New Study by Galderma Shows Consumers Aren’t So ‘Skin Secure’

A new study from Galderma shows consumers are struggling with insecurities tied to their skin.

The results from an extensive skin quality profiling survey shows skin quality concerns are widespread. So much, they’re taking a toll on emotional wellbeing.

Findings show nine out of 10 people globally are affected by skin quality concerns, with each person experiencing an average of two concerns in the past month. The most common concerns are fine lines and wrinkles (41%); dry skin (40%); and dull skin (37%) – most frequently affecting the face. In fact, officials say skin quality impacts quality of life for 85% of people, with more than one in three reporting feelings of self-consciousness, insecurity or anxiety. Officials say these results underscore the need for effective solutions that can be tailored to a wide variety of skin quality concerns.

Skin Quality Goes Beyond Skin Deep

Skin quality refers to how the skin looks, feels and functions on a day-to-day basis, including its hydration, elasticity, smoothness, radiance, firmness and tone. Aging coupled with external factors such as stress, diet, sun exposure, lack of sleep, pollution or medication-driven weight loss can cause the amount and quality of the three main components of the skin – hyaluronic acid, elastin and collagen – to decrease, leading to a deterioration in skin quality. This is often influenced by geography and culture, and can be accelerated at certain life stages, such as during menopause due to hormonal changes. Skin quality deterioration reflects visibly across the skin through a rough or dry texture, an uneven skin tone, or a loss of radiance or firmness.

To gain a detailed understanding of how people perceive skin quality and the concerns that matter most to them, Galderma conducted a survey of more than 11,000 people across 11 countries in four continents: Canada, the US, Brazil, China, Korea, Thailand, India, France, Germany, Italy and the UK. Results showed that skin quality concerns are highly prevalent and important, with nine out of 10 people affected and each person experiencing an average of two concerns within the past month. The main concerns were fine lines and wrinkles, dry skin and dull skin – experienced by 41%, 40% and 37% of people, respectively. Additionally, age spots, oily skin, decreased firmness and enlarged pores emerged as notable concerns. These were found to primarily affect the face, followed by the neck, legs and upper arms, officials said. Conversely, the most important attributes of good skin quality were smooth, hydrated and glowing skin.

“Our skin evolves over time, influenced by both age and external factors,” said Bill Andriopoulos, head of global medical affairs, Galderma. “At Galderma, we don’t believe in one-size-fits-all solutions, we strive to be a trusted partner to people throughout their skin quality journey by offering comprehensive solutions to meet their diverse and evolving needs. This commitment begins with truly understanding these needs, which is why we conducted the world’s most extensive profiling survey to date.”

Officials say skin quality affects more than appearance, influencing emotional wellbeing and shaping how comfortably and confidently people present themselves in their lives. Survey results showed that, for 85% of people, skin quality has an impact on their quality of life, with more than a third feeling self-conscious, insecure or anxious due to poor skin quality. All skin concerns were described as bothersome, with the most bothersome being scarring due to acne, followed by pesky fine lines and wrinkles. This discomfort leads most people to either consider or actively seek ways to address these skin quality concerns, younger consumers, in particular. Roughly 70% of 18-34-year-olds rated skin quality as eight out of 10 in importance, with people most likely to take the first steps to improve the skin quality of their face at the age of 26. Respondents were most satisfied with hyaluronic acid injectables, as treatments for the most common skin quality concerns of lines and wrinkles (86% very satisfied), dry skin (85%) and dull skin (82%).

“What stood out from these survey insights was not just how common skin quality concerns are, but how they can differ based on age, lifestyle and environment,” said Dr. Christoph Martschin, dermatologist. “As clinicians, we see every day how challenging it can be to translate this complexity into meaningful, personalized care. That’s why I was proud to collaborate in the development of the Skin Quality Assessment Scale, an accessible, practical tool to help healthcare professionals and patients work together to create treatment plans that reflect their needs and how these evolve over time.”

Weighing the Need for a Skin Quality Assessment Scale

To support the accurate assessment and treatment of skin quality concerns, Galderma united global dermatology experts to develop the Skin Quality Assessment Scale, one of the first holistic skin quality assessment tools of its kind. The scale helps identify treatment priorities, align expectations, support personalized long-term treatment planning and track progress over time. It was created in response to a clear need identified by healthcare professionals. In a global clinician study, nearly two-thirds reported not using any formal tool to assess skin quality, while 81% believed a simple, holistic assessment approach was missing in clinical practice. Following its development, 100% of participating clinicians agreed that the Skin Quality Assessment Scale supports a holistic understanding of skin quality, with 98% confirming that it helps guide treatment planning.

Galderma’s Glow on Holistic Individualized Treatment Approach

Galderma says it’s “uniquely positioned” to address a range of skin quality concerns. Treatments such as Sculptra and Restylane Skinboosters work together to support skin quality by stimulating collagen and elastin production and enhancing hydration, respectively, helping to improve skin firmness, smoothness and overall radiance. Moreover, Galderma designed the Glow on Holistic Individualized Treatment approach to support aesthetic practitioners in combining these two treatments to improve skin quality. Galderma’s Dermatological Skincare flagship brands, Alastin and Cetaphil, can also address a broad range of skin quality needs. The versatile Alastin range is comprised of peri-procedural and daily skincare that supports the skin’s regeneration process to help restore a youthful appearance and enhance the visible outcomes of aesthetic and surgical procedures; Cetaphil is designed for those with sensitive skin to help restore, protect and maintain the skin’s health every day, building longevity and resilience over time, officials said.

Watch a live assessment using the Skin Quality Assessment Scale here: