Claims that city's water causing 'hair to fall out and eczema'

A city's hard water may have caused some people's hair to fall out, hairdressers have claimed.

Stylists have told the BBC their clients regularly complain of problems when they first move to Bristol.

Research shows children are three times more likely to develop eczema if they live in a hard water area - including Bristol and most of the south east of England.

Bristol Water advised customers who have ongoing concerns to consult their GP.

The company's website states water hardness is caused by dissolved calcium and magnesium and can vary depending on local geology.

A spokesperson from Bristol Water said: "Supplies in the Bristol area are generally classified as hard, however we have not received any reports of these affects."

Kelly Hill, owner of Yours Truly hairdressers on Bristol's Clifton triangle, said a Bristol University student had recently sought help after moving to the city.

"Since coming here [from Asia] her hair has been falling out and the quality of her hair has come down," Ms Hill said.

The hairdresser told the BBC she is not personally affected as she's "born and bred" in the city, but finds those from other areas "really suffer" and often experience hair loss.

Dozens of people have also complained online about their hair falling out and their skin peeling after moving to the city.

One person said the issues disappeared after spending a week on holiday in northern England.

Antonia Wood, who also worked as a stylist, would often bring bottles of water back from Devon after visiting family to wash her hair in Bristol.

The stylist, who is currently living in New Zealand, said: "I really struggled with not only my hair but drinking it, I hated it.

"I used to freeze the large bottles and then keep them in the fridge as I needed them," she added.

Flora McMahon, a yoga instructor based in Bedminster, said she faced the same issue.

Moving to Bristol from Wells 18 months ago, she said the city's water affected her hair the most.

"Whenever I go home I find my hair is so much nicer," she said. "Here I feel it's so much flatter and less curly. My boyfriend says the water tastes much better in Cornwall."

Meanwhile, Carsten Flohr, chair in Dermatology and Population Health Sciences at King's College London University, said children are three times more at risk of developing eczema, if they live in a hard water area and carry a filaggrin mutation.

Mr Flohr said: "If you have a filaggrin skin barrier gene mutation, you will have less 'mortar' between the 'bricks' of the skin barrier.

"As a result, you will lose more water across your skin barrier, resulting in dry skin (often from birth) and a higher risk of developing eczema.

"The 'mortar' is a substance called natural moisturising factor, which contains breakdown products of filaggrin," he said.

Follow BBC Bristol on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.