Vitiligo: Can it be concealed?

Vitiligo is a depigmenting skin disease that is characterized by the selective loss of melanocytes, the cells responsible for synthesizing melanin. This destruction of melanocytes manifests visually as the appearance of white patches of varying sizes on the skin. A common misconception is to view vitiligo as a mere aesthetic concern, when in fact, this disease is not harmless and can have significant impacts on the daily life and psychology of patients. Indeed, several studies have shown that people affected by vitiligo generally have a poorer body image, a lower self-esteem, and higher levels of social and psychological distress.

To better manage their condition, which is currently incurable even though there are several relatively effective treatments to halt the progression of vitiligo and repigment certain areas, some patients seek to camouflage their spots, particularly on visible areas such as the face, neck, and hands. For this, it is possible to use highly covering tinted creams, which allow the macules to blend into the natural skin tone. It is often recommended to opt for long-lasting products, sturdy enough to last throughout the day. Some brands even offer ranges specifically designed for people with vitiligo.

Beyond tinted creams, other patients choose self-tanning products, particularly for areas like the hands, which are exposed and difficult to conceal. These products work by coloring the superficial layer of the epidermis and provide a natural coloration, similar to that of melanin, even though their mechanism of action is different from that of tanning and involves the amino acids of the horny layer. Although the application of a self-tanner requires a certain precision to avoid demarcations, this product can be a practical and discreet solution for some patients.

These camouflage techniques for vitiligo are obviously not a medical treatment, but they fulfill an essential need: that of regaining self-confidence and feeling more comfortable in one's own body.

For many patients, camouflaging their vitiligo can help regain a certain level of comfort in social interactions and reduce feelings of embarrassment or stigmatization, which are unfortunately still often associated with vitiligo. This has been highlighted in some studies that have evaluated the evolution of the quality of life index, or Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) in English. Ranging from 0 to 20, this index is higher as the impact of a dermatosis on the quality of life is significant. The results of two studies are presented below. However, while the first study shows a significant improvement in the DLQI due to the camouflage of the lesions, this is not the case in the second. This illustrates that the impact of the visible nature of vitiligo on quality of life varies from person to person: some live with their disease with serenity, while for others, it represents a significant burden.