A rising number of women are developing serious medical complications from untested and fake beauty products bought from non-medical staff at local salons, an investigation by Al-Watan Arabic daily discovered. In a report published on Wednesday, the newspaper related how two women suffered severe health problems after visiting their local beauty shops. Fatima, who suffers from alopecia (hair loss), was prescribed a mixture of garlic to rub into her hair by her hairdresser in Riyadh. But the substance caused a scalp irritation and damaged the roots of her hair. She then sought the help of a dermatologist, but it was too late, her hair had already been damaged. She was told that alopecia is a treatable disease, with success rates of up to 90 percent. Noof, another victim, ended up in an intensive care unit in a government hospital in Riyadh for more than one month, when she developed breathing difficulties after she was injected by a hairdresser who claimed to be a qualified beautician. She developed a disease that doctors have failed to diagnose. Dr. Ahmad Isa, a dermatology and hair consultant at Derma Clinics, said he receives one to two women every week suffering from complications developed because of the inferior quality cosmetic products prescribed to them by hairdressers and fake cosmetic specialists working at these salons. Isa said these salon staffers usually give women creams to bleach their faces. They also inject their customers for hair loss, which damages and kills the roots of their hair. He said these clinics are run by so-called “suitcase doctors” from certain Arab and Asian countries. They inject their customers with toxic substances brought from East European and South American countries. He said bleaching creams are banned globally especially those used to whiten the skin. Some of these products cost only SR10. He said these fake products can cause irreparable damage to the kidneys and also cause osteoporosis. Whitening creams contain mercury and lead which enters the bloodstream and can cause heart and liver failure. Most of the girls and women buying these products are between the ages of 15 and 35, he added. Isa said hair loss can be caused by genetic factors, hormone disorders and poor nutrition. He said women must have blood tests to determine whether they lack vitamins or have a hormone deficiency. He also warned that no shampoo can thicken or lengthen hair. Over 90 percent of shampoos sold in pharmacies are not medical products, he said, adding that only medical shampoos can cure dandruff.
