Skin longevity is shifting the focus from correcting visible signs of aging to preserving skin health and function across different stages of life, said Galderma’s Anne-Cécile Chevrier.
Skin quality can sound like a simple concept. But that is until you start asking what is actually driving it.
In a recent global survey of more than 11,000 people, Galderma found that nine out of ten respondents had concerns about their skin quality.
In this episode of the Xtalks Life Science Podcast, host Soumya Shashikumar, Senior Life Sciences Journalist at Xtalks, speaks with Anne-Cécile Chevrier, Global Head, Injectable Aesthetics at Galderma. She shared what is behind those numbers and why the field is shifting from simply correcting visible signs of aging toward a broader focus on skin longevity: keeping skin healthier and more functional for longer.
Anne-Cécile explained that skin quality covers how skin looks, feels and functions — hydration, firmness, radiance and texture — and that the forces shaping it go well beyond the usual suspects of sun exposure, sleep and stress.
Menopause is one she is especially focused on. Within the first five years after menopause, she notes, collagen levels can drop by around 30%, while changes in elastin may affect how well skin bounces back. Yet in Galderma’s research, more than half of women said they only learned about these changes by living through them.
“I think we’re lacking so much education as women on this topic,” Anne-Cécile said.
Medication-driven weight loss is a more recent concern. In Galderma’s research, more than 90% of patients surveyed reported skin changes, including dryness, sagging and loss of firmness. Emerging research may also help explain some of the volume loss being observed, though Anne-Cécile said the field is still seeing only the ‘tip of the iceberg.’
She also walked us through the surprisingly simple “pinch test” physicians can use to gauge skin laxity, and why she believes credible science needs a bigger presence in the skincare conversations already happening on social media.
Looking ahead, she expects more personalized approaches that account for differences across patients, with data — and potentially AI — playing a growing role in helping physicians make more informed treatment decisions.
Perhaps most striking is how much remains to be understood. Anne-Cécile recalled initially thinking skin biology was relatively simple when she joined Galderma. Years later, new data continue to reveal mechanisms and connections researchers had not previously understood.
Listen to the full episode for more on Galderma’s skin quality assessment scale, how physicians are being trained to evaluate patient anatomy and needs and what a more personalized, multimodal approach to skin longevity could look like in the years ahead.
The podcast is available for streaming every other Wednesday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and wherever you stream your podcasts.
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