“Good skin quality” can mean different things to different people, creating confusion during aesthetic consultations.
Allergan Aesthetics, an AbbVie company, has introduced the Skin Quality Index, or SQI, a research-backed framework designed to give patients and providers a shared vocabulary for discussing skin concerns and treatment goals.
Why Is a Shared Vocabulary Needed?
Research supporting the SQI found that patients often used similar language when speaking with one another, but those terms did not always translate clearly during conversations with healthcare providers.
This communication gap may lead to unclear treatment goals, mismatched expectations, or difficulty evaluating results.
How Was the Skin Quality Index Developed?
The SQI was developed through a three-phase research process published in Dermatologic Surgery.
Literature Review
Researchers reviewed more than 900 aesthetic medicine publications spanning over two decades to identify commonly used skin quality terminology.
Provider Consensus
Advisory boards of U.S. healthcare providers developed agreed-upon definitions for frequently used terms.
Patient and Provider Validation
The proposed terminology was evaluated through focus groups and surveys involving:
- More than 200 aesthetic healthcare providers
- More than 1,000 patients
The goal was to determine whether the language was understandable and useful in real-world consultations.
What Does the Index Include?
The final framework includes 15 consensus terms organized across four dimensions of skin health.
Rather than relying on broad descriptions, the SQI is intended to help patients describe their concerns more precisely and allow providers to better understand what they hope to improve.
How Could the SQI Improve Consultations?
A shared vocabulary may support:
- Clearer treatment goals
- More informed treatment planning
- Better patient-provider communication
- More realistic expectations
- More consistent evaluation of results
It may also help researchers use more standardized language when describing skin concerns and measuring treatment outcomes.
Educational Resources
Allergan Aesthetics has introduced educational resources for patients and providers, including:
- A dedicated educational website
- Definitions of skin quality terms
- Provider-facing materials
- An interactive quiz developed with NewBeauty
What This Could Mean for Aesthetic Medicine
“Skin quality” is widely used in aesthetic medicine but often lacks a consistent definition. The SQI aims to make these conversations more specific by giving patients and providers a common set of terms.
Clearer language may help reduce misunderstandings, align expectations, and improve how treatment goals and results are discussed.
References:
Leave A Comment