The use of complementary medicine among acne valguris patients: Cross sectional study

Background: Acne vulgaris is a very common skin disease and several modalities are used to manage the condition. Among those is Complementary Alternative Medicine (CAM). This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of CAM usage among acne vulgaris patients, and to determine possible factors associated with its adoption over the prescribed modern medicines.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey, conducted during an acne awareness campaign at King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH), in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The survey was conducted between January 21st and 28th 2016.

Results: A total of 658 subjects were interviewed of which 68% were female and 32% were male; 72% reported a positive past-history of acne. The face was the most frequently affected site (90.7%). Among all acne sufferers, 77% admitted using CAM. Honey was the most common CAM type used by 53.4%, followed by yogurt (43.4%). Both gender and past history of side effects to medical treatment were associated with CAM use, but the levels of education was not.

Conclusions: CAM users were mainly middle-aged females: their high levels of education did not lower the CAM adoption rates. Their choices could have been driven by cultural beliefs and boundaries embedded in the community.