Survey Outlines Pediatric Cosmetic Dermatology Trends

TOPLINE:

A survey of dermatologists reveals hypertrophic or traumatic scars, acne, and hyperhidrosis as the top pediatric cosmetic concerns, and vascular lasers, laser hair removal, and lasers for pigmentation among the most common treatments.

METHODOLOGY:

• An anonymous online survey conducted with SurveyMonkey targeted healthcare providers who routinely used lasers to treat cutaneous conditions in pediatric patients.
• The survey included members of the Society for Pediatric Dermatology and the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery and Surgery, as well as fellowship directors and current fellows of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.
• A total of 85 practitioners responded to the survey, with 86% answering all questions; respondents primarily included pediatric dermatologists (77.65%), general dermatologists (18.82%), cosmetic dermatologists (8.24%), and dermatologic/Mohs surgeons (1.18%).

TAKEAWAY:

• Hypertrophic or traumatic scars ranked as the most frequently treated pediatric cosmetic condition (95.29%), followed by acne (89.41%), axillary and facial hyperhidrosis (77.65%), hypertrichosis/hirsutism (67.06%), and pigmented lesion removal (64.71%).
• The most common procedures performed were vascular lasers (77.65%), laser hair removal (50.59%), lasers for pigmentation (28.24%), neuromodulators (25.88%), and laser skin resurfacing (22.35%).
• Additional treatments respondents performed included chemical peels (20.00%), radiofrequency microneedling (16.47%), soft tissue fillers (4.71%), and cryolipolysis/body contouring (4.17%).
• About 50% of respondents said they would start cosmetic treatment of acne, and about 66% said they would start laser hair removal treatment between the ages of 12 and 15 years.

IN PRACTICE:

Noting that the survey results provided insight into the types of cosmetic procedures being performed for pediatric patients, the authors wrote, “These interventions can play a significant role in addressing the emotional and social challenges faced by pediatric patients with cosmetic concerns, allowing them to navigate social interactions more confidently and positively.” Before any procedure, they added, “It is important that any comorbid conditions be addressed,” they added, and “ethical considerations regarding informed consent, patient autonomy, and long-term consequences should be carefully weighed, given the vulnerable nature of pediatric patients.”

SOURCE:

The study was led by Lauren Hoffman, MD, who practices dermatology in Great Neck, New York. It was published online in December 2024 in Dermatologic Surgery.

LIMITATIONS:

The study was subjective in nature and had a small sample size, and the exact number of survey recipients was unclear, hindering an accurate calculation of the response rate. The absolute number of responses accounted for a small portion of the total memberships of the participating societies. Additionally, the data collection periods varied among the three academic societies, and dermatologists’ practice types may have influenced the range and nature of treated conditions.

DISCLOSURES:

The authors did not disclose any funding information. They declared no conflicts of interest.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.