Dermatologist in Dubai: a GMS guide by Yuna Shkhagosheva

Updated 1 November 2026

Contents

What Dubai's climate does to skin
Sun and moles
Melasma and dark spots
Heat rash and fungus in the heat
Air conditioning, dryness and eczema
Hard water and atopic dermatitis
Dust and sandstorms
Acne under sunscreen and helmets
Vitamin D and the sun
Hair and scalp
What we offer at GMS
Sources
FAQ

Yuna Shkhagosheva — GP, dermatologist, cosmetologist, trichologist

In brief

If you have fair skin, a history of blistering sunburns, 50 or more moles or a relative with melanoma, have your skin checked by a dermatologist once a year.
For melasma, use a tinted SPF with iron oxides: patches also darken from visible light, and without daily protection they come back.
In a randomized trial, a water softener didn't help children with eczema; what protects the skin is daily emollients, short warm showers and treating flares.

What Dubai's climate does to skin

Almost every complaint I see in clinic ties back to the local climate in some way. Changes often start in the first year after a move: skin that was no trouble back home starts to flake, break out or develop dark spots. Summer adds heat and humidity, and the AC runs indoors in every season.

Sun and moles

The sun in the UAE is strong most of the year, not just in summer. If you moved here from up north, that is a big change. Back home your skin saw the sun a couple of months a year; here it gets it constantly: at the beach, on the terrace, behind the wheel.

The AAD lists the factors that raise melanoma risk: fair skin, light eyes, naturally red or blond hair, blistering sunburns, 50 or more moles, a blood relative with melanoma, and time in the sun without protection. If any of these apply to you, I recommend a skin check with a dermatologist once a year. Everyone else can check their own skin and come in if a mole changes. I explain the ABCDE rule and dermoscopy in my article on moles. For how to use sunscreen properly, see sun and skin in the UAE.

Melasma and dark spots

Melasma shows up as symmetrical brown patches on the cheeks, forehead and upper lip. According to the AAD, it is much more common in women than in men, especially between ages 20 and 40 and in people with medium or dark skin tones. Triggers include sun, pregnancy and birth control pills.

The patches darken not only from UV but also from visible light. In a randomized trial of 68 patients with melasma, a tinted sunscreen with iron oxides, which also blocks visible light, combined with lightening treatment worked noticeably better than a UV-only sunscreen. That is why I recommend a tinted SPF for melasma rather than a clear one. We choose treatment based on the type of pigmentation. Without daily sun protection, the patches come back.

Heat rash and fungus in the heat

Heat rash develops when sweat ducts get blocked and sweat is trapped in the skin. The NHS describes it as an itchy rash of small raised spots with a prickling or stinging feeling. Cooling off, loose cotton clothing and cool showers help. Try not to scratch. If the rash hasn't cleared after a few days, have it checked.

Tinea versicolor causes lighter or darker patches on the chest, back and shoulders. It is caused by a yeast that lives on everyone's skin and overgrows in the heat. The AAD notes that it is especially common in tropical and subtropical regions, where people can have it year-round. We diagnose it at the visit with a Wood's lamp exam (luminescent diagnostics) and microscopy of a skin scraping for fungus.

Heavy sweating in the heat is another common complaint. If sweat gets in the way of daily life, we discuss treatment, including botulinum toxin injections: Botulinum therapy (treatment of hyperhidrosis) is 30 AED per 1 unit.

Air conditioning, dryness and eczema

Air conditioning runs almost year-round in Dubai and dries out the air. Skin loses moisture, feels tight and flakes, especially on the shins, hands and face. In people with atopic dermatitis, flares often start exactly this way.

The AAD's advice is simple. Keep showers to 5–10 minutes, in warm water, not hot. Apply moisturizer right after, while skin is still damp. Creams and ointments hold moisture better than light lotions. Run a humidifier in the bedroom at night. If dryness doesn't settle or itchy red patches appear, come see a dermatologist. How atopic dermatitis is treated, and why steroid creams are nothing to fear, is in our article on atopic dermatitis.

Hard water and atopic dermatitis

I get asked about hard water a lot. In a UK study of 1,303 infants aged 3 months, high domestic water hardness was linked to a higher risk of atopic dermatitis. But when researchers tested whether a water softener helps, the result was disappointing. In a randomized trial of 336 children with moderate to severe eczema, both groups improved over 12 weeks: by 20% with a softener and by 22% without one. The authors concluded that the softener gave no benefit beyond usual care.

Dubai water is desalinated, and we found no studies on it and skin specifically. A filter or softener doesn't replace treatment. What protects eczema-prone skin is daily emollients, short warm showers and treating flares.

Dust and sandstorms

We found no studies on desert dust and skin specifically. There is data on fine airborne particles in general. In a 2023 systematic review of 18 studies, PM2.5 particles were linked to more healthcare visits for atopic dermatitis in 10 of the 11 studies that measured them. After a dusty day, cleanse your skin gently and apply moisturizer; especially if you have eczema.

Acne under sunscreen and helmets

In Dubai sunscreen goes on every day, often in several layers, and mixes with sweat on the skin. For acne-prone skin that can mean breakouts. The AAD recommends products labeled "non-comedogenic" or "won't clog pores." If your usual sunscreen stings, mineral filters (zinc oxide and titanium dioxide) are a good fit. Wash your face right after a workout or anything that makes you sweat. The same goes after a helmet that keeps skin sweaty and rubbing for hours. Some acne treatments, including retinoids and isotretinoin, make skin more sensitive to the sun, so protection matters even more during treatment. How adult acne is treated is covered in our article on acne after 25.

Vitamin D and the sun

You don't need to tan for vitamin D. Despite the sun, deficiency is common in the UAE: in an Abu Dhabi hospital study of 60,979 patients, 82.5% had insufficient or deficient levels. The cause is life indoors. The answer is a blood test and, if needed, vitamin D prescribed by a doctor, not extra hours in the sun without protection.

Hair and scalp

Shedding after a move, breakage from water and chlorine, a sunburned scalp where hair is thinning, hair changes on GLP-1 medications: that is a big topic of its own, covered in our trichologist's guide.

What we offer at GMS

You will see Yuna Shkhagosheva, GP, dermatologist-cosmetologist, trichologist, member of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV).

Dermatologist consultation — 750 AED: examination, dermoscopy when needed, a treatment plan.
Screening for neoplasms — 1,000 AED: a full-body skin check for people at higher risk of melanoma.
Lesion removal: for example, Moles removal up to 8 mm is 1,000 AED. A doctor assesses the lesion first, and the removed tissue goes for histology. Skin tag removal – 1 unit is 200 AED.
Diagnostics at the visit: luminescent diagnostics, microscopy of a skin scraping for fungus, a biopsy when needed.
Cosmetology: treatment of hyperpigmentation, including injectable methods, botulinum therapy, and Selection of individual home care and basic therapy for the skin of the face and body — 300 AED.

More about the department is on the dermatology page. You can book with Yuna Shkhagosheva through the form on our website or on WhatsApp. Consultations are in English and Russian.

Sources

FAQ

How often should I get my moles checked if I live in Dubai?

If you have fair skin, have had blistering sunburns, have 50 or more moles or a blood relative with melanoma, see a dermatologist for a skin check once a year. Everyone else can check their own skin and come in when a mole changes. At GMS, Screening for neoplasms is 1,000 AED and a Dermatologist consultation is 750 AED.

What sunscreen should I use for melasma?

A tinted one with iron oxides: it also blocks visible light, which darkens the patches too. In a randomized trial of 68 patients, this type of sunscreen combined with lightening treatment worked noticeably better than a UV-only sunscreen. Without daily sun protection, the patches come back.

Does hard water cause eczema, and will a water softener help?

In a UK study of 1,303 infants, hard domestic water was linked to a higher risk of atopic dermatitis. But in a randomized trial of 336 children with eczema, a softener gave no benefit beyond usual care: a 20% improvement with a softener versus 22% without. Daily emollients and treating flares remain the foundation.

Why does air conditioning dry out my skin, and what can I do?

Air conditioning dries out the air, and skin loses moisture. The AAD advises 5–10 minute showers in warm water, moisturizer right after the shower on damp skin, creams and ointments instead of light lotions, and a humidifier in the bedroom. If dryness doesn't settle or itchy red patches appear, see a dermatologist.

What is heat rash and when should I see a doctor?

Heat rash develops when sweat ducts get blocked and sweat is trapped in the skin, causing small itchy spots with a prickling or stinging feeling. Cooling the skin, loose cotton clothing and cool showers help. If the rash hasn't cleared after a few days, have it checked.

This article is for information only and does not replace a consultation. If you have symptoms, see a doctor.

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