Exploring Dermatofunctional Perspectives beyond Aesthetics: An Integrative Literature Review

Abstract

Introduction: Dermatofunctional Physiotherapy is an area of physiotherapeutic specialty that aims to promote, prevent, and treat integumentary injuries. However, this field of action is usually erroneously limited to aesthetic and cosmetic procedures. However, the scope of Physical Therapy goes beyond aesthetic procedures. Objective: To identify the scope of dermatofunctional physiotherapy beyond aesthetics. Methodology: This is an integrative literature review with the objective of summarizing and exploring the proposed theme. For this, the PRISMA guidelines were used, as well as the PICOT strategy for a better delineation of the research question and research theme. Results and discussions: It was observed that the role of the physiotherapist in this field is directly related to aesthetics, which is one of the most prosperous segments within the health area, due to the great demand for aesthetic procedures. Among the main resources evidenced in this study, lymphatic drainage, electrothermophototherapeutic resources, myofascial release, and manual techniques were observed. Final considerations: The area of physical therapy is not exclusively dedicated to the aesthetic environment, it was observed that this specialty acts strongly in the promotion, and prevention of rehabilitation of patients with metabolic, integumentary, and musculoskeletal alterations, in addition to promoting and preventing diseases related to obesity, scars, geloid edema, flaccidity, and other integumentary dysfunctions.