When you inhale tobacco smoke, chemicals travel from your lungs to your bloodstream.
Does smoking cause hair loss? What is the relationship between smoking and hair loss? Is smoking related to hair loss? Does smoking have an effect on hair loss? Is hair loss related to smoking?
Smoking and hair loss
Many people know that smoking increases the chances of lung cancer and respiratory diseases. But the negative health effects of smoking are not limited to your lungs.
A 2018 study showed that tobacco smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals, with at least 69 known to cause cancer. When you inhale these chemicals, they spread from your lungs into your bloodstream. They can spread from your bloodstream to other parts of your body and negatively affect many aspects of your health.
One of the lesser-known side effects of smoking is an increased chance of hair loss. It's unclear why smoking is associated with hair loss, but it's thought there are a number of contributing factors.
Read on and we'll delve into the many ways smoking can cause hair loss.
How does smoking cause hair loss?
Smoking can damage your hair follicles and increase your risk of hair loss.
A 2020 study compared the prevalence of early-onset androgenic alopecia in men between the ages of 20 and 35 and non-smokers. Androgenic alopecia is also known as male pattern baldness or female pattern baldness.
The researchers found that 425 of the 500 smokers had some degree of hair loss, while only 200 of the 500 non-smokers showed signs of hair loss.
In the Hamilton-Norwood Hair Loss Scale, grade 3 refers to a deep recession along the hairline. In Grade 4, your apex will be bald.
The researchers found that 47 percent of smokers had grade 3 hair loss and 24 percent had grade 4 hair loss. Only 10% of non-smokers achieve grade 3 or 4 hair loss.
The researchers concluded that nicotine and related chemicals may be responsible for accelerated hair loss, but more research is needed to support this theory.
Smoking can also lead to oxidative stress and reduced blood flow to hair follicles, leading to hair loss.
Oxidative stress
Smoking increases the body's production of free radicals. Free radicals are molecules that react easily with other molecules in the body and can cause damage to a cell's DNA.
Oxidative stress occurs when you have too much free radical activity in your body. Exposure to the following substances may cause oxidative stress:
- Tobacco smoke
- contaminate
- radiation
- Ultraviolet
In an earlier study in 2003, researchers proposed that toxic chemicals in tobacco smoke may cause damage to hair follicle cell DNA. Damage to the DNA of these cells can lead to impaired hair growth.
A 2018 review of research found that cells in the hair follicles of bald scalps are particularly sensitive to oxidative stress.
Blood flow to the hair follicle is reduced
The chemicals in tobacco can negatively affect your blood circulation and cardiovascular health. This FDA says smoking also causes plaque to accumulate in the blood vessels, which increases the risk of developing the following diseases:
- clot
- heart disease
- stroke
Blood vessels nourish your hair follicles, allow your hair follicles to transport nutrients and eliminate waste. Impaired blood flow to the scalp can lead to hair loss or damage to hair.
Smoking can cause hair loss in other ways
Smoking may cause other changes in the body, which can lead to hair loss. Some of the factors that have been proposed include:
- Promotes the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, signaling proteins that promote inflammation
- Hair follicle scarring due to increased cytokine levels
- Alter levels of enzymes that control tissue remodeling during the hair growth cycle
- Increases the hydroxylation of the hormone estradiol and inhibits the aromatase that leads to a state of low estrogen levels
Smoking affects hair health in other ways
In addition to causing hair loss, smoking can also have a negative impact on hair health in a number of other ways.
- Early gray hair. A 2013 study found important evidence of an association between gray hair and smoking before the age of 30.
- Hair transplants don't work well. A 2018 review of studies suggested that smokers were at higher risk of developing complications during hair transplants, such as death of skin tissue on the scalp.
- May make hair more brittle. Reduced blood flow to hair follicles can disrupt collagen production and cause hair to become brittle.
- May make hair drier. According to one study, hair oil levels tend to decrease when you are 45 to 50 years old in a 2018 study review. Oxidative stress caused by smoking can accelerate hair aging and lead to dry hair when young.
Does vaping cause hair loss?
At present, the health effects of e-cigarettes are still widely known. E-cigarette products are still relatively new in the market, and researchers are still trying to figure out all the effects it has on your body.
A 2018 report found significant evidence that vaping may cause oxidative stress and damage to DNA. Theoretically, oxidative stress and DNA damage can cause hair loss, although more research is needed to fully understand the effects of e-cigarettes on hair.
Is hair loss due to smoking reversible?
When you quit smoking, it is possible to eliminate some of the damage that smoking has caused to your body. For example, if you haven't smoked for 15 years, you have the same risk of heart disease or stroke as someone who has never smoked.
It is unclear whether hair loss caused by smoking can be eliminated. Some people with thinning hair can have significantly regrowth hair if it is caused by a medical condition.
If you are dealing with male or female pattern hair loss, you are unlikely to notice a noticeable regeneration. You may find that using Rogaine (minoxidil) can help you achieve limited regeneration.
Smoking cessation strategies
Quitting smoking is difficult, but it can have a positive impact on many aspects of your health. Your doctor can help you develop a smoking cessation plan that gives you the best chance of success.
Here are some smoking cessation tips that may help you.
- Nicotine substitution theory. Some people find it helpful to use nicotine patches, gum, or inhalers to slowly reduce the amount of nicotine they consume. By slowly reducing their intake of nicotine, they can reduce withdrawal symptoms.
- Prescription drug. Chantix, Zyban, and other prescription medications can help relieve cravings and withdrawal symptoms. You can use these medications with the theory of nicotine replacement.
- Alternative therapies. Some alternative therapies may help you break the habits you've developed around smoking. Some options include hypnosis, acupuncture, and medication.
- Supportive therapy. You may find that therapies such as counseling or support groups help make quitting smoking easier.
- Avoid smoking environments. Staying away from places where people smoke may help you reduce temptation.
- Quit the application. There are many apps that can help you quit smoking.
- Quit cold turkey. When you stop smoking cold turkey, you may experience more severe withdrawal symptoms than gradually quitting. However, it may help you get rid of your nicotine habit faster.
How smoking affects your hair ?
When you inhale tobacco smoke, chemicals move from your lungs into your bloodstream. Your blood carries these chemicals to other parts of your body, where they can negatively affect your health.
Smoking is thought to cause hair loss in a number of ways, such as reducing blood flow to the scalp and causing damage to the DNA of hair follicles. Quitting smoking can help you achieve a limited number of hair regrowths and have a positive impact on your health in many other ways.