RESUMO
Introduction Skin bleaching is a growing phenomenon worldwide and is becoming an increasing problem. Several skin-lightening products (SLPs) containing mercury, hydroquinone, and corticosteroids have impacted serious dermatological, nephrological, and neurological side effects. There is relatively little regulation, and the products are easily accessible and inexpensive. Justifications and beliefs for the use of these products vary from culture to culture, and there is little previous research on the use and abuse of skin-lightening cosmetics among Saudi women. This study examines the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the public in the western region of Saudi Arabia regarding SLPs to understand the situation better. Methodology An observational, cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted over two months between July and August 2022. A 29-question survey was used to collect data from the general population. The study included all women residing in the western region of Saudi Arabia. Non-Arabic speakers were excluded. RStudio (R version 4.1.1) was used to analyze the data. Results A total of 409 participants were included in this study; In general, 146 (35.7%) of the participants said they had ever used an SLP. More than two-thirds (67.1%) had been using them for less than a year. In terms of the most common site of SLPs application, women reported applying the products to the skin of their face (74.7%), elbows (47.3%), and knees (46.6%). Use of SLPs differed significantly across participants' ages, with the proportion of SLP users in the 20-30 age category significantly higher than non-users (50.7% vs. 36.9%, p=0.017), and non-users were more common than users within the age category >50 years. In addition, the proportion of SLP users relative to educational level was significantly higher among participants with a bachelor's degree than the proportion of non-users (69.2% vs. 54.0%, p = 0.009). Conclusions The results of this research show that Saudi women frequently utilize topical lightening products. Therefore, regulation and controlling the use of bleaching products is essential, as is educating women about the risks involved with this practice. The misuse of bleaching products should decline with greater awareness.
RESUMO
Introduction COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, is a worldwide pandemic with the most main symptoms seeming to be flu-like and fever. Besides that, dermatological manifestations have been reported as extra respiratory symptoms in previous studies. The aim of this study is to measure the prevalence of hair loss after COVID-19 infection in Saudi Arabia, and we hope to improve the knowledge on hair loss - a cause of common dermatological consultation that frequently becomes a stressful event associated with the pandemic - among all the physicians in all the specialties. Methodology This was a record-based retrospective cross-sectional, multicenter study conducted in four centers in the Makkah region. We identified 343 patients who visited the dermatology clinic for hair loss during the period 2020 to 2022. Results Evidence suggests that hair loss had been the most frequently reported post COVID-19 manifestation (48%). Our results revealed nearly half of the participants (48.5%) noticed hair loss increases by more than 120 hairs per day after COVID-19 infection, as well as half of the participants (52.6%) reported seeing hair accumulation on a pillow. Our results showed that telogen effluvium (TE) was the most reported type (156, 86.7%), followed by alopecia areata (15, 8.3%) and androgenic alopecia (9, 5.0%). Conclusion The results suggest that hair loss is noticeably prevalent in patients following COVID-19 infection, especially in females and patients with multiple comorbidities. Telogen effluvium (TE) was the most prevalent type of hair loss recognized among the patients.