JEDDAH, 16 May — Young Saudi males are plagued by two hair-related problems.
The first has to do with their obsession with hair cosmetics, such as shampoos, conditioners, curling creams, strengtheners and dyes.
The other, which is sometimes a result of the first, is the very expensive treatment for hair loss that has suddenly taken the local market by storm.
And their hair crises may be exacerbated by the wearing of the Saudi traditional head cover (Shomagh and Ghotra), according to an Arab News investigation.
While some young Saudis told Arab News that neither their early hair loss nor their baldness are serious problems because they wear head scarves that conceal their secret, the fact that the number of specialist dermatologist clinics has dramatically increased in the Kingdom in the last 10 years indicates that those who just don’t give a damn are in a minority.
Heritable hair loss, known as male pattern baldness or androgentic alopecia, may be affecting up to 80 percent of young Saudis.
“Most of the problems are inherited, although as many as 20 percent are caused by other factors such as using hair cosmetics, washing hair with treated water and a bad diet,” Dr. Hasan Al-Amoudi, a dermatologist at Ideal Clinics and a member of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery, told Arab News.
“I started to lose my hair after I used hair cream a great deal,” recalled Ahmad Al-Ghamedi, 25, a student at the Faculty of Engineering in KAAU. “I’ve spent loads of money since then on hair treatments, like natural scalp oils and creams prescribed by my doctor. But they just didn’t work, so now I’m spending SR1,000 a month on specialist treatment.”
Hair transplant surgery is widely available in the Kingdom, with prices starting at SR8,000.
A number of Saudi youths told this reporter they are concerned that wearing a head cover all day at work or school may be the cause of their early balding.
However, when asked for their opinions, the specialist doctors and dermatologists contacted by Arab News were split on the issue.
“I don’t think that the wearing of a Ghotra or Shomagh would cause baldness,” Al-Amoudi insisted. “Let’s take the Sudanese as an example. They are very famous for having hairy heads, in spite of the fact that they wear traditional head covers most of the time.”
On the other hand, Dr. Khalid Al-Kuwaiti, a dermatologist at Nora Medical Plaza, argued that the head cover could sometimes affect hair health, especially during the summer.
“Sweating increases the amount of sodium chloride in the scalp, which block the pores,” he explained.
“Any employee who has to wear Ghotra or Shomagh should take off their head scarves during working hours for five minutes and massage their heads in order to stimulate the blood vessels of the scalp,” advised Sameer Ahmad, a dermatologist at Al-Obaji Dermatology Center.
Dr. Amal Mohanna, another dermatologist at the center, suggested that the head covers should be removed during the day and swabbed with alcohol-content antiseptic lotions, widely available in the Kingdom’s pharmacies.
Feras Hashim, a Saudi employee, said that when he was in his twenties he used to be addicted to hair gel and tried around 25 different kinds.
“I took no notice of my mother’s warnings that I would go bald early if I didn’t quit using hair gel. But she was right. I’m almost completely bald, even though I’m still in my thirties,” he said.
Saleh Shomrani, 27, a teacher at a government school, said he is getting treatment to make his hair grow back before he gets married next summer.
“I feel ashamed to have a bald head on the first day of my marital life,” he admitted.
