Will access to dermatology care suffer with increased cosmetic procedures ?

Implications:  This article is important in that it describes a growing trend among dermatologists to offer a higher level of "customer service" for their cash paying cosmetic patients. This has contributed in a small way to the long waits for non cosmetic dermatology patients to be able to see a dermatologist. A larger cause of the long waits is the small number of dermatologists being trained, and many of them working less than a full schedule. As the waits become longer and access more difficult, many dermatologists will opt out of managed care plans and move toward a cash/fee for service practice. This trend is already beginning. Also many primary care physicians are also offering ancillary procedures, and access for their patients may also become limited, which has more serious implications.

Analysis: Companies that offer cosmetic products will do well, especially those with products requiring repeated purchasing such as fillers and toxins. These include Allergan, Medicis, and soon Stiefel , Ortho- Neutrogena, and Mentor. Other comnpanies such as Galderma and Graceway, etc., which have a predominant focus on medical dermatology, will also do well, because of the breadth of their product offerings, and the lack of managed care issues in regards to access to their products.