Ethnopharmacy for Skin Diseases and Cosmetics in Lithuania: Access to Health Care and Risk of Self-Treatment

The study conducted in the Marijampole region of Lithuania assessed the use of natural substances for treating skin diseases and cosmetics, revealing that traditional ethnopharmaceutical knowledge is prevalent but not fully aligned with European Medicines Agency recommendations. Interviews with 40 respondents identified 62 plant species used, with common applications for treating wounds, eczema, and skin inflammations, and for cosmetic purposes like reducing hair loss. However, only 47% of these plants are recognized in official European monographs, and just 48% of those align with traditional uses reported by participants. This highlights the need for further evaluation of the safety and efficacy of ethnopharmacological practices to better integrate them into modern healthcare.