Changes in Cosmetics Use during Pregnancy and Risk Perception by Women.

Cécile Marie,Sophie Cabut,Marie-Pierre Sauvant-Rochat,Françoise Vendittelli

doi:10.3390/ijerph13040383

Abstract

Cosmetic products contain various chemical substances that may be potential carcinogen and endocrine disruptors. Women’s changes in cosmetics use during pregnancy and their risk perception of these products have not been extensively investigated. The main objective of this study was to describe the proportion of pregnant women changing cosmetics use and the proportion of non-pregnant women intending to do so if they became pregnant. The secondary objectives were to compare, among the pregnant women, the proportions of those using cosmetics before and during pregnancy, and to describe among pregnant and non-pregnant women, the risk perception of these products. A cross-sectional study was carried out in a gynaecology clinic and four community pharmacies. One hundred and twenty-eight women (60 non-pregnant and 68 pregnant women) replied to a self-administered questionnaire. Cosmetics use was identified for 28 products. The results showed that few women intended to change or had changed cosmetics use during pregnancy. Nail polish was used by fewer pregnant women compared to the period before pregnancy (p < 0.05). Fifty-five percent of the women considered cosmetics use as a risk during pregnancy and 65% would have appreciated advice about these products. Our findings indicate that all perinatal health professionals should be ready to advise women about the benefits and risks of using cosmetics during pregnancy.

Highlights

The European Union Cosmetics Directive defines a cosmetic product or personal care product (PCP) as “any substance or mixture intended to be placed in contact with the external parts of the human body or with the teeth and the mucous membranes of the oral cavity with a view exclusively or mainly to cleaning them, perfuming them, changing their appearance, protecting them, keeping them in good condition or correcting body odors” [1]
Data were collected by a standardized, anonymous, self-administered questionnaire. They comprised the socio-demographic and obstetrical characteristics of the women enrolled, their use of cosmetics outside of pregnancy, changes in use following pregnancy (PW subgroup) or intended changes in the event of pregnancy (NPW subgroup), risk perception of the use of cosmetic products, and previous advice about these products given by a health professional
Compared with the non-pregnant women (NPW), pregnant women (PW) were more likely to live in a town of fewer than 5000 inhabitants (p < 0.01) and less likely to have received chronic treatment before pregnancy (p = 0.05) (Table 1)

Summary

Introduction

The European Union Cosmetics Directive defines a cosmetic product or personal care product (PCP) as “any substance or mixture intended to be placed in contact with the external parts of the human body (epidermis, hair system, nails, lips and external genital organs) or with the teeth and the mucous membranes of the oral cavity with a view exclusively or mainly to cleaning them, perfuming them, changing their appearance, protecting them, keeping them in good condition or correcting body odors” [1]. Cosmetic products are widely used in daily life. They contain various chemical substances such as phthalates and other plasticizers, bisphenol A, parabens, benzophenones (ultraviolet filters), polycyclic musks, triclosan (antimicrobials), dioxane, organic solvents, pigments, Int. J. Res. Public Health 2016, 13, 383; doi:10.3390/ijerph13040383 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph

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