Detection of Pathogenic Bacteria in Make-up Tools

Detection of Pathogenic Bacteria in Make-up Tools and Evaluation of Hygiene Education Effectiveness

In addition to collecting product residues, dirt and oil, makeup products can damage the skin and cause infection as they are a breeding ground for bacteria. Studies investigating the microbiological contamination of makeup applicators have shown that makeup sponges and brushes are a means of transmitting pathogens. Other studies have determined that positive isolates are detected in almost every device taken from makeup tools. In order to draw attention to the source of infection that is not widely known by the public and to instill correct hygiene habits, this study aims to detect pathogenic bacteria in makeup tools used by university students and to evaluate the effectiveness of the hygiene training provided.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Health Education
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Health education group; Other: control group

Detailed Description

Makeup does a good job of improving the appearance of women. However, many women do not know that makeup can be a health hazard because it contains bacteria and can spread infection. In addition to collecting product residue, dirt, and oil, makeup products can damage the skin and cause infection because they are a breeding ground for bacteria. Cosmetic contamination leads to various types of infections, ranging from mild to serious.

Studies investigating the microbiological contamination of used makeup applicators have shown that makeup sponges and brushes are a vehicle for pathogen transmission. Other studies have determined that Staphylococcus aureus grows as the dominant bacteria in makeup tools and that positive isolates are detected in almost every device taken. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends washing your makeup brushes every 7 to 10 days to protect your skin and kill any harmful bacteria left on your makeup brushes.

Infectious diseases are still a major public health problem, especially in developing countries. Therefore, it is important for people to adopt proper hygiene habits, especially hand washing, to prevent infection. In order to draw attention to a source of infection that is not widely known by the public and to instill correct hygiene habits, this study aims to detect pathogenic bacteria in make-up tools used by university students and to evaluate the effectiveness of the hygiene education provided.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 64
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey
  • Ankara
    • Balgat, Ankara, Turkey, 06520
      • Ufuk University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Being registered at Ufuk University School of Nursing,
• Being over 18 and under 30
• Being female,
• Having make-up tools,
• Being volunteer to participate in the research.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Being male,
• Not having make-up tools,
• Giving up participating in the research,
• Under 18 years old, over 30 years old

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Healt Education Group; Participants will be given one session (40 minutes) of training on the definition and importance of hygiene, the rules and importance of hand washing, the importance of cleaning make-up materials, which method, material and how often they should be cleaned, and the health risks that may occur if they are not cleaned.	Other: Health education group; Participants will be given one session (40 minutes) of training on the definition and importance of hygiene, the rules and importance of hand washing, the importance of cleaning make-up materials, which method, material and how often they should be cleaned, and the health risks that may occur if they are not cleaned.
Sham Comparator: Control group; No intervention will be applied to participants in this group.	Other: control group; No intervention will be applied to participants in this group.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Hygiene Control Kit	A kit designed to perform microbiological analysis in a practical way will be used to reveal the microorganism density and pathogenic microorganism presence in the make-up tools swab sample. The Hygiene Control Kit (Hytech Slide product) is in compliance with the ISO 18593:2004 Standard. The kit is a product that can perform analysis with medium contact from all surfaces for microbiological analysis. It is possible to take samples from all surfaces, personnel, equipment, solid and liquid. Thanks to its 90-degree bendable structure, the medium comes into contact with the surface even on difficult, inclined and narrow surfaces. E.coli and S.Aureus colonies will be counted after incubation.	two weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Individual information form	The individual information form was developed based on relevant literature. The form includes 22 questions to determine the frequency and method of infection, hand washing, makeup use and cleaning of makeup tools, frequency of changing, and sharing with someone else.	two weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Ufuk University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Duygu Akçay, Asst. Prof., Ufuk University; Principal Investigator: Aslı Genç, Asst. Prof., Ufuk University; Principal Investigator: Nedim Sultan, Prof.Dr., Ufuk University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 20, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 18, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): April 18, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 6, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 6, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): February 11, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 24, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 21, 2025
• Last Verified: April 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Makeup Tools; Pathogenic Bacteria; Hygiene Education
• Other Study ID Numbers: UFUKU-HSH-DA-01

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No