The population has never been more health conscious or more health-educated. While this carries the fringe detriment of a world full of hypochondriacs and those who think they know better than their doctors, it also carries the fringe benefit of younger patients seeking preventive treatments. The exact nature of preventive treatments can vary dramatically and cover a wide range of topics from abstaining from tobacco to STD awareness and screenings.

 

With this in mind, today we will review preventive treatments in teenagers and young adults, including some general preventive treatments, why younger adults are getting more proactive with preventive treatments, and finally how this trend is impacting the cosmetic procedure and aesthetics industry.

 

Recommended Preventive Care for Teens and Young Adults

Lifestyle Education for Preventive Care

Since many serious health problems develop later in life due to lifestyle choices, much of the preventive care we can offer to younger patients comes in the way of education. It is often more beneficial to teach young adults about making positive choices than to offer acute treatments. Education topics might include:

 

• Alcohol and tobacco education: even in 2020, teenagers and young adults do need to be reminded about the dangers of cigarettes and alcohol. With the advent of vaping, this brings a whole new danger to the table. 
• Solid nutrition and exercise habits: on a more positive note, education on healthy eating and exercise is a great way to keep our kids and young adults healthy for the long haul.
• Sex education and STD care: much like other vices including alcohol, no amount of education will completely eliminate kids and young adults making irresponsible choices. By offering preventive exams, STD care, and of course educational services, young patients can get the help they need.
• Mental health services: last but certainly not least, taking mental health seriously has come a long way both in the medical field and in our social consciousness. Children and adults alike are under unprecedented stress from technology and a variety of other factors. Preventive care for mental health isn’t just for a better life, it may also help to save lives.

Why More Young Adults are Seeking Preventive Treatments

As we mentioned in the introduction, a large reason why more younger patients are seeking preventive treatments is a result of greater awareness. As the younger generations see the health problems developing in their parents and grandparents, they are able to do their own research and find solutions to future problems before they occur. 

 

Another key takeaway from this phenomenon is that the public is becoming more receptive to holistic health methods. We aren’t suggesting that holistic health replace acute treatments for medical conditions, but mainstream medicine and alternative medicine are coming together on the notions that health factors like stress, sleep, and mental wellness are directly linked to chronic illness and overall health. 

 

Many teenagers and young adults are more receptive to this type of thinking which can be a double edged sword. On one hand, younger generations are more likely to take a proactive approach to their physical and mental health. On the other hand, alternative information sources have also led to anti-vax movements and the popularity of essential oil MLMs and other similar trends. In the internet age, information is cheap, but not all information is credible. 

Young Patients Seeking Cosmetic Procedures in Record Numbers

When it comes to cosmetic procedures, the amount of younger patients who are seeking preventive treatments has skyrocketed in recent years. Men and women in their 20’s and even younger are electing for non-invasive anti-aging procedures including Botox and laser therapy. This comes on the heels of the advent of “tweakments”, which refers to smaller scale, non-invasive cosmetic procedures which are meant to offer noticeable physical differences without an unnatural look. 

 

Many patients believe that electing smaller, non-invasive treatments earlier in life will prevent the need for more invasive treatments later in life. This may certainly be the case in some instances. The other advantage of non-invasive cosmetic procedures early in life is that most of these procedures are temporary. The patients can decide at a later date whether or not they would like to continue down the road of seeking additional cosmetic procedures, change their plan of action, or forego procedures altogether.

 

As long as the patient is well informed about the nature of their procedure, electing for tweakments at an earlier age is a personal choice that is unlikely to cause negative repercussions.

Discuss Cosmetic Procedures, Tweakments, and More at SCALE 2020!

To learn more about beauty trends, beauty theory, non-invasive procedures, laser tech, and much more, join us from July 22-25, 2020 for our annual Music City Scale Conference! SCALE is the premier multidisciplinary meeting for aesthetic medicine, surgery and dermatology in the United States. Join other industry professionals to discuss industry trends, emerging technologies, and much more. 

 

What started as a small gathering amongst colleagues 14 years ago has turned into the biggest party of the year within the field of aesthetic dermatology. Join us alongside hundreds of attendees and industry vendors to find out what you’ve been missing!