KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICES OF SKIN CARE AMONG PHARMACY STUDENTS

Abstract

Skin care is integral for maintaining skin health and functionality, involving routines like cleansing, moisturising, and appropriate photoprotection. Pharmacy students, as future healthcare providers, play a crucial role to influence public perceptions and behaviours regarding skin health.  Furthermore, an efficacious skin care regimen can have a positive impact on students’ quality of life which in turn can potentially affect their academic performance. To evaluate the awareness and practices related to skin care, a cross-sectional survey was conducted online among 154 Diploma of Pharmacy students at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Cawangan Pulau Pinang. The survey employed a mix of close-ended and open-ended questions to assess participants' knowledge regarding skin care, with data analysed using IBM SPSS software version 22. Among the 154 respondents, 80.5% were female, and the remaining 19.5% were male, with ages ranging from 19 to 23 years. A notable 95% of students recognised the importance of appropriate skin care for cleansing and moisturising, while 67.5% reported adhering to a proper daily skin care routine. Most agreed that improper practices could lead to various skin issues. Additionally, while 33.8% were unaware of the ideal sunscreen protection, 66.2% knew it should range between SPF 30 to 50. The majority relied heavily on the internet (95.5%) and influencers (74.7%) for skin care information. In terms of practice, students commonly washed their hands before skin care, and a significant portion (66%) believed that ideally, the face should be washed twice or more daily. Furthermore, 75.3% used cosmetic products, with the primary skin care products being cleansers (92.9%), sunscreen (84.4%), and moisturisers (77.9%). In conclusion, the study indicates satisfactory levels of knowledge and practice regarding skin care among participating students. Nonetheless, there is an opportunity to introduce additional educational programs aimed at enhancing students' understanding of appropriate skin care practices.