Background: The third most common skin condition worldwide is acne vulgaris. This condition affects both sexes, with peak prevalence among teenagers and young adults. This study aimed to assess the attitude and behavior of the participants regarding acne and its treatment, and to identify the factors that affect the knowledge, practice, and attitude among adolescents and adults.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 1,134 participants in Saudi Arabia between January 7 2021 and February 20 2021. An electronic-based questionnaire of 53 questions was used to collect data from people in Saudi Arabia. Data were analyzed by Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 25. The chi-square test was used to determine the association between qualitative variables.
Results: Multiple factors play a role in malpractice and bad attitudes: educational, financial, and cultural. The data show poor knowledge about acne vulgaris, especially for those younger than 21 years old, as they present just above half of the participants with poor knowledge (50.8%); at the educational level, those who had the highest percentage of good knowledge were postgraduates (52.3%), and the highest percentages of poor knowledge were the participants with high-school-level education (65.3%). As for knowledge, the internet was the source that our participants relied on (58.9%), followed by doctors, relatives, and friends.
Conclusion: This study indicates poor knowledge and malpractice toward acne vulgaris among the Saudi Arabian population. The data provide a benchmark on the general level of knowledge, attitude, and practices, which can be used to formulate an awareness program.
Key words: Acne vulgaris, OTC treatments (over-the-counter treatments), herbal remedies, prescribed medications.
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