title: Quality of life in pediatric patients before and after cosmetic camouflage of visible skin conditions.
abstract: 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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Dermatology, Department of Pediatrics, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Division of Pediatric Rheumatology (Dermatology), Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: michele.ramien@mail.mcgill.ca.
authors.forename: Michele L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Ramien
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Dermatology, Department of Pediatrics, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ondrejchak
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Dermatology, Department of Pediatrics, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Roxanne
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gendron
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Dermatology, Department of Pediatrics, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Afshin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hatami
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Dermatology, Department of Pediatrics, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Catherine C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: McCuaig
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Dermatology, Department of Pediatrics, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Powell
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Dermatology, Department of Pediatrics, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marcoux
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003358:Cosmetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity; D008297:Male; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010859:Pigmentation Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D017445:Skin Diseases, Vascular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013909:Thorax; D034941:Upper Extremity; D054079:Vascular Malformations / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D003358:Cosmetics
keywords: Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index; camouflage make-up; cosmetic camouflage; nevi; postinflammatory dyspigmentation; quality of life; telangiectasia; vascular malformations; vitiligo