Dermatology Might Have No Other Option but to Join Forces With Medi-Spa Industry

As the medi-spa industry continues to expand, dermatologists have no choice but to compete with their aesthetic procedures. According to Ogilvy CommonHealth, a healthcare think tank, there’s a rising demand for dermatologists to integrate anti-aging and skin cancer prevention services into their treatment offerings. More importantly, they encourage dermatologists to move from independent practices into group ones, in order to become a “one stop shop” that patients want.

The medi-spa market has raked in more than $3.6 billion in revenue, and the industry is only expected to grow 18 percent “year over year,” says Ogilvy data. This plays into the “beauty from within” movement — the trend to maintain a youthful appearance through the aging process. Ogilvy estimates that “beauty from within” products will reach $7.4 billion by 2020, and dermatologists should tailor their practices to feature more holistic treatment programs.

Dermatological pharmaceuticals are morphing from a prescription-based market to one that primarily features over-the-counter medications. As more topical dermatological creams are receiving FDA approval to be sold over-the-counter, physicians will have to strategize ways to maintain a client base.

Ogilvy believes that at some point soon, customers will be disenchanted with the free samples and savings cards that have been a long-standing staple of dermatology practices. Instead, they recommend brands curate specialized materials for each specialty, in order for dermatologists “to solidify the Derm-patient relationship that ensures trust and return visits.”