Anti-acne Cosmetics Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product Type (Masks, Creams & Lotions, Cleansers & Toners), By Gender (Women, Men), By End-use (Dermatology Clinics), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2023 - 2030

Anti-acne Cosmetics Market Size & Trends

The global anti-acne cosmetics market size was valued at USD 4.46 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.1% from 2023 to 2030. The rising consumption of cosmetics by both men and women and the negative social stigma associated with acne, especially from emerging economies, is majorly estimated to drive market growth. The aesthetics industry witnessed significant setbacks due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since most cosmetic products are not a medical necessity, lockdowns in several countries led to the closure of several beauty salons & med spas, dermatology clinics, and retail stores. However, online sales of anti-acne cosmetics surged by the end of 2020 as COVID-19 restrictions were eased.

Moreover, the incidence of acne increased during the pandemic, which, in turn, accelerated the market growth. Acne is a highly prevalent skin disorder among adolescents. For instance, according to the National Health Service (NHS) UK, acne is a prevalent skin condition among teenagers and young adults. Approximately 95% of individuals aged 11 to 30 experience acne. It primarily affects girls aged 14 to 17 and boys aged 16 to 19. Acne typically appears intermittently for several years before gradually improving in the mid-20s. While many see their acne disappear by the mid-20s, some may continue to experience it into adulthood. Interestingly, around 3% of adults over 35 still contend with acne.

Acne patients are prone to anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, poor quality of life, and loneliness. This can be attributed to an individual's emotional and mental associations with their appearance. These psychological issues are anticipated to prompt patients to seek cosmetic solutions to improve their appearance, thereby driving market growth. For instance, according to the World Health Organization, around 3.8% of the global population encounters depression, with 5% of adults affected (4% in men and 6% in women) and 5.7% of adults over 60 years old.

Roughly 280 million individuals worldwide are impacted by depression. It's noteworthy that depression is approximately 50% more prevalent in women compared to men. On a global scale, over 10% of pregnant women and those who recently gave birth face depression. Alarmingly, suicide claims the lives of over 700,000 people annually, ranking as the fourth leading cause of death among 15–29-year-olds.

Factors such as the increasing number of e-commerce platforms selling these products, growing internet penetration, and rapid urbanization are estimated to boost the demand for these products among the target population, especially in developing economies. Social media is one of the biggest market influencers. The impact of social media on esthetics has been massive, especially in terms of how consumers perceive and project themselves.

Consumers are well aware of the price, advantages, and side effects of products, which helps them make well-informed purchase decisions. Despite the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on several industries, skin care product manufacturers have witnessed increased product sales. Cases of skin irritation, such as acne, increased during COVID-19 due to prolonged use of face masks. As a result of this, consumers rely on skin care products to keep their skin hydrated.

For instance, as per a survey by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), a study involving approximately 3,700 participants from nine developed and emerging countries explored the impact of the pandemic on consumer behavior in e-commerce and digital solutions. The survey titled "COVID-19 and E-commerce" encompassed nations such as China, Brazil, Germany, the Republic of Korea, Italy, the Russian Federation, Switzerland, South Africa, and Turkey. The findings revealed that over 50% of the respondents have increased their online shopping frequency and are increasingly dependent on the Internet for news, health-related information, and digital entertainment since the pandemic.

Product Type Insights

The creams & lotions segment accounted for the maximum share of 41.55% of the overall revenue in 2022 and is expected to expand at the fastest CAGR of 9.7% over the forecast period, owing to the high demand by both men and women, as moisturizing creams and body lotions protect the skin from bacteria and skin infections, such as psoriasis and eczema. Many times, these creams and lotions are produced in medicated form. They may contain Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API), vitamins like vitamin A, medications like antibiotics for acne caused due to bacterial infection, etc.

On the basis of product type, the global market is sub-segmented into masks, creams & lotions, cleansers & toners, and others. The other segment includes products such as face wash, gels, serums, and essential oils. These products help unclog the pores and reduce inflammation, as acne is characterized by clogging and inflammation. These products are available in various types based on ingredients and their usage. For instance, in March 2022, Galderma launched TWYNEO cream in the U.S. which contains 3% benzoyl peroxide (BPO) & 0.1% tretinoin 2-in-1 combination to treat all types of acne.

The others segment is anticipated to grow at a rapid pace over the forecast period due to the compatibility of these products with various skin types and better skin absorption of these products. Serums like Salicylic acid are widely used now as it has been proven effective in unclogging blocked pores, acting as an anti-inflammatory, and also breaking down sebum, the oil found in the body responsible for acne. As per NCBI, the use of 0.5% and 2% solutions of salicylic acid for the treatment of acne vulgaris is reported to be more efficient as compared to benzoyl peroxide in reducing the total number of acne lesions.

Gender Insights

The women anti-acne cosmetics segment dominated the global market in 2022 with a 52.8% share in terms of revenue and is expected to expand at the fastest CAGR of 9.3% over the forecast period. On the basis of gender, the global market has been bifurcated into women and men. The growth of the women segment can be attributed to the high prevalence of acne among the female population globally. Acne is more prevalent in women than men after adolescence, since it is linked to hormone changes, such as the menstrual cycle.

According to a survey by Annals of International Medical and Dental Research, around 9.4% of the global population is believed to experience acne, with adolescents being the most affected group. The burden of acne vulgaris-related conditions is spread worldwide and has shown an increasing prevalence among adolescents. Furthermore, an expanding body of epidemiological evidence indicates that acne also impacts a significant number of adults, with adult women being more commonly affected by acne than men.

End-use Insights

The medspa segment held the highest market share of around 63.9% in 2022. The segment is also anticipated to showcase the highest growth over the forecast period. This is due to the fact that Medspa provides aesthetic treatments under the supervision of a licensed medical practitioner. Medspas currently use innovative, cutting-edge technology and products to provide clinical treatments that are in line with modern medicine. Currently, the millennial population is the largest target demographic for medical-grade skincare brands.

According to the American Med Spa Association, the U.S. Medspa industry revenue has had a double-digit growth since 2010, and a majority of the Medspa patients are between the ages of 35-54 years. In 2018, the Association also stated that the emergence of large medical spa chains, including Orange Twist, Beverly Hills Rejuvenation Centre, and Kalologie 360 is expected to further boost the market growth in the country.

Based on end-use, the anti-acne cosmetics market is segmented into dermatology clinics and medspas. The number of dermatology practices is on the rise globally due to the increasing incidence of skin cancer and lifestyle-related skin conditions, such as acne, atopic dermatitis, & hyperpigmentation. An increasing number of people in countries like the U.S., UK, and Canada, go to skin specialists for cosmetic procedures for a more youthful appearance. These are the factors contributing to the growth of the dermatology clinic segment globally.

Regional Insights

Asia Pacific dominated the market in 2022 with a revenue share of more than 40% and is assessed to witness strong growth over the projection period. Asia Pacific is the largest potential export market for U.S.-based products owing to over 3 billion potential consumers of anti-acne cosmetic products. A study conducted by JAMA Dermatology stated that in Westernized societies, such as the U.S., acne is a universal skin disease afflicting 79 to 95% of the adolescent population.

Economies, such as Australia, Japan, and South Korea are some of the largest consumers of well-established U.S.-based products. For instance, in 2021, Galderma Korea launched a new acne treatment Aklief to treat torso and facial acne, after successful clinical trials. Aklief showed positive results by reducing inflammatory lesions in an effective time period.

Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia are other countries expected to witness strong demand for these products in the forecast period. China is one of the most promising cosmetics markets in the Asia Pacific region. This can be attributed to the fascination of the Chinese population with high-end foreign brands, as nearly 80% of the country’s cosmetics market is dominated by Western brands. According to Cosmetic Design, skincare was one of the fastest-growing markets in the country, with maximum sales through online channels. Online sales of active skincare products for companies, such as L’Oréal (China), showed a spike in growth, which increased from 1% in 2013 to 18% in 2018.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

Mergers and acquisitions are a key achievable methodology used by major players. For instance, L'Oréal is coordinating to get a handle on mergers and acquisitions in India to intensify its skin and make-up portfolio to meet the country’s developing demand for therapeutic products. In December 2020, L’Oréal announced the acquisition agreement for the Japanese company Takami Co. This company markets things authorized by the skincare brand Takami, claimed by Master Hiroshi Takami.

In another instance, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries launched the WINLEVI cream for the U.S. market in November 2021, for treating the problem of acne vulgaris in patients aged 12 years and above. WINLEVI is a first-in-class topical androgen receptor inhibitor that was approved by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in August 2020. Also, Welly Health came up with a lotion treatment in February 2023, to treat major skin care problems of Millennial consumers.

Anti-acne Cosmetics Market Report Scope

Global Anti-acne Cosmetics Market Segmentation

This report forecasts revenue growth at the global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2018 to 2030. For this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global anti-acne cosmetics market report based on product type, gender, end-use, and region:

• Product Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Mask

  • Creams & Lotions

  • Cleansers & Toners

  • Others

• Gender Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Women

  • Men

• End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Dermatology Clinics

  • Medspa

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

  • Europe

    • UK

    • Germany

    • France

    • Italy

    • Spain

    • Denmark

    • Sweden

    • Norway

  • Asia Pacific

    • Japan

    • China

    • India

    • Australia

    • Thailand

    • South Korea

  • Latin America

    • Brazil

    • Mexico

    • Argentina

  • Middle East & Africa

    • South Africa

    • Saudi Arabia

    • UAE

    • Kuwait