Top 2 Trends Impacting Dermatology Practices & Patients in 2025
Among the most significant 2025 dermatology trends, two stand out as particularly transformative: the surge in younger patients driven by social media influence and the escalating staffing cost crisis that’s straining practice operations nationwide.
The convergence of social media influence and staffing efficiency isn’t coincidental. Both trends reflect broader shifts in how dermatology is consumed and delivered. Practices that successfully navigate these changes will be those that embrace patient-led solutions while maintaining focus on clinical excellence.
Trend 1: Social Media is Driving a New Generation of Dermatology Patients
The phenomenon known as “DermTok” has fundamentally altered who walks through dermatology practice doors. Patient experience and educational videos now dominate TikTok content related to dermatology care, with nearly 48% of videos posted by patients themselves and 26% by board-certified dermatologists. This social media revolution has created an informed, engaged patient base that expects a different kind of healthcare experience.
What makes this trend particularly impactful is its reach across demographics. Research shows that 80% of users have searched online for health information, and younger patients are increasingly seeking professional dermatological care after learning about skin conditions and treatments through social platforms. This data represents a significant shift from traditional patient acquisition methods, where word-of-mouth referrals and physician recommendations were primary drivers.
The challenge for practices lies in meeting the expectations of these digitally driven patients. They arrive with pre-existing knowledge about treatments, specific product preferences and high expectations for the overall care experience. Many have already researched their conditions extensively and expect providers to engage with their level of understanding rather than starting from basic education.
However, this trend presents tremendous opportunities for dermatology practices willing to adapt. These younger patients often have higher treatment compliance rates, are more likely to invest in preventive care or premium care and frequently become long-term patients when their experience meets expectations. They also tend to share their experiences online, creating powerful word-of-mouth marketing for practices that excel in patient care.
What This Means for Patient Experience
Dermatology practices must recognize that patient education now extends beyond the exam room. Social media-informed patients expect seamless digital interactions, from appointment scheduling to personalized communications. They value transparency in treatment options and costs, clear communication about expected outcomes and seamless access to care via digital booking.
The most successful practices are those that embrace this shift by enhancing their digital presence and ensuring their patient experience aligns with modern expectations. This includes offering online scheduling, digital intake processes and streamlined check-in procedures that reduce wait times and staff burden.
Real-world implementation of these principles shows measurable results. Dermatology Associates, a three-location practice serving over 4,500 patients monthly, exemplifies this modern approach through their adoption of patient-led digital solutions. Practice Manager Donna Hyland explains how streamlined processes benefit both operations and patient satisfaction:
“The check-out experience is faster and more streamlined for our patients, they don’t have to stop back at the desk and make a payment, they can just get on with their day.”
This transformation allows patients to complete their entire visit experience more efficiently while reducing the administrative burden on staff.
Trend 2: Staffing Challenges Are Reaching Critical Levels
The second major 2025 dermatology trend is the intensifying staffing cost crisis affecting practices nationwide. Over two-thirds of practice leaders now identify staffing costs as their top financial constraint, while 43% cite finding experienced workers as their biggest operational challenge heading into the next 18 months.
This isn’t simply a matter of hiring difficulties, it’s a complex web of issues. High turnover rates affect 25% of practices, while 19% struggle with heavy workloads that lead to increased overtime costs. The competitive job market for healthcare workers has driven up compensation costs significantly.
Practices are not only paying higher wages and benefits but also investing more in recruitment and training, only to see employees leave for competing opportunities. This cycle creates operational instability that affects everything from patient satisfaction to revenue cycle management.
Maybe the most concerning is the 14% increase in provider time spent on administrative processes. When physicians and mid-level providers are pulled away from patient care to handle administrative tasks, it creates a cascade effect that reduces overall practice productivity and profitability.
The Automation Opportunity
Forward-thinking practices are addressing staffing challenges by implementing strategic automation. The healthcare industry avoided over $190 billion in costs through automation in 2022 alone, with an additional $18.3 billion in savings potential available for practices willing to invest in the right solutions.
Automation isn’t about replacing human workers. It’s about optimizing their capabilities and reducing time spent on routine tasks.
As one practice CEO noted, “Look at these solutions not just as technology, but instead as how they can become more workers for your practice. Technology is there, every day, booking appointments, checking people in and collecting payments. You can move around your people resources and get more done.”
This philosophy translates directly into measurable staffing efficiencies for practices willing to embrace digital transformation. Dermatology Associates discovered this firsthand when they moved from manual, paper-based processes to automated patient registration and check-in systems. Practice Manager Donna Hyland was initially cautious about the transition:
“I was skeptical at first of how well Clearwave could optimize staff workloads, while providing a positive patient experience. Once we had it in-house, I was happy to see how quickly it worked and how fast it made a positive impact on our practice.“
The results validated her initial investment. By automating routine registration tasks and streamlining patient flow, the practice reduced its required front desk staffing by 25% per location while maintaining high service standards, demonstrating how strategic automation can indeed function as additional workforce capacity.
How Are Practices Successfully Adapting to These Changes?
The most successful dermatology practices are implementing comprehensive strategies that address multiple challenges simultaneously. They’re investing in technology solutions that enhance patient experience while reducing staffing demands, creating operational efficiency that supports both financial stability and care quality.
These practices recognize that patient expectations and operational realities have permanently shifted. Rather than viewing change as an annoyance, they’re leveraging it as a competitive advantage. By offering the digital conveniences that modern patients expect while maintaining the personal touch that builds loyalty, they’re positioning themselves for sustained growth.
For example, after adding patient-led registration to their practice, Dermatology Associates was able to improve profits, patient experiences and staff efficiency. Today they’re seeing results like:
- 95% Kiosk Adoption
- 73% Average Co-Pay Collection Rate at the Kiosk
- 58% Average Self-Pay Collection Rate at the Kiosk
- 83% Drop in Check-In Time
- 25% Reduction in Required Front Desk Staff
Read their story to see why kiosks were key to their success, despite having a tablet-led process in the past.
Want to stay ahead of every shift coming your way in 2025? Download our full 2025 Dermatology Trends Guide to uncover more emerging trends and discover how your practice can lead the way in patient experience, operational efficiency, and sustainable growth.