Medical Science
Volume 25, Issue 107, January, 2021
Topical corticosteroid misuse among females in Riyadh city
Amar Fathi Mohamed Khalifa1, Adel Mehmas Hamdi Alragas2♦, Ashwaq Sari Abohamad3, Amer Abdulaziz Alharbi4, Hamdah Saud Alruwaili5, Mohammed Mousa Alghamdi6, Sarah Mohammed Almuashi7
1Assistant Professor, Community Medicine, WHO Consultant, College of Medicine, Almaarefa University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Email:
akhalifah@mcst.edu.satel
2Staff pharmacist, pharmacy department, Investigational Drug and Research Unit, King Saud University Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi
Arabia; Email: Ph.adel@hotmail.com
3Medical intern, College of Medicine, Alfarabi College, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Email: Ashwag-987@hotmail.com
4Medical Student, College of Medicine, Jouf University, Sakaka, Saudi Arabia; Email: Am99999er@gmail.com
5Medical intern, College of Medicine, Jouf University, Sakaka, Saudi Arabia; Email: Hamda1417@outlook.sa
6General Practitioner, College of Medicine, Almaarefa University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Email: Malghamdi377@outlook.sa
7Medical intern, College of Medicine, umm Alqura University, Alqunfudah, Saudi Arabia; Email:Almashi64s1a@hotmail.com
♦Corresponding author
Staff pharmacist, pharmacy department, Investigational Drug and Research Unit, King Saud University Medical City,
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia;
Email: Ph.adel@hotmail.com
ABSTRACT
Topical corticosteroids are considered of the most used drugs by dermatologist to treat many of dermatological conditions. The key
explanation for abuse and the production of side effects is the availability of potent topical corticosteroids at a low cost over the
counter. To our knowledge, there is no study conducted in Riyadh looking for commonest adverse effect of topical corticosteroids
misuse. Across sectional study was done on 459 females from Riyadh city, KSA, where data were collected using a pre-designed selfadministered
questionnaire. The questionnaire included items about participants’ characters, reasons of using topical corticosteroids,
types, duration and frequency of application of topical corticosteroids used, and the presence of side effects. Consent obtained prior
to the collection of data stressing privacy and the right of participants to withdraw from the study at any time. More than 46.1% of
the participants were 21 to 30 years of age. Skin whitening was the key justification for using topical corticosteroids. A rise in hair
pressure (22%) accompanied by skin thinning (21.3%) was the most common adverse effect. There was a significant statistical
relationship between age and justification for usage and a significant statistical relationship was found between marital status and
motives of using topical corticosteroids. Misuse of topical corticosteroids is prevalent among females in Riyadh for several reasons,
the most important of which is skin whitening and lightening and the most common side effect was increase in hair intensity.
Keywords: Topical, corticosteroid, Misuse, Females, skin, effects
Medical Science, 2021, 25(107), 120-125
