Allergan Aesthetics, part of global healthcare major AbbVie, has unveiled a new framework designed to transform how patients and doctors talk about skin health.

 

The company announced the launch of the Skin Quality Index (SQI)—a standardized vocabulary intended to bring clarity to conversations about skin quality during aesthetic consultations. The framework is backed by what researchers describe as the most comprehensive global study on the topic to date, published in the journal Dermatologic Surgery.

 

Researchers found a significant communication gap between patients and healthcare providers when describing skin quality. While patients tended to use similar language among themselves, their terminology often differed from that used by clinicians—creating confusion during consultations and treatment planning.

 

The SQI aims to fix that disconnect.

 

The framework introduces 15 consensus terms and definitions grouped across four core dimensions of skin health, giving patients and providers a shared language to describe concerns and treatment goals. 

 

Experts say clearer terminology could help doctors better understand patient expectations, support more precise treatment plans and ultimately improve aesthetic outcomes. It also allows patients to better understand their own skin concerns and participate more actively in decisions about their care.

 

"The Skin Quality Index is a groundbreaking innovation that represents a paradigm shift in how we approach patient consultations and treatment planning in aesthetics," said Shannon Humphrey, a board-certified dermatologist and the study’s primary investigator. 

 

"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."

 

Company leaders say the initiative reflects a broader push to deepen research and innovation in aesthetic medicine.

 

"Advancing the science of aesthetic medicine requires a deeper understanding of how patients and providers talk about skin quality," said Stephanie Manson Brown, vice president and head of clinical development, scientific innovation and skincare research & development at Allergan Aesthetics. 

 

"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."

 

To support the rollout, Allergan Aesthetics has launched educational tools for both patients and healthcare providers, including a dedicated microsite and an interactive quiz developed in partnership with New Beauty.

 

The research behind the SQI followed a three-phase approach to map how skin quality is described across medical specialties and diverse patient groups.

 

Phase one reviewed more than 900 aesthetic medicine publications spanning two decades, making it the largest analysis of skin quality terminology to date.

 

Phase two brought together US.advisory boards of healthcare providers to establish consensus definitions.

 

Phase three tested the language in real-world settings through patient focus groups and surveys of more than 200 aesthetic providers and over 1,000 patients.

 

The findings highlight a key challenge in aesthetic medicine: even when patients and doctors are discussing the same issue, they may not be speaking the same language. The Skin Quality Index is designed to change that.