Infectious complications in esthetic dermatology procedures: A narrative review

Minimally invasive esthetic procedures for rejuvenation are increasing exponentially worldwide. They include a range of products, both pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical. Most of the procedures are well tolerated with a high safety profile and minimal adverse events. However, infectious complications following esthetic procedures, though relatively rare, can lead to significant morbidity and impact the outcome of esthetic treatments. They typically result from the introduction of pathogenic bacteria during the procedure, either from contaminated equipment, improper aseptic technique, or after the procedure if proper wound care is not followed. It occurs due to a combination of various factors, including lack of regulation and licensing, lack of structured, quality-assured training, and performance of these procedures by non-dermatologists or untrained personnel. Approaches to prevent and manage infectious complications by timely diagnosis and appropriate management are of the utmost importance. In this paper, we discuss the various infectious complications and provide advice on how to minimize adverse events and complications from these injectables.