Exploring the Prevalence and Risk Factors of Skin Disorders in Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Although skin conditions are more prevalent, they are typically chronic and non-fatal. A sizable amount of the worldwide illness burden is caused by dermatological disorders.

Aims and Objectives: The goal of this study were to ascertain the frequency of skin conditions among medical students, contributing variables identification, and outline preventative measures.

Material & Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Al-Bayan University / Baghdad / Iraq. A pre‑tested self‑administered semi‑structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. Questions likethe type of food consumption, frequency of head baths, exposure to sunlight,& usage of sunscreen were asked& recorded.

Results:Most participants were aged 18-20 years old (56.8%). The majority were females (65.3%). Most of the participants were pharmacy students (73.7%), and the majority were in their second year of the study (64.2%). The most reported skin condition was acne (64.2%), followed by skin allergies such as hives and contact dermatitis (14.7%) and sunburn (13.7%). There isa large proportion of the participants occasionally consumed fast food (46.35%), fruits and vegetables (35.8%), sugary foods (34.7%), and dairy products (36.8%). Moreover, exposure to environmental factors revealed close results for occasional exposed to pollution (29.5%), Direct sunlight (27.4%), and chemical products (31.6%). Most of the participants (42.1%) had 5-6 hours of sleep on average,and more than half never exercised. Also, (85.3%) were smokers, and only one participant was alcoholic. Most participants rated their stress levels between 5-7 out of 10 (45.3%), with a close percentage of 8-10 out of 10 stress levels (42.1%). (70.5%) claimed the use of skincare products when (65.7%) of them used daily.

Conclusion:This study highlights the substantial influence of lifestyle and environmental variables on skin health and offers insightful information about the incidence of skin problems among university students in Iraq / Baghdad. The results show that acne, which affects a significant percentage of students, is the most frequently reported skin issue. The study also finds important lifestyle factors that are strongly linked to a number of skin diseases, especially dermatitis and acne, including sun exposure, pollution exposure, and dietary practices.According to the statistics, a sizable portion of participants frequently encounter environmental contaminants and follow poor eating habits, consuming a lot of fast food and sugary meals.

Keywords: Skin disorder, Dermatitis, Skin conditions