Standardizing the evaluation of treatment outcomes after skin rejuvenation: the qualitative scoring system.

Abstract

Current treatments to correct and reverse diseased or aged skin yield widely divergent results. Judging the outcome of such treatments is done in an arbitrary and subjective fashion that is often limited to a patient's feedback or the physician's opinion. This makes it difficult for inter-physician or physician-patient agreement as to the degree of improvement achieved. In an age where skin rejuvenation is being widely practiced, a tremendous void needs to be filled by a system that appropriately evaluates and scores treatment outcomes. Such a system will help physicians communicate better in lectures, help them to better assess the results of various treatment modalities, and facilitate patient-doctor communication. The objective of this paper is to present a standardized scoring system against which skin rejuvenation results can be judged. This system is based on a model of healthy skin that can be defined by practical criteria against which patients can be judged pre- and post-skin rejuvenation procedures. A gold standard for healthy skin (baby skin) is established from a clinical, functional, and histologic perspective. Each patient's skin is compared with the healthy skin model and graded before and after treatment by implementing our scoring system which encompasses objective and subjective criteria. Objective criteria include the following skin characteristics: smoothness, firmness, even coloration, normal texture, and absence of any clinically evident disease. Subjective criteria include proper hydration and normal tolerance, and are not considered in the final scoring. Grading of each element in the scoring system [minimal (1), average (2), maximal (3)], and subsequently the final score [excellent (12 to 15), average (7 to 11), poor (<7)] are done with reference to the healthy skin model defined. The scoring system is novel and easy to use, and can be implemented to help improve communication between physicians and patients as well as during the dissemination of knowledge during medical conferences. In conclusion, treatment end-results can be consistently and more accurately assessed when the scoring system (based on objective criteria and a model of healthy skin) is used. Adopting this protocol will also help in directing our treatment to achieve the best possible results.