As thousands of dermatologists converged in Washington, D.C. this past weekend to attend American Association of Dermatologists’ 74th Annual Meeting, we had the pleasure of poking around the exhibit hall to discover new products for improving skin conditions. Within just a few hours, one could have walked the floor and been cleansed, moisturized, and even receive a lip makeover from start to finish. From the serious issues of treating cancer to more novel affairs, like creating the Washington Monument out of thousands of playing cards, there were many interesting booths to discover.
While we were perusing the exhibit hall, attending dermatologists were participating in learning sessions on serious subjects, such as atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. Novartis sponsored an event on psoriasis featuring Cyndi Lauper, a sufferer of this disease. On the aesthetics front, Allergan hosted an event to introduce its newest injectibable at the meeting, Kybella, which reduces fat below the chin.
The Clinique booth touted its new Clinique Sonic System, which teaches cleansing techniques in its renknowned three-step cleansing process. This new product is waterproof and allows targeted facial cleaning. Each person at Clinique’s booth received a demonstration, along with a product to take home and try. Adjacent to the cleansing booth was a lip makeover sponsored by Clinique.
As aging and associated concerns are infinite, we found that many companies are really stepping up their retinol game. Both PCA and NeoStrata showcased products with concentrated retinol for whitening purposes. EltaMD’s booth was packed, demonstrating samples of its well-known sunscreen products, as well as its new skin line. Obagi was also touting its new Sun Shield tinted sunscreens.
The fight against aging was strong in the exhibition hall, where chasing down fine lines and wrinkles is still a prevalent concern for all makers of topical products, along with manufacturers of aesthetic equipment, such as Cynosure and Syneron. This was obvious as we visited the booths, such as the one for ZO Skin Health, which was overflowing with interested skin care practitioners due to its highly regarded anti-aging line including the Offects TE-Pads.
Aesthetic manufacturers had large booths to showcase their laser technology. Patients can now optimize their time in a physicians’ office to be treated for multiple conditions. Everything from scarring to hyperpigmentation, as well as tattoo removal and laser hair removal, can all be treated in one visit. While the lasers themselves are highly specialized, companies like Alma Lasers and Lumenis have more energy-efficient solutions for doctors.
Other booths, like the one for Neopeptide, also had new technology for hair regrowth. Infrared caps for this type of treatment are becoming more mainstream.
As we closed out our visit in the convention center, we stopped to get a quick lip makeover and saw fun colors from the Clinique Pop line, a new collection of lip colors that includes a primer. It was a great way to end the show, smiling big with new, entertaining lip colors.
To learn more about the professional skin care market, please refer to our annual Professional Skin Care Global Series report covering all consumable topical skin care products sold through and used in professional channels of distribution. Europe, China, and the United States volumes are now available while Brazil, Canada, and South Korea will follow. To complete this picture, the second edition of Physician-dispensed Skin Care: Perception and Satisfaction Survey will provide you with an objective view of how the leading skin care brands are rated on several different attributes according to how doctors rank their needs and interests.
