Introduction

Cosmetics are preparations intended to be applied to the human body for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness or altering the appearance without affecting the body’s structure or functions [1]. The increasing demand of consumers’ desire to be ‘’good looking’’ and little societal awareness towards safety of these products has resulted in increasing cosmetics utilization [2–4]. Despite social perception of their safety and tolerability, during recent decades there is evidence for harmful effects of these products [5–7]. Globally, reported numbers of adverse events are so far very low [8]. This underestimation can be mainly attributed to self-diagnosis, self-use (medication), and the absence of medical consultation, particularly by users may not recognize or give attention to mild and moderate harmful events [8]. In addition, underestimation of such harmful effects may be because of the absence of formal and reliable monitoring systems (‘cosmetovigilance’) being in place [9]. Altogether, this results in extremely low reporting rates even in a global context [2, 9, 10].

In the western world, most countries have laws and regulations on cosmetic safety and labeling; however, in developing countries, including Ethiopia, cosmetics do not need marketing authorization unlike for medicinal products [11]. The drug regulatory system pays little attention to protecting the public against the harmful effects emanating from these products, as is also true in many other countries [12–16]. In addition, some consumers did not read labels in order to identify the ingredients and other useful information on the cosmetic products before deciding to use them [17, 18]. A study conducted in Jimma Town in Ethiopia revealed that products tested for their skin reaction showed not only the presence of negligible skin irritancy but also the presence of prohibited ingredients in all the products tested [11]. Another study conducted among university students reported that a significant number of students complained of different forms of adverse effects from cosmetics [19, 20].

The high level of illiteracy and loose regulations as well as the climatic conditions where the country is situated means that we should expect more potential interactions of topically applied cosmetic products with UV light [11, 21]. In Ethiopia, non-medicated cosmetics use is very common in society [11]. It can be speculated that there will be numbers of unreported potentially harmful and severe incidents caused by cosmetics. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and determinants of cosmetic-related adverse events among Jigjiga Town residents, Eastern Ethiopia.

Methods

Study Design and Set-Up

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Jigjiga Town, the capital of the Somali regional state of Ethiopia. The town has ten Kebeles (the smallest administrative unit) and four of them were included in this study. The study was carried out from May to June 2014.

Study Population

Participants’ inclusion criteria were adults (≥18 years) who had lived in the town at least for 6 months prior to our data collection period. Four Kebeles were selected by using simple random sampling; the numbers of households (HH) were proportionally allocated to the four Kebeles, based on the size of the Kebeles. A systematic random sampling technique was used to include every 5th HH, and subsequently one eligible adult member from each HH was randomly selected.

The main outcome variables were experiencing cosmetic-related adverse events (yes/no) and the different types, as claimed by participants. Expected adverse events were defined and listed on the data collection tool. Participants were also given the option to mention if they did found a matching phrase for the adverse event(s) they experienced.

Potential determinates for the outcome variables were (1) socio-demographic characteristics, (2) frequency of cosmetics use, (3) number of cosmetics used, (5) use of traditional herbal cosmetics, and (6) ways of cosmetics use.

Operational Definitions

Traditional Herbal Cosmetics

These are homemade cosmetics prepared from indigenous herbs in the study area.

Modern Cosmetics

Manufactured, packed and labeled by international or national companies and commercially available in the local markets.

Data Source and Collection Procedure

Data were collected via interviews using a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire. Participants were interviewed for (1) socio-demographic variables, (2) cosmetic use (yes/no) and, (3) cosmetic-related adverse events. The tool was prepared in English and translated into local languages using standard procedures. Data collectors had a health science background supervised by principal investigators.

Sample Size Calculation

A single population proportion formula was used for the sample size calculation required for the study. Due to the lack of prior data, sample size was estimated based on 50% prevalence at 95% confidence interval and 4% degrees of freedom. The final sample size was 600.

Compliance with Ethical Standards

The Institutional Ethical Review Board of the School of Pharmacy, Addis Ababa University, gave permission to conduct the survey, and discussions about the aim and purpose of the survey was carried out with Jigjiga Woreda Health Office, while, finally, informed consent was obtained from each study participant before conducting the interview.

Data Entry and Analysis

Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the nature and frequency of cosmetic use. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were applied to investigate the determinants of cosmetic use associated with adverse events. All explanatory variables associated with the outcome variable in the bivariate analysis with p < 0.20 were included in the multivariate logistic regression model. Epi info 3.5.1 and SPSS v.20 for Windows prram were used for the data entry and analysis, respectively. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

Results

Among the 600 HHs approached, 559 were covered which gives a 93% response rate. The majority of the study participants were female, 424 (76%). More than half of the respondents, 310 (55.5%), were within the age group of 18–20 years. Nearly three-quarters of them were single. A total of 520 (93%) of them had used cosmetics within 2 weeks prior to the interview date. Among these, 280 (54%) claimed to use cosmetics for cleansing purposes, 100 (19%) for beautification, 76 (14.6%) for protection from sunlight, and 29 (5.5%) as medication. Shampoo was the most commonly used cosmetic type with 182 (33%), followed by deodorant, 153 (27%), and face powder, 90 (16%). A to tal of (44%) of the respondents have used traditional herbal cosmetics along with the modern cosmetics (Table 1).

Table 1 Socio-demographic and cosmetics use in 559 respondents, among Jigjiga Town residents, Ethiopia
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A total of 342 (61%) had claimed to experience adverse events among which three-quarters were by females. The most frequently reported subjective symptoms were: allergic reactions, 149 (36%); acne, 66 (16%); hirsutism, 52 (12.5%); skin thinning, 40 (9.6%); hair breakage, 35 (8.4%); and face and other body parts skin soreness, 31 (7.4%) (Fig. 1). Among those who reported to experience adverse events, 121 (35.4%) consulted health care providers while 92 (27%) stopped using the cosmetics for some time but when the adverse events disappeared they started using them again, 74 (21.6%) stopped using other cosmetic products which had similar contents, and 64 (18.7%) stopped using any kind of cosmetics. Most of the study participants, 481 (92%), collected their cosmetic products from either supermarkets or shops.

Fig. 1
figure 1

Percentage of cosmetics-related adverse events reported by participants in Jigjiga Town in June 2014. Total number claimed was 415 (there were participants who reported more than one adverse event). A allergic reactions; appearance of acne; hirsutism; D skin thinning; E hair breakage; F skin soreness; G discoloration of face; H skin thinning

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Determinants for Experiencing Adverse Events

Adverse event experiences were directly associated with age. Older aged participants (21–30 years old) tended to claim experiencing less adverse events compared with the youngest ones (16–20 years old), (AOR 0.59; 95% CI 0.34–0.90). The association seemed to be similar in age groups greater than 31 years of age; however, the association did not show statistical significance (AOR 0.49; 95% CI 0.208–1.22). Higher educational status (college or university) increased the chance of reporting adverse events compared with non-literate participants (AOR = 2.77; 95% CI 1.11–7.00). However, middle level education (primary or secondary) did not show any association with reporting of adverse events. In the bivariate model, participants with lower monthly incomes tend to report adverse events compared with those with higher incomes (COR 0.50; 95% CI 0.28–0.90). However, in the multiple regressions model, there was no significant difference by income. The occurrences of an adverse event show a significant association with occupation with self-employed and unemployed participants being less likely to report adverse events compared to housewives (AOR 0.30; 95% CI 0.10–0.80) and (AOR 0.11; 95% CI 0.02–0.52), respectively. Other variables including gender and marital status did not show statistically significant associations with the occurrence of adverse events (Table 2).

Table 2 Factors affecting occurrence of adverse events among household respondents in Jigjiga Town, June 2014 (n = 559; 95% CI)
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Cosmetics Utilization Characteristics and Occurrence of Cosmetics Related Adverse Events

Those who used cosmetics for special occasions (AOR = 0.60; 95% CI 0.36–0.99) or only sometimes (0.65; 95% CI 0.37–1.14) had less likelihood of reporting adverse cosmetic events as compared to daily users. The use of traditional herbal cosmetics did not show a significant association with experiencing adverse cosmetic events. Participants who used different types of cosmetics by mixing them had a twofold likelihood in experiencing adverse cosmetic events compared to those who used cosmetics without mixing (AOR = 1.98; 95% CI 1.18–3.20). In addition, those who used cosmetics by mixing with water or saliva were more likely to experience adverse events (AOR = 5.83; 95% CI 2.64–12.87). Frequency of cosmetic use per day also showed a significant association with claiming related adverse events. Those who used cosmetics twice daily had a two times greater likelihood of experiencing adverse events compared to those who used a specific cosmetics once per day (AOR = 2.27; 95% CI 1.21–4.24). Those who used cosmetics three times and more than three times showed a significant association as compared to those who used them once per day (AOR = 1.82; 95% CI 1.00–3.39) and (AOR = 1.92; 95% CI 1.03–3.57), respectively. The number of cosmetics products used per day showed a significant association with the experience of cosmetic-related adverse events, as the number of cosmetic products used per day increases the odds of experiencing an increase in adverse events, and the association is statistically significant (Table 3).

Table 3 Cosmetics utilization pattern and occurrence of cosmetics related adverse events in Jigjiga Town, June 2014 (n = 521; 95% CI)
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Discussion

The number of participants who reported experiencing adverse cosmetic events was higher as compared to studies conducted in other parts of Ethiopia [19, 20], and in other countries such as the Netherlands (12%) [22], UK (12%) [23], Nepal (24%) [8], and Rio de Janeiro (38%) [24]. This can be explained partly by the low level of literacy in the study area, and also the little priority given to non-medicated cosmetic use safety evaluation and laboratory assessments in Ethiopia [11, 21]. Geographically, our study area is one of the warmest places in Ethiopia. In such an area, cosmetic storage and handling may require special care and protection; however, in realty, most cosmetic sales outlets lacks proper storage. In Ethiopia, including our study area, most cosmetic outlet sellers are not professionals but are also not educated. This may result in improper storage and sale of products, product exposure to sunlight, and inappropriate handling of products as compared to cosmetics from drug retail outlets [20].

In this study, females reported a higher number of adverse events, and this finding is in line with a study conducted in Nepal [8]. Allergic reactions and acne were the most commonly reported cases, and similar types of adverse events were also reported in other studies [19, 20]. Younger age participants reported more adverse events which could be due to the high consumption rate by this age group, as has been reported in Malaysia, and also better awareness of cosmetics-related adverse events as age increases [18]. A study conducted in Nepal documented that only one-quarter of the patients with cosmetic-related adverse events consulted health care providers [8]; however, one-third of our study participants with adverse events did so, which would seem to suggest that many complaints were of a (reasonably) serious nature. In line with other studies, most reported adverse events in this study were related to sites of cosmetic application on the body [22, 23].

Low adverse event reporting by participants with lower educational status can be explained in two ways. First, it could be because cultural, religious or social factors for low cosmetic use. The second is that they may experience an adverse event but were not able to identify what it was and whether it was caused by the cosmetics product they used. In line with previous reports [19, 20], the frequency of use of cosmetic products was an important predictor for experiencing an adverse event. In addition, the use of multiple cosmetics has a significant association with adverse event experience. This could be partly explained by interaction between cosmetic products or a synergistic effect of the products to each other.

Participants who used water or saliva for mixing were more likely to experience adverse events. Mixing cosmetic products with media not described by the manufacturer may result in a change in the physical and chemical property of the product or may produce unintended chemical reactions, which may result in unexpected adverse events. In addition, water and saliva are suitable media for bacterial growth can will also affect the concentrations of the preservatives [19, 25]. Use of traditional herbal cosmetics in our study did not show a significant association with experiencing adverse events; however, a number of studies have reported increased adverse events with their use [20, 26–31].

Limitation of the Study

This study may suffer from unmeasured confounders such as the duration of exposure to the cosmetics and UV light. Participants’ medical illnesses and medication history were also not within the scope of this study. Such factors are, however, known to have interactions with cosmetic products. Since the majority of our study participants were female, the prevalence contraceptive- or cosmetic use-induced adverse events needs further potential interaction study. Some of the adverse events reported by our study participants may not necessarily have been caused by the cosmetic product they used. This needs further investigation for causality assessment, which was beyond the scope of this study.

Conclusions

A higher proportion of cosmetic users reported experiencing at least one adverse event. The number of cosmetic products and their frequency of use were important predictors for experiencing adverse events. This implies the need to consider cosmetic product use-related safety concerns. Approaches to address such an issue may include awareness creation programs and promoting the concept of cosmetovigilance among cosmetic sellers, users, and other stakeholders.