FREQUENCY AND FACTORS LEADING TO SELF-MEDICATION IN PATIENTS WITH ACNE VULGARIS

Introduction: Acne vulgaris is a prevalent inflammatory skin disorder. Its prevalence persists into adulthood, even though it is frequently thought of as a self-limiting adolescent illness. Objective: To determine the prevalence and typical causes of self-medication among acne vulgaris patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from 13/2/2022 to 13/8/2022 at the Department of Dermatology, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar. Each patient had a comprehensive clinical examination and history. In order determine the prevalence of self-medication and its common factors; drug knowledge, prior prescription, convenience of access, mildness of condition, and lack of time, all patients underwent extensive interviews. Results: The results of the study demonstrate that out of 145 patients, the average age was 30 years with a standard deviation of ±10.47. Among them, 77 (53%) were female and 68 (47%) were male. Moreover, 88 (61%) patients practiced self-medication. The common contributing factors included drug knowledge (8%), mildness of illness (20%), easy availability (37%), previous prescription (19%), and lack of time (15%). Conclusion: This study concluded that 61% of individuals with acne vulgaris practiced self-medication. The common contributing factors included drug knowledge (9%), easy availability (37%), previous prescription (19%), mildness of disease (20%), and lack of time (15%).