Understanding the use of cosmetic camouflage in patients with vitiligo

• Vitiligo affects 2 to 3% of the population.
• Although useful treatments exist (topicals, phototherapy, grafting) it doesn’t always response and segmental vilitgo if particularyl challenging.

• In resistant cases it might be useful to fully integrate the importance of camuouflaging:
  • it can be temporary (make up, self tanning creams…) or permannt (tattoos…)
  • In a study of 176 patients with vitiligo,  47% use cosmertics

• Studies measuring the Quality of life (DLQI) in vitiligo after camouflage are few:
  • however there is evidence of a positive effect on the quality of like (DLQI), even after only one month, especially if the vitiligo is extensive of if located in visible area such as the face even after only one month of treatment
• Patient education is important. Make up lessons should  be provided in treatment centres and dermatologists have yet to understand its importance and should embrace this technique.

Source of Information: Araviiskaia E. Camouflaging in vitiligo  patients: Benefits and fails. European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Annual Meeting – Istanbul, Turkey, 2-6 October 2013