Prevalence of Using Non-Prescribed Topical Corticosteroids on the Face of Female Citizens of Makkah, Saudi Arabia (2020-2021)

Abstract

Topical corticosteroids (TCS) are among the most prescribed medications for the treatment of dermatological diseases. However, the inappropriate use on the face without any prescription might result in several adverse effects such as purpura, atrophy, and rosacea-like dermatitis. This emphasized the need to evaluate the prevalence of non-prescribed use of these products in females to determine appropriate action. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to estimate the point prevalence of using non-prescribed TCS on the face of female citizens of Makkah, Saudi Arabia. This study was conducted among women living in Makkah using an electronic questionnaire distributed through social media applications from October 2020 to January 2021. The questionnaire comprised of various questions about the participant's characteristics, the pattern of using TCS, the reason for usage, and how frequently the participants used TCS. The study included 565 women from Makkah; 258 (45.7%) of the participants used topical skin treatment, 126 (48.8%) reported that the treatment contained TCS, most of the participants who used this topical skin treatment (52.4%) did not have a medical prescription. Doctor’s prescription had no significant association with the duration of using TCS (p = 0.06), frequency of using TCS (p = 0.05), or how TCS was accessed (p = 0.06). Most of the women, 47 (71.2%), who used un-prescribed TCS did not know that TCS can cause acne (P = 0.003). A significant association was found between topical steroids and having no prior knowledge that it can cause telangiectasia (P=0.005). The most common area for TCS use was face (41.5%). The use of TCS among women in Makkah is high, primarily for the treatment of the face. However, more than half of the women use it without a doctor’s prescription.