Scleroderma patients open to aesthetic treatments, survey finds
Most say they would consult with rheumatologist first
Written by |
Given that systemic sclerosis can affect their appearance, many people with the condition are open to dermocosmetic and aesthetic treatments, a survey found.
Patients said they would prefer to discuss their plans with a rheumatologist (a doctor who specializes in diseases of the joints, muscles, and bones) before proceeding.
“These findings support the integration of appearance-related counseling into routine, patient-centered rheumatology care,” wrote the three researchers in Turkey who conducted the survey.
The study, “Attitudes toward dermocosmetic and aesthetic procedures in patients with systemic sclerosis: a cross-sectional survey,” which was published in Rheumatology International.
Systemic sclerosis, or scleroderma, can cause changes in the skin and other parts of the body that may affect physical appearance. These changes can lead to lower self-esteem and affect interactions with others.
Survey finds knowledge gaps
Dermocosmetic and minimally invasive aesthetic procedures, such as laser treatments, botulinum toxin injections, and fillers, have gained interest in recent years as possible ways to improve appearance, but “little is known about patients’ knowledge, attitudes, and expectations regarding these interventions,” the researchers wrote.
They examined how 70 adults with systemic sclerosis perceived dermocosmetic and esthetic procedures. Most (90%) were women, with a mean age of 54.6. Just over half (55.7%) had diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis, a more widespread form of the disease. Many patients (70%) said the disease had changed their physical appearance, and 41.4% said they felt uncomfortable about these changes.
“Disease-related changes in physical appearance were common, with seven out of ten patients reporting visible changes and more than two out of five experiencing appearance-related discomfort,” the researchers wrote.
Despite these concerns, many patients had limited knowledge about dermocosmetic and aesthetic procedures. While more than half (55.7%) had no source of information about these interventions and most (85.7%) had never had one, nearly two-thirds (61.4%) expressed “positive attitudes” toward them, the researchers wrote.
When asked about specific types of procedures, nearly half (47.1%) said they did not know about any of the interventions included in the questionnaire. Laser hair removal (45.7%) and botulinum toxin injections (44.3%) were the best known treatments. Fillers were the most common planned intervention (17.1%).
The areas patients were most interested in treating were the nose and the cheeks. Patients with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis were more likely to feel uncomfortable about changes in their appearance than those with limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis, a form of the disease in which skin involvement is generally less widespread (53.8% vs. 25.8%).
Education was linked to attitudes toward dermocosmetic and aesthetic procedures. Patients with at least a high school education were more likely to have a positive attitude (83.9% vs. 43.6%) and were more likely to consider both nonsurgical and surgical aesthetic procedures in the future than those with fewer years of education.
Most patients (97%) said they would consult their rheumatologist before having a dermocosmetic or aesthetic procedure.
“This finding highlights the high level of trust that patients place in their rheumatologists when making decisions about appearance-related interventions,” the researchers wrote.
The team said the results “support a patient-centered approach in which appearance-related concerns and treatment preferences are discussed alongside conventional clinical outcomes.”
Leave a comment
Fill in the required fields to post. Your email address will not be published.