Don’t blame water for your hair loss

Hair transplant surgeon Dr. Sajjad Khan busts some myths on hair loss

How many times have you heard your friends and colleagues blaming Dubai for their increased hair loss? They attribute it to the water in the city.

Dubai-based Dr. Sajjad Khan, the celebrity hair transplant surgeon, clears some common misconceptions.

Dr. Khan has treated top Bollywood actors, royalty and athletes. His website mentions actors like Gulshan Grover, Sanjay Kapoor, singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya and more.

Being associated with Dubai for the past two decades, he knows what the reasons for hair loss – and water is not one of them.

“I laugh when some of my clients insist on washing their hair with mineral water. It is not required at all. If you have so much money, give it to charity. If the water in Dubai is harsh, it will only make your hair brittle but that could be mended by using a better shampoo and conditioner,” said Dr. Khan.

And that’s not the only myth he busted during the chat he had with City Times.

Dr. Khan goes on to share that a majority of his clients are men who suffer from genetic hair loss. “Men are more prone to balding because of their genetics, but it can be corrected with a good diet and regular exercise. The problem, however, is that if we don’t address the hair loss issue, and don’t seek timely medical help, it may be too late to reverse the damage.”

While hair transplant can be an effective one-time solution, in many cases, regenerative medicine can fix your hair woes. “Great hair starts with a healthy scalp and regenerative treatments can harness the power of your own body’s stem cells to strengthen hair and reduce loss,” Dr. Khan explained.

It is not only men, genetics is also responsible for hair loss among women – at least in 50 per cent of the cases.

The other 50 per cent is metabolic as women’s bodies go through many changes due to pregnancy or menopause.

Special attention should be given to pregnant women’s diets because sometimes, the hair they shed never comes back, Dr. Khan cautioned.

Menopause is a very critical time as 90 per cent of the estrogen levels drop due to the reduction in testosterone levels, he said. It is the imbalance in hormone levels that leads to hair loss.

“In these cases, replacement therapy is very helpful as estrogen levels can be restored. If replacement therapy is not an option, regenerative medicine can regenerate hair through your own body stems.”

The other common causes of hair loss among women include low hemoglobin levels and thyroid hormone levels. Drastic weight loss (3-4 kg a month) can also lead to hair fall or thinning hair, he said.

If the water in Dubai is harsh, it will only make your hair brittle and that could be mended using a better shampoo and conditioner.” Dr Sajjad Khan