The Science Behind Aesthetics

Nancy Abdou and Prof Christoph Hagemeyer

The Science Behind Aesthetics is a science-led podcast where education, evidence, and industry meet. Hosted by Nancy Abdou and Professor Christoph Hagemeyer, the podcast bridges academic research with real-world aesthetic practice. Episodes explore skin biology, skincare ingredients, aesthetic devices, dermal therapy, treatments, and emerging technologies - cutting through trends and misinformation to support informed, evidence-based decision-making across the aesthetic industry.

Episodes

  1. Apr 7

    Inflammation: Clinical Endpoint or Clinical Problem?

    Inflammation is one of the most misunderstood concepts in the aesthetic industry and in this episode, Nancy and Christoph go head to head with rapid-fire questions to unpack what it actually is, why it matters and where practitioners get it wrong. Nancy challenges Christoph on whether the biology really supports inflammation as a clinical endpoint. Christoph challenges Nancy on how she reads the skin in real time, how her approach has changed over 20 years and whether practitioners can actually predict who's going to be a difficult healer. Together they cover the fine line between therapeutic and excessive inflammation, why chronic inflammation is the real enemy, how to recognise a treatment gone wrong before it gets worse and the LED debate - should you use it straight after treatment or not? Honest, science-led, and grounded in real clinical experience. This is the conversation aesthetic practitioners need to have. Topics Covered What inflammation actually is - and why it's not always the enemyAcute vs chronic inflammation and why the difference is critical in aestheticsInflammation as a clinical endpoint - does the biology support it?The right amount of inflammation - too little, too much and the fine line between themHow Nancy reads the skin in real time to identify the endpointAssessing clients before treatment - Fitzpatrick type, barrier health, medication, histamine responseWhy overtreating doesn't mean better results and what's actually happening in the tissueReactive skin - is it a biology problem or a behaviour problem?How Nancy's approach to inflammation changed over 20 years of practiceLED before or after treatment and why timing depends entirely on what you're trying to achieveWhat a treatment gone wrong actually looks like - and what to do immediately

About

The Science Behind Aesthetics is a science-led podcast where education, evidence, and industry meet. Hosted by Nancy Abdou and Professor Christoph Hagemeyer, the podcast bridges academic research with real-world aesthetic practice. Episodes explore skin biology, skincare ingredients, aesthetic devices, dermal therapy, treatments, and emerging technologies - cutting through trends and misinformation to support informed, evidence-based decision-making across the aesthetic industry.