Análise e perspectivas da camuflagem: uma alternativa de tratamento para o vitiligo

Abstract

Vitiligo is a disease characterized by the appearance of white patches on the skin and occurs in 0.5% to 2% of global population. Its causes are still researched, but the possible etiology is related with autoimmune factors, i.e., the melanocytes responsible by melanin production are destructed by immunological alterations. Other explications to vitiligo are associated with genetic and environmental factors. Clinically, this pigmentation disorder can develop in two major ways: localizated – one or more areas of depigmentation only one side of the body or generalizated – randomly distributed patches. Different treatments to vitiligo are available classified as drug therapy, surgical and non-pharmacological approaches. The last one category includes camouflage, an innovative alternative to the patients that not obtained satisfactory results under other therapies. The camouflage provides a temporary or permanent immediate-treatment hiding the vitiligo patches. It improves the patient’s life quality promoting benefits on the appearance with increase of self-esteem and confidence. Temporary camouflages are presented as self-tanning products, liquid dyes and, with important role, foundation-based cosmetics. These are available under different product forms and formulations to provide support to various types and shades of skin. However, the foundation-based cosmetics specific to vitiligo are from international trademarks and in general have high sales prices in Brazil. Therefore, it considering the formulations types and the disease incidence in the population the development of foundation-based cosmetics to vitiligo to arise as an exploitable opportunity to the Brazilian cosmetic industry.