Cosmetic Camouflage Therapy: A Vital Missing Piece in the Holistic Management of Visibly Disfiguring Dermatologic Issues in Family Medicine Clinics

Overtly visible skin issues are associated with significant psycho-social impact and impaired quality of life, posing significant aesthetic concerns that require effective treatment and concealment. Cosmetic camouflage therapy (CCT) temporarily normalizes the appearance of disfigured skin or hides transient skin blemishes resulting from dermatological procedures. However, it remains uncertain if family physicians typically address the aesthetic aspect of skin issues when caring for affected persons. This narrative review explored the role of CCT in the management of visibly disfiguring skin issues and ascertains the status of its practice by family medicine physicians. Comprehensive literature search was conducted to retrieve relevant evidence from scientific databases, with focus on information pertaining to camouflage cosmetic products and CCT within the primary care setting. Emotional/psychological impact, self-consciousness, and embarrassment were the most bothersome impacts of visible skin flaws/disfigurements, while the site and severity of the skin lesion played important roles in the significance of the impact. CCT resulted in improvements in aesthetics, psychological well-being, and self-esteem. Combining CCT with conventional treatments resulted in higher and clinically significant improvement in quality of life compared with conventional treatments alone. CCT was also recommended as an adjunct treatment serving as “bridge therapy,” and as a potential drug delivery system. The authors recommend measures to increase awareness of CCT and camouflage cosmetic products among family medicine physicians, and the integration of CCT into family medicine encounters for the management of visibly disfiguring skin issues, to ensure truly comprehensive care.