Some years ago, a male friend fell victim to adult acne. From an outgoing young man he metamorphosed, almost overnight, into a shy introvert who never wanted to leave his house. First he started not turning up for his weekend job and after a short while started missing out on university classes, until he dropped out completely. By the time his acne cleared up he was a shadow of his former self.
And he is not alone. Dermatology surgeon Angele Farrugia said there have been acne sufferers who lost out on a whole year at university because of the psychological effect the skin condition had on them.
Although nowadays acne is highly treatable, this takes time and during the course of treatment the skin can be red, irritated and a cause of embarrassment for the patient.
And acne is only one of a number of skin conditions that can mar the skin and leave the patient devastated. Patients, sometimes as young as 20, can get pigmentation, leaving them with unsightly brown patches on their skin.
On the other hand, the loss of pigmentation, which leaves smooth white patches on the skin (vitiligo), can also cause serious distress to the sufferers who want to cover up their condition.
These, and a multitude of other conditions that mark the face have led to an increase in demand of camouflage, since even if treatment is available, this might take time.
Moreover, even patients who resort to certain cosmetic procedures like laser, chemical peels or dermabrasion, need good coverage for a while after the procedure. "They are normally left with a pink face and many are embarrassed to be seen in public like that."
Dr Farrugia stressed the need for camouflage make-up to cover up any scars or marks. "It is very important to have good camouflage products on the local market," she said. She said there have been times when she told clients to get products from abroad before going for certain cosmetic interventions, since even botox injections or derma fillers can leave bruising, mostly around the lip area, which many are anxious to cover up, especially since it can take up to 14 days to clear.
Nowadays camouflage products are available on the local market. Dr Farrugia said these can be used either instead of treatment, during treatment, as well as afterwards if treatment was not 100 per cent successful.
However, she stressed the importance that patients are shown exactly how to apply camouflage products and that they are given products which are right for their skin tone and problem. She pointed out that when she worked in the United States, a beauty expert was always available at the dermatology clinic to tell patients how to use products.
"It is important to choose products which are hypoallergenic and have a sun protection factor, as well as being noncomedogenic (do not clog pores), especially for acne sufferers," she said.
She stressed the importance of choosing products which last for at least 24 hours. Most camouflage make-up is waterproof and smudge-proof, making it different from ordinary make-up because it lasts much longer.
According to Sara Spiteri, brand manager for Coverderm, birth marks, burns, surgery scars and even tattoos can all be covered with camouflage make-up. "These products have the capability of covering up severely damaged skin."
She said a good number of women use them to cover up varicose veins in their legs, adding that since the products are waterproof it was even possible to go to the beach.
Ms Spiteri said camouflage make-up was thicker than normal make-up and had a lot of pigments to cover the problem areas.
She stressed the importance of choosing the right shade and applying the coverage using a tapping motion. She said pharmacists and their assistants who stock the products were recently given a presentation so that they could pass on the application techniques to customers.
But does camouflage make-up do what it promises? A trial with Coverderm's Perfect Face foundation showed that it covers up even the most pesky dark circles under the eyes, without the need of an extra layer of concealer. However, it is thicker than normal foundations, and has the tendency of feeling heavier.
And he is not alone. Dermatology surgeon Angele Farrugia said there have been acne sufferers who lost out on a whole year at university because of the psychological effect the skin condition had on them.
Although nowadays acne is highly treatable, this takes time and during the course of treatment the skin can be red, irritated and a cause of embarrassment for the patient.
And acne is only one of a number of skin conditions that can mar the skin and leave the patient devastated. Patients, sometimes as young as 20, can get pigmentation, leaving them with unsightly brown patches on their skin.
On the other hand, the loss of pigmentation, which leaves smooth white patches on the skin (vitiligo), can also cause serious distress to the sufferers who want to cover up their condition.
These, and a multitude of other conditions that mark the face have led to an increase in demand of camouflage, since even if treatment is available, this might take time.
Moreover, even patients who resort to certain cosmetic procedures like laser, chemical peels or dermabrasion, need good coverage for a while after the procedure. "They are normally left with a pink face and many are embarrassed to be seen in public like that."
Dr Farrugia stressed the need for camouflage make-up to cover up any scars or marks. "It is very important to have good camouflage products on the local market," she said. She said there have been times when she told clients to get products from abroad before going for certain cosmetic interventions, since even botox injections or derma fillers can leave bruising, mostly around the lip area, which many are anxious to cover up, especially since it can take up to 14 days to clear.
Nowadays camouflage products are available on the local market. Dr Farrugia said these can be used either instead of treatment, during treatment, as well as afterwards if treatment was not 100 per cent successful.
However, she stressed the importance that patients are shown exactly how to apply camouflage products and that they are given products which are right for their skin tone and problem. She pointed out that when she worked in the United States, a beauty expert was always available at the dermatology clinic to tell patients how to use products.
"It is important to choose products which are hypoallergenic and have a sun protection factor, as well as being noncomedogenic (do not clog pores), especially for acne sufferers," she said.
She stressed the importance of choosing products which last for at least 24 hours. Most camouflage make-up is waterproof and smudge-proof, making it different from ordinary make-up because it lasts much longer.
According to Sara Spiteri, brand manager for Coverderm, birth marks, burns, surgery scars and even tattoos can all be covered with camouflage make-up. "These products have the capability of covering up severely damaged skin."
She said a good number of women use them to cover up varicose veins in their legs, adding that since the products are waterproof it was even possible to go to the beach.
Ms Spiteri said camouflage make-up was thicker than normal make-up and had a lot of pigments to cover the problem areas.
She stressed the importance of choosing the right shade and applying the coverage using a tapping motion. She said pharmacists and their assistants who stock the products were recently given a presentation so that they could pass on the application techniques to customers.
But does camouflage make-up do what it promises? A trial with Coverderm's Perfect Face foundation showed that it covers up even the most pesky dark circles under the eyes, without the need of an extra layer of concealer. However, it is thicker than normal foundations, and has the tendency of feeling heavier.