This Australian cohort study surveyed SSc patients across three public tertiary hospitals and one private practice to characterise their use of and experiences with facial cosmetic therapies — including topical cosmeceuticals, injectables, energy-based/laser devices, and surgery — for both SSc-related and non-SSc-related facial changes.
Of 241 respondents, 55 (22.8%) had used at least one facial cosmetic therapy; 159 total therapies were reported. Perceived improvement occurred in 73.0% of therapies; adverse events in 15.7%, most of which were mild. Cost stopped 50% of non-users; safety concerns stopped 37.5%.
- Low response rate (241/616, ~39%) risks non-response bias. - Outcomes rely entirely on patient-reported perception, with no objective or clinician-assessed measures. - Single-country cohort (Australia) limits generalisability.
Many SSc patients are already seeking facial cosmetic therapies — mostly topical and injectable — and report good subjective results with few serious adverse events. Clinicians should proactively discuss safety, cost, and appropriate options to support informed decision-making in this population.
