From beauty to burden: mapping the health and psychosocial impacts of fragrances and cosmetic products use in the UAE.

Abstract

Background: The dynamic beauty care sector in the Middle East is on an upward trend in the UAE; however, concerns persist about the side effects of this industry, attributed to chemical exposure, which is believed to contribute to skin problems and other health issues. In the UAE, there is a lack of data on consumer usage, awareness, and the health effects associated with it.

Methods: This study presents the results of an online survey administered to 461 female subjects in the United Arab Emirates as part of a cross-sectional study. The survey consisted of 55 questions on product use, knowledge, attitudes, safety measures, and potential adverse health effects. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis were applied to identify predictors of adverse reactions.

Results: Among the 461 participants, most were aged 18-29 years (55.7%) and university educated (68.3%). The application of scent and makeup was almost widespread, as 91.5% of users applied scented products daily, and 100% of users mentioned cosmetics, 36.4% of respondents reported health problems caused by the use of these products, with the most common issues being persistent respiratory problems (16.3%), headaches (15.8%), and skin irritation (11.9%). Knowledge of fragrance safety was moderate, with only 43.8% recognizing that fragrances contain complex chemical mixtures. The study demonstrated daily cosmetic use in 75.1% of individuals who frequently perform allergy tests, and limited safety practices in 6.7% of these individuals. While allergy testing was protective, logistic regression analysis revealed that younger age, higher education, a history of allergies, and frequent product use were predictors of adverse events. This has led to the association of widespread use of fragrances and cosmetics amongst women in the UAE with major respiratory and dermatological problems.