Does Dubai Water Cause Hair Loss? Breaking Myths With Dr. Natalia Spierings In 2021

When we are desperate for solutions, it is essential that we seek the right answers; desperation can lead us to believe just about anything and there’s a danger that we will accept twaddle.  For me, one of the best things that has come out of this new life is the platform of speech that allows me access to the right people to be able to help or inform others. Everyday, many women reach out to me about hair loss and I could not ignore the number of people worrying about this. A common assumption is that it has something to do with the Dubai water.

I got in touch with some of the best professionals in the industry across the globe and I am so glad that I did. It not only gave me solid answers to all of the questions but also opened my eyes to most of the factors related with hair loss.  I can tell you with utmost confidence: Dubai Water is not making your hair fall out!  We tested it. Keep reading for the detail.

As I set out to understand hair loss and its causes, there was one common takeaway.  We are all individuals and our systems react, function and are constituted differently. Therefore, we must stop diagnosing ourselves on the basis of what we read online or see influencers telling us is a generic solution. This was one of the reasons why I hesitated to respond to any of the hair loss questions. I know that every single one of you who follow me and support me on this journey, trust me to answer authentically and where possible, with proper advice.

I began with the most recurring one – ‘is Dubai water causing hair loss?’. And who better than my best friend and acclaimed expert, Dr. Natalia Spierings. A Consultant Dermatologist, Mohs Micrographic + Dermatological Surgeon, and Educator. She helped in understanding the plausible causes of hair loss and busted some myths about scalp and hair loss.  We conducted water tests by comparing Dubai water and London water. I’ve covered that bit in the question-answer section below.

Here are the 12 frequently asked questions that came to me and the answers to them are as given by Dr. Natalia Spierings.

1 – Is Dubai water a cause of hair loss?

Definitely not! We tested both the London water and Dubai water and they are exactly the same. There is nothing wrong with Dubai water. Categorically it is not the Dubai water that is making your hair fall out, there are other factors that cause it. Could it be the heat then because someone said that it makes the hair follicles open too much leading it to make the hair fall out easily? But no! Dr. Natalia breaks the biggest myth of all time for us -“Follicles or pores don’t open or close”, pores are not doors.  So let’s go further into the Q&A section to see what contributes to hair fall.

2 – The phases in the life of a single hair?

There are 3 phases in the life of a hair. The growing phase, the resting phase, and the shedding phase. The technical terms for these phases are Anagen, Catagen, and telogen. This is a continuous cycle. It is normal to shed fifty to a hundred hairs a day. It looks more in volume for people with longer hair because of the length. However, this cycle is constantly being repeated and there are always hairs in these phases.

3 – When do you have to worry about hair loss?

One thing to understand is that we are individuals and our systems function differently.  Therefore hair fall quantity is highly subjective and cannot be defined as problematic or normal by one common standard. Then when do you worry about hair loss? When you begin to notice more hair fall than is normal to YOU, over a period of recent timelines, then you should consult a doctor to find out why.

4 – If the hair loss is serious, what is the reason behind it?

The reasons can be many.  Dr. Natalia’s diagnosis process is first taking a case history of the patient to understand if they’ve been taking medications, or if they’ve had stressful life events like moving home, moving countries, changing jobs, a death in the family, if they’ve had children recently.   If they’ve been affected by Covid, etc. These major life events have a major contribution to stimulating hair loss.

5 – Do traumatic events in the past affect hair loss?

Of course!  Dr Natalia looks at a three to six-month window and considers any traumatic events in the recent past that may have triggered hair loss. However, if it’s been going on for a long time then one needs to look further into the past.

6 – Scarring hair loss or a disease in the scalp?

Once the case history has been discussed, she examines the scalp.  She takes a good look with a microscope to determine whether it’s a scarring hair loss which is hormone and age-related or a disease in the follicles of the scalp. This differentiation is vital in going forward with treatment.

7 – What are some red flags to look out for?

If you have been worried about hair loss, here are some of the red flags you could look out for.   Patchy hair loss, redness of the scalp or itchiness around these patches.   Any thick scales or flaky skin on the scalp could indicate a scalp disease. In cases like these, it would be better to see a dermatologist because it could be scalp diseases like Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia, Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia, Foliculite Areata Universalis.  These need urgent attention and treatment to avoid losing hair too early. Then there are non-scarring hair loss problems like Alopecia Areata or Alopecia Totalis.  Most women face age-related, hormone-related, medication-related, or pregnancy-related hair loss.  So to be able to treat these, it is important to diagnose the cause. It is, therefore, best to consult a dermatologist.

8 – Do you have seasonal hair loss?

It may seem that a particular season or time of the year gives you higher hair fall but it also depends on the hair cycle. Seasons can cause certain other trigger factors like fever or physical stress that may lead to hair fall but the condition improves as the trigger recovers too. So it mainly depends on what phase your hair cycle is in for that season or point of time.

9 – Is a blood test necessary for a case of hair loss?

Dr. Natalia says that the only blood test she would normally take is the Ferritin levels as low iron levels can cause hair loss.  The only way to improve this is by increasing iron levels to a normal standard of 70 mgs/l which is great for hair growth and this is best done with food before supplements.

10 – Can stress cause hair loss?

Hair loss that is caused by stress is referred to as the Telogen Effluvium. It is very common because any type of heavy stress can lead to hair loss. One of the classic examples of Telogen Effluvium is pregnancy. 

11 – Is hair loss genetic in women?

Having hormone-related hair loss that is genetic from your father’s side is not that uncommon. Therefore, in most case history insights Dr Natalia takes a record of the hair structure of both the mother and father because genetics heavily determine what type of hair they have.

12 – Should I use products? If yes, which products should I use?

There is a lot of noise about hair loss products ranging from shampoos to serums for hair loss.  The only product that Dr. Natalia vouches for, is Minoxidil. But she presses on the importance of using it consistently for at least a period of three to six months to see results and indeed for the rest of your life to maintain. It has done wonders for her patients who have used it consistently. She does add in other components like Finasteride and Tretinoin but it’s best to consult a qualified dermatologist.

2% Minoxidil can be bought over the counter or from Amazon.  You can increase it to 5% if you don’t have any irritation.

Do not use Minoxidil on your eyebrows or you will get a hairy face!  That is what Bitmatoprost is for. (Blinq)

I hope these questions and answers have given you more clarity about hair and the way it functions. If you have any more questions on hair loss, let me know.  I’ll get the answers.