatable skin concerns. Final terms include roughness, visible pores, dry skin, dullness, oily skin, skin redness, skin laxity, thin skin, dyschromia, hyperpigmentation, crepey skin, elasticity, fine lines, coarse lines, and firmness.
“The Skin Quality Index is a groundbreaking innovation that represents a paradigm shift in how we approach patient consultations and treatment planning in aesthetics,” says Dr Shannon Humphrey, board-certified dermatologist and primary investigator of the study, in a release. “The data clearly demonstrated the need for a standardized vocabulary. By providing a shared language, the Skin Quality Index empowers patients to articulate their concerns more effectively, enables physicians to better understand and address those concerns, and ultimately will lead to more personalized and successful treatment outcomes.”
Broader Challenges in Terminology
The research also points to broader challenges in how terminology is applied across specialties and patient populations. According to the study, improving consistency in how skin quality is described could help reduce misunderstandings and support more informed decision-making.
“Advancing the science of aesthetic medicine requires a deeper understanding of how patients and providers talk about skin quality,” says Dr Stephanie Manson Brown, vice president, head of clinical development, scientific innovation, and skincare research and development a t Allergan Aesthetics, in a release. “The Skin Quality Index reflects our commitment to deepening that understanding by establishing a shared language that can support more meaningful research, inform innovation, and further the field of aesthetic medicine.”
The research followed a three-phase approach. Investigators first reviewed more than 900 publications spanning over 20 years to analyze how skin quality has been defined in the literature. In the second phase, researchers refined a list of attributes and conducted additional literature review to establish consensus definitions. The final phase included patient focus groups and surveys involving more than 200 providers and over 1,000 patients to assess how terminology is used in real-world settings.
To accompany the launch, Allergan Aesthetics has made available educational resources for patients and providers, including a microsite and an interactive quiz developed in partnership with NewBeauty.
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