Cosmetic camouflage improves quality of life among patients with skin disfigurement: A systematic review

Rachel Kornhaber; Denis Visentin; Deependra Kaji Thapa; Sancia West; Andrea McKittrick; Josef Haik; Michelle Cleary

doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2018.08.004

Cosmetic camouflage improves quality of life among patients with skin disfigurement: A systematic review

Body Image. 2018 Dec:27:98-108. doi: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2018.08.004. Epub 2018 Sep 10.

Authors

Rachel Kornhaber¹, Denis Visentin², Deependra Kaji Thapa³, Sancia West⁴, Andrea McKittrick⁵, Josef Haik⁶, Michelle Cleary⁷

Affiliations

¹ School of Health Sciences, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Locked Bag 5052, Alexandria, Sydney, NSW, 2015, Australia; Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Chaim Sheba Medical Derech Sheba 2, Tel-Hashomer, Ramat-Gan, Israel. Electronic address: Rachel.Kornhaber@utas.edu.au.
² School of Health Sciences, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Locked Bag 5052, Alexandria, Sydney, NSW, 2015, Australia. Electronic address: Denis.Visentin@utas.edu.au.
³ School of Health Sciences, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Locked Bag 5052, Alexandria, Sydney, NSW, 2015, Australia. Electronic address: Deependrakaji.Thapa@utas.edu.au.
⁴ School of Health Sciences, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Locked Bag 5052, Alexandria, Sydney, NSW, 2015, Australia. Electronic address: Sancia.West@utas.edu.au.
⁵ Department of Occupational Therapy, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston, 4029, Queensland, Australia. Electronic address: Andrea.McKittrick@health.qld.gov.au.
⁶ Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Chaim Sheba Medical Derech Sheba 2, Tel-Hashomer, Ramat-Gan, Israel; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel; Institute for Health Research, University of Notre Dame, Western Australia, Australia. Electronic address: Josef.Haik@sheba.health.gov.il.
⁷ School of Health Sciences, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Locked Bag 5052, Alexandria, Sydney, NSW, 2015, Australia. Electronic address: Michelle.Cleary@utas.edu.au.

PMID: 30212716
DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2018.08.004

Abstract

This study systematically reviewed the impact of cosmetic camouflage use on different psychosocial outcomes in patients with disfiguring skin disorders. Electronic databases and reference lists were searched in February 2018 for studies reporting the impact of cosmetic camouflage on different quality of life (QoL) outcomes. Eighteen studies met the inclusion criteria: six randomized controlled trials, two quasi-experimental studies, nine single group 'before and after' interventions, and one comparative study with single post-intervention measurement. Quality appraisal of included studies was undertaken using the Joanna Briggs critical appraisal tools. While the studies varied in design, those included in this review indicated significant improvement in QoL after the use of cosmetic camouflage. The mean reduction in Dermatological Life Quality Index scores ranged from 1.4 to 6.4 signifying improvement in QoL of participants after treatment with cosmetic camouflage. Cosmetic camouflage can be an effective therapy in improving QoL among patients with skin disfigurement.

Keywords: Appearance; Camouflage; Cosmetic; Psychosocial; Quality of life; Systematic review.

Publication types

Systematic Review

MeSH terms

Body Image / psychology*
Cosmetics*
Humans
Quality of Life / psychology*
Skin Diseases / psychology*

Substances

Cosmetics