Considering 10 percent of the population battles some form of mild to severe eczema, director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Hospital, Dr. Joshua Zeichner, MD says many will consider beginning a prebiotic routine to ward away the symptoms. The idea is to help your skin maintain a healthy microbiome, which is the collection of natural microorganisms that live on our skin. When these are disrupted by breakouts, eczema or other issues, the normal flora is jeopardized. The use of prebiotics made of specialized sugars helps promote the growth of healthy bacteria. Regardless if you apply probiotics topically or take a daily supplement, the key is to focus on progress over time, as they begin to build healthy functions in your system.
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Skin care will become more personalized
We hate to break it to you, but if you've been prescribing to the same skin care regimen since you were a teenager — or even in college — you're due for an upgrade. Because everyone's chemical balances are widely different, using a face wash or a moisturizer merely because your best friend does isn't enough to keep your body's largest organ healthy and wrinkle-free. Instead, Goldenberg recommends hopping on the highly specialized bandwagon that more product lines are debuting. Thanks to thorough research, Goldenberg says more patients, dermatologists and brands recognize the vast importance of unique formulas made for targeted, unique needs. This means you have more to choose from to provide the best routine for your pores.
Hair restoration and rejuvenation will become mostly non-surgical
If your partner spends more time inspecting his scalp than you do your aging pores, there's good news for his receding hairline. As Goldenberg explains, while treatments for hair loss used to require transplant via surgery, the advancement and influx of new technologies have made the process and experience much less invasive. These include PRP (platelet rich plasma) and stem cell injection, both of which help to naturally prevent and replenish fallen strands. Director of Dermatology at Aesthetx, Dr. Amelia K. Hausauer, says that while the data around PRP is still new, it's convincing. "The evidence is mounting that you can use PRP, which is a component of your own blood rich in growth factors and signaling molecules, to grow hair," she explains. "I was skeptical at the start but what we found was pretty astounding." For appropriate candidates with the appropriate treatment regimen, we could achieve nearly 30 percent growth of new or previously imperceptible hairs and 30 percent thickening of existing hairs, she explains.
While those with severe and end-stage hair troubles might still need to go under the scalpel, access to these easier and less scary treatments will continue to rise for the younger crowd.
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The rise of the vampire facial
Though it's been a few years since the height of the vampire craze, Zeichner says there might be a newfound love for these afterlife characters this year. Thanks to the emergence of growth-factor treatments, more women will be seeking the benefits of their red blood cells to improve the quality of their skin. How does this work? Much like the PRP treatment for hair loss but targeted toward the condition of your pores. Zeichner explains, "The procedure is that blood is drawn from the patient and the red blood cells are removed from the plasma part of the blood. The plasma contains platelets, which are rich in growth factors. This plasma is then delivered back to the skin either through injections or along with microneedling devices. The procedure is a completely natural and customized treatment for the patient," he says.
Blame it on social media but even if no one quite "wakes up like this," they sure want to look like they did, says Hausauer. Even if an influencer or celebrity spent 30 minutes editing their image before hashtagging it, she says the quest for radiant yet fresh-faced skin continues.
While this can be achieved with a smart combination of products recommended by your dermatologist or aesthetician, more patients are seeking a professional approach via lasers that shave off dead skin cells, bacteria and, if you're lucky, years. One example is Sciton's Halo laser, which Hausauer calls a one-of-a-kind device because it can target not only superficial layers but deep ones — at the same time. "Double wavelength technology really is a gamechanger, because it allows for results typically seen with more intense treatments but downtime of less aggressive options. Within a week, the skin is better than baseline. Think luminous, lit-from-within, like on the runways or red carpets," she adds.
