At this moment in time, the beauty industry is more inclusive than ever before—but it’s not quite enough, especially when it comes to the world of medical aesthetics (think injectables!). Thankfully, one company is making strides to welcome and encourage diversity in the realm of beauty. Galderma, the world’s leading dermatology company with an award-winning portfolio of injectables, is creating change from the inside out to show people that their best self is within reach and that injectables can be a part of their unique skin stories.
Their first step towards addressing the concerns and needs of all patients? Creating change within the company’s development process for new injectable products. “It’s important that the products we’re developing represent the diverse populations they treat, which we believe starts with clinical trials to include people of all different ages, skin types and genders,” explains Diane Gomez-Thinnes, head of Galderma U.S.
San Diego-based board-certified Latina dermatologist Sabrina Fabi, MD, agrees: “[Galderma is] inclusive of all different skin types and all different ethnicities in their various clinical trials, many of which I’ve participated in.” Having a diverse group of participants within clinical trials is vital to ensure a product addresses the unique needs of all patients. According to Dr. Fabi, each ethnicity ages differently and has different clinical needs and preferences, which must be considered before developing a new product.
The results of diverse clinical trials? Treatments that patients can trust, that patients are satisfied with and most importantly, that provide individualized, natural-looking results. Examples include its dermal filler portfolio, which recently celebrated 25 years, showcasing longevity and proven safety. Galderma also shared new data showcasing high patient satisfaction with two treatments a year (every six months) with its FDA-approved neuromodulator treatment. Galderma’s commitment to excellence in the market is based on the principle that patient satisfaction and safety, in addition to championing diversity, are its responsibility too.
In addition to incorporating diverse participants into their clinical trials, Galderma is committed to diversifying those who oversee the clinical trials. Since 2014, Galderma has more than doubled the number of female clinical investigators in company-sponsored trials, with women holding nearly 50 percent of Galderma’s clinical investigator roles. “Galderma is dedicated to ensuring we are staying true to our value on diversity, particularly within our workforce,” said Gomez-Thinnes. “Different perspectives lead to stronger outcomes. The establishment and future growth of Galderma’s Women in Aesthetics Leadership Council is another great example of how we are working to accelerate the trend of women in medical aesthetics.”
As a Latina executive, Gomez-Thinnes firmly believes these kinds of internal company shifts towards diversity and inclusion are the responsibility of every leader, as this can impact the whole company itself. “Making [diversity and inclusion] part our business goals is the key to taking it from something people talk about to making it a priority that will create lasting and positive impact.”
With Galderma’s commitment to continue elevating a variety of voices and experiences quickly changing the climate of the aesthetics industry for the better, we can only hope more companies will do the same. To put it simply, representation matters. “Everyone has a unique skin story, and in order to celebrate that, we first need to eliminate stigmas that exist in the space and increase our understanding of the treatment needs for patients of all experiences and backgrounds,” affirms Gomez-Thinnes.
Interested in starting your injectable journey? Visit https://www.galderma.com/us/aesthetics to learn more about Galderma’s portfolio of aesthetic injectable products!
