Quality of life in pediatric patients before and after cosmetic camouflage of visible skin conditions

• Published in: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology Vol. 71; no. 5; pp. 935 - 940
• Main Authors: Ramien, Michele L., MD, Ondrejchak, Sandra, RN, Gendron, Roxanne, BSc, Hatami, Afshin, MD, McCuaig, Catherine C., MD, Powell, Julie, MD, Marcoux, Danielle, MD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.11.2014
• Subjects: Adolescent; camouflage make-up; Child; Child, Preschool; Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index; cosmetic camouflage; Cosmetics - therapeutic use; Dermatology; Face; Female; Humans; Lower Extremity; Male; nevi; Patient Satisfaction; Pigmentation Disorders - drug therapy; Pigmentation Disorders - psychology; postinflammatory dyspigmentation; quality of life; Quality of Life - psychology; Skin Diseases, Vascular - drug therapy; Skin Diseases, Vascular - psychology; Surveys and Questionnaires; telangiectasia; Thorax; Upper Extremity; vascular malformations; Vascular Malformations - drug therapy; Vascular Malformations - psychology; vitiligo; cosmetic camouflage; telangiectasia; postinflammatory dyspigmentation; Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index; vascular malformations; vitiligo; nevi; quality of life; camouflage make-up
• ISSN: 0190-9622; 1097-6787
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2014.07.029

Background Visible vascular and pigmentary conditions have a negative impact on children's and adolescents' quality of life (QoL). We sought to quantitate the effect of visible skin anomalies and their camouflage on QoL. Methods In all, 41 patients, 5 years of age and older, were taught to use cosmetic camouflage. QoL was assessed using the Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI) before and 6 months after the intervention. Satisfaction and use were evaluated after 1 and 6 months. Results Baseline QoL scores revealed a small impact of vascular anomalies (CDLQI score 4.2) and a small to moderate effect of pigmentary anomalies (CDLQI score 6.1). Six months after the intervention, QoL improved in the study population as a whole (CDLQI score 5.1 vs 2.1, P < .001), with significant improvements documented for facial lesions and vascular malformations. Cosmetic camouflage was well tolerated and patients with pigmentary anomalies were more likely to continue using the products. Limitations Limitations include small study population, few male patients, cultural influences not addressed, and limited range of conditions. Conclusions Children and teenagers with visible vascular and pigmentary anomalies experience an impairment of QoL that is abrogated by introduction to use of cosmetic camouflage.