Disclosures

Did you receive any funding to support your research for this TOPIC?
Yes
Please specify entities (individual, company, society): AID nonprofit organisation, Sally Gottesman

Were you provided with any honoraria, payment or other compensation for your work on this study?
No

Do you have any financial relationship with any entity which may closely compete with the medications, materials or instruments covered by your study?
Yes
Please specify entities (individual, company, society): Brixton Biosciences, EyeCool Therapeutics

Do you own or have you applied for any patents in conjunction with the instruments, medications or materials discussed in your study?
Yes
Please specify date...: Pending. Patents are owned my MassGeneral Hospital which is my employer
and status : 2015-2022

This work was not supported by any direct or non direct funding. It is under the author's own responsability

Objectives: Dermatologists are called to improve their screening capabilities in order to recognize potentially problematic patient, borderline with BDD, and possibly avoid treating them.

Introduction: In spite of Covid pandemic, aesthetic and cosmetic dermatological procedures have consistently increased. The psychosocial impact this long lasting pandemic situation is inducing on the world population is difficult to fully appreciate but it is definitely quite important. Even in normal general conditions seeking aesthetic and cosmetic treatments might hide variable degrees of psychological discomfort which have been enormously amplified by Covid pandemic.

Materials / method: Seeking aesthetic and cosmetic improvements is not a good strategy to “cure” underlying psychological uneasiness and might even worsen the original situation should results do not match patients’ clinical expectations. Dermatologists are called to improve their screening capabilities in order to recognize potentially problematic patient, borderline with BDD, and possibly avoid treating them.

Results: This exercise is not always easy since many skillful dissimulators may fool even the most expert practitioners but all efforts should be implemented to spot even the most subtle signs of internal psychological pressure during the initial interview. In rare cases cosmetic and aesthetic perception of their body appearance by psychologically fragile patients can even cause problems after simple diagnostic procedures such as a shave biopsy performed to rule out a possible non-melanoma skin cancer.

Conclusion: “Wounding” the unstable perceived aesthetic equilibrium of such patients can generate a disproportionally aggressive reaction even if perfect healing processes have been assisted by proper explanatory instructions and wound care. Personal professional charisma and innate emphatic attitude are very valuable weapons to defend ourselves should controversies arise before or after cosmetic and aesthetic procedures.

Disclosures

Did you receive any funding to support your research for this TOPIC?
No

Were you provided with any honoraria, payment or other compensation for your work on this study?
No

Do you have any financial relationship with any entity which may closely compete with the medications, materials or instruments covered by your study?
No

Do you own or have you applied for any patents in conjunction with the instruments, medications or materials discussed in your study?
No

This work was not supported by any direct or non direct funding. It is under the author's own responsability

Disclosures

Did you receive any funding to support your research for this TOPIC?
No

Were you provided with any honoraria, payment or other compensation for your work on this study?
No

Do you have any financial relationship with any entity which may closely compete with the medications, materials or instruments covered by your study?
No

Do you own or have you applied for any patents in conjunction with the instruments, medications or materials discussed in your study?
No

This work was not supported by any direct or non direct funding. It is under the author's own responsability

Disclosures

Did you receive any funding to support your research for this TOPIC?
No

Were you provided with any honoraria, payment or other compensation for your work on this study?
No

Do you have any financial relationship with any entity which may closely compete with the medications, materials or instruments covered by your study?
No

Do you own or have you applied for any patents in conjunction with the instruments, medications or materials discussed in your study?
No

This work was not supported by any direct or non direct funding. It is under the author's own responsability

Disclosures

Did you receive any funding to support your research for this TOPIC?
No

Were you provided with any honoraria, payment or other compensation for your work on this study?
No

Do you have any financial relationship with any entity which may closely compete with the medications, materials or instruments covered by your study?
Yes
Please specify entities (individual, company, society): GPQ Srl

Do you own or have you applied for any patents in conjunction with the instruments, medications or materials discussed in your study?
No

This work is presented thanks to the support of: GPQ educational grant