Social Media’s Influence on Consumers, TrenibotulinumtoxinE, and More From the SEASON Aesthetic Conference

The spring 2024 SEASON Aesthetic Conference was held in Washington DC from April 27th to April 29th. The conference included one day of a hands-on cadaver workshop and 2 days of sessions by leading experts in aesthetic medicine. Session topics included vitiligo treatments, hair loss therapeutics, what’s new in exosomes, regenerative medicine, laser treatments for acne, and more.¹

Dermatology Times’ Editorial Advisory Board member, Renata Block, MMS, PA-C, a board-certified physician assistant at SKIN Dermatology in Munster, Indiana, attended the SEASON conference and shared her favorite tips from presenters.

The first session Block mentioned was “Socially Unacceptable? This Year's Most Outrageous Social Media Claims - Estrogen, Exosomes, and Senolytics,” presented by Virginia Vega, PhD. Vega reviewed with attendees how social media and marketing have more of an influence over consumers than evidence-based research and trials. One of the examples included in this discussion was the use of topical estrogens. Block noted that while topical estrogens may be able to promote skin health, clinical trial data is limited and results are “subpar,” according to Block.

“We’re talking more about the marketing really capitalizing on the ignorance of the consumer. These products are being sold at a high price, but they really don't show any evidence of efficacy at all,” said Block.

Another topic from the conference that Block found interesting was the discussion of a new neuromodulator being developed, trenibotulinumtoxinE (BoNT/E), a novel botulinum neurotoxin serotype E. BoNT/E is characterized by a rapid onset of action as early as 8 hours after administration and a short duration of effect within 2 to 3 weeks. If Allergan’s new neuromodulator is approved, it will be the first neurotoxin of its kind.²

“I'm wondering, where is this going to fit in aesthetic practice? Is it someone that wants to try it to see if they like it, versus someone has a special event that they want it just for that? I think it's going to have a very special niche,” said Block.

References

1. Programme. SEASON Aesthetics. Accessed May 8, 2024. https://seasonaesthetics.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Programme.pdf
2. Allergan Aesthetics announces positive topline results from two pivotal phase 3 studies of trenibotulinumtoxinE (BoNT/E) for the treatment of glabellar lines. News release. AbbVie. October 24, 2023. Accessed May 8, 2024. https://news.abbvie.com/2023-10-24-Allergan-Aesthetics-Announces-Positive-Topline-Results-from-Two-Pivotal-Phase-3-Studies-of-TrenibotulinumtoxinE-BoNT-E-for-the-Treatment-of-Glabellar-Lines