Therapeutic Makeup: Makeup Becomes More Than Just Aesthetics

When we put on makeup, we do it to look good, to be fashionable, or maybe to hide the dark circles under our eyes from a sleepless night. It’s not necessary and you don’t have to please anyone, but a lot of people like it. On the other hand, there are times when it becomes practically a necessity. This is what happens to people with dermatological diseases for example, vitiligo, acne or rosacea. In such situations, although again there is no need to cover anything, the so-called therapeutic makeup helps them feel better and avoid situations that trigger them anxiety.

In recent years, therapeutic makeup has become so necessary that many brands have already developed products aimed at using it in this area. There are also more and more dermatologists who they recommend.

For this reason, the French dermocosmetic group Pierre Fabre organized a seminar on therapeutic makeup last week in the XVII National Congress of Dermatology, Dermatocosmetics and Wound Care, organized by the National Association of Dermatological Care and Skin Integrity Research (ANEDIDIC) in Santiago de Compostela. It is important to promote both products and methods so that skin lesions of concern to patients go undetected. Of course, we will also have to work on these insecurities, e.g. psychological help. The point is not to make patients dependent on its use, but rather to let them know that it is an option that is available when needed.

What products are used in therapeutic makeup?

The key ingredient to good healing makeup is foundation that is very covering, but at the same time it is not heavy. In addition, it is important it’s not comedogenic. Comedogenic ingredients are those that clog skin pores and therefore promote the accumulation of sebum. This is never recommended, but is a particularly sensitive issue in patients with dermatological conditions.

On the other hand, the therapeutic makeup procedure also includes color correctors. In fact, they are increasingly being used in makeup for all types of people. Concealers that are slightly lighter than the skin are used to cover dark circles, green for pimples and reddish spots, yellow for dyschromia and purple spots, and pink for any lesions that tend to turn green. This often happens when, for some reason, there are varicose veins or very prominent veins. Therefore, you can choose the concealer color according to your skin needs and the tone you want to correct.

Foundation and concealer are used to cover the damage, and fashion products such as blush or highlighter are layered on top. However, even with these products you should be careful because people with dermatological conditions have very sensitive skin. Therefore, any product used in therapeutic makeup must be fragrance-free, hypoallergenic and tested on people with particularly sensitive skin.

Who can use it?

Therapeutic makeup can be used by people with chronic diseases such as vitiligobut also in outbreaks of dermatitis, acne or rosacea. It is also recommended after a few interventions until the scars heal. And of course when there are injuries such as burns or wounds. Can even be used for coating unwanted tattoos.

The therapeutic term is used to refer to the fact that this type of makeup helps people feel better. This discomfort could be caused by an illness or a tattoo they regret. Regardless, and once again emphasizing the importance of therapy, makeup is a great tool. As with any makeup look, the goal should never be to please others. But if for happiness we need to disguise spots or scars, then its use is more than justified. The most important thing is that we all feel good.