Prevalence of Over-the-Counter Cosmeceutical Usage and the Impact of a Health Education Intervention in Female Saudi University Students

Faten AlRadini; Azza El-Sheikh; Noura Bin Jamaan; Hessah Hushan; Wajd Binhuwaimel; Fatemah Alhedaithy; Soad Alanzi

doi:10.2147/CCID.S349440

Prevalence of Over-the-Counter Cosmeceutical Usage and the Impact of a Health Education Intervention in Female Saudi University Students

Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2021 Dec 23:14:1867-1877. doi: 10.2147/CCID.S349440. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Faten AlRadini¹, Azza El-Sheikh², Noura Bin Jamaan¹, Hessah Hushan¹, Wajd Binhuwaimel¹, Fatemah Alhedaithy¹, Soad Alanzi¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, 11671, Saudi Arabia.
² Department of Basic Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, 11671, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Background‎: The reckless use of over-‎the-‎counter (OTC) cosmeceuticals among females is alarming due to possible health hazards, ranging from allergy to fatal anaphylaxis and toxicity.

Methods‎: In the current study, we investigated the prevalence of cosmeceutical use among female students at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University (PNU) and tested the effect of a pilot health education program in improving their knowledge. A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was performed with 515 participants.

Results‎: A significantly higher percent (81%) of participants used OTC cosmeceuticals than did not use them. The selection of OTC ‎‎cosmeceuticals was not affected by socioeconomic ‎status, chronic illness, cosmeceutical cost, or possible cosmeceutical side effects. Students from non-health colleges demonstrated poorer knowledge scores for the hazards of cosmeceuticals, which directed our attention to the importance of health education in this field. Therefore, a pilot interventional health education program was conducted with 54 participants to compare their ‎‎knowledge before and after the‎ intervention. At the end of the program, a higher‎ percentage of participants had improved their knowledge and realized the need to ‎consult a physician before using ‎OTC ‎‎cosmeceuticals.

Conclusion: The health education program had a significant impact on knowledge ‎concerning the use of cosmeceuticals, and it is recommended that such programs be included in ‎undergraduate extracurricular activity, especially for female students.‎.

Keywords: cosmeceuticals; health education; over-the-counter; side effects.

Grants and funding

This research project was funded by the Deanship of Scientific Research, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman ‎University, through the Pioneer Researcher Funding Program, Grant No 39-PR-2.