Hair fall: common causes and what helps

Common causes of hair fall

Hair grows in cycles. At any time, most hairs are growing and a smaller number are resting before they fall out. Anything that pushes more hairs into the resting phase leads to extra shedding a few months later.

Common causes include:

• Family pattern hair loss. Gradual thinning at the crown or hairline in men, or a widening parting in women. It often runs in families.
• Shedding after a trigger. A high fever, an operation, having a baby, major stress or a sudden change in diet can cause heavy shedding two to three months later. This is called telogen effluvium and usually settles within months.
• Low iron. Iron deficiency is a well-known cause of hair fall, especially in women with heavy monthly cycles or people who eat little red meat.
• Thyroid problems. Both an underactive and an overactive thyroid can affect hair.
• Hormonal changes. For example after pregnancy, or in conditions that affect hormone balance.
• Some medicines. Hair fall can be a side effect of certain treatments. Never stop a prescribed medicine without speaking to your doctor.
• Hair styling. Tight braids, ponytails or buns, and frequent heat or chemical treatments can pull on and weaken hair.

Is it just the UAE water and weather?

Many residents blame desalinated water or the heat for hair fall. Hard water and strong sun can leave hair dry, dull and more likely to break, which can look like hair loss. But breakage is different from hair falling out from the root. If you are shedding whole hairs with a small white bulb at the end, the cause is more likely to be one of those listed above.

Gentle care still helps. Use a mild shampoo, condition the lengths, avoid very hot water and protect your hair from strong sun with a cap or scarf.

Hair loss treatment in the UAE: do shampoos and serums work?

A hair fall shampoo in the UAE pharmacy aisle usually contains ingredients that aim to strengthen hair or care for the scalp, such as caffeine, aminexil, niacinamide or plant extracts. They can make hair feel thicker and reduce breakage. The evidence that they change true hair loss is limited, and results vary from person to person.

An anti hair loss serum or scalp lotion is left on the scalp, so it stays in contact for longer than a shampoo. These are cosmetic care products, not medicines. Give any new product at least two to three months of regular use before judging it, because hair grows slowly.

For family pattern hair loss, there are licensed medical treatments. Some are only available on prescription. Doctors are clear that no treatment works for everyone and that the effect generally lasts only while you keep using it. Ask your pharmacist or doctor which options suit you.

Biotin and hair vitamins: what the evidence says

Biotin is a B vitamin. It is often sold in the UAE as a hair supplement, but the evidence is weaker than the marketing suggests. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) notes that biotin deficiency from diet is rare, and sets the adequate intake for adults at just 40 micrograms a day. Small studies suggest biotin may help hair only in people who are actually deficient.

There is also a safety point. Laboratory medicine experts have warned that high-dose biotin can interfere with some blood tests, including thyroid and heart tests, and give false results. If you take biotin, one of the most popular hair supplements in the UAE, and are due a blood test, tell your doctor and the laboratory.

Hair, skin and nail multivitamins may be useful if your diet is limited. If low iron is the cause, a blood test and a doctor's advice are better than guessing. Follow the label or ask your pharmacist about how much to take.