Does Smoking Cause Hair Loss? This association is mainly due to toxins in tobacco that damage the hair follicles and hormones. How does smoking cause hair loss?
Smoking can increase hair loss due to reduced blood flow to the hair follicles. Nicotine leads to a reduced blood supply, affects cell proliferation and therefore affects growth.
Damaged hair follicles
The main components of tobacco are: nicotine and caffeine that have the greatest effect on the hair. Nicotine can damage the hair follicles during smoking, which not only affects blood circulation and hormones in the scalp, but also increases androgen secretion, which leads to hair loss. Damaged hair follicles should definitely be hair loss treatment.
Poor blood circulation
Hair follicles need oxygen, nutrients and minerals to produce healthy hair. Nicotine in tobacco can shrink blood vessels, which in turn cause circulatory disturbances and block blood flow. When the hair follicles do not get enough food, they are forced to go into the resting phase of their cycle, which then leads them to fall out.
Increased DHT
DHT is an androgen that helps give men the characteristics of men. It is believed that DHT will shrink hair follicles, leading to hair loss in men. Cigarettes increase the production of DHT in the body, leading to an increased chance of hair loss and receding hairline.
Increased head oil secretion
Nicotine in tobacco can stimulate the body’s dopamine system to accelerate the secretion of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that promotes the secretion of adrenaline in humans, which can cause excitement. When the secretion of adrenaline increases, it will increase the secretion of oil in the scalp, thus severely obstructing the hair follicle, making the hair follicle unable to breathe air. This can affect your metabolism and disrupt the environment in which your hair grows, eventually causing hair loss. It makes hair loss treatment mandatory because it disrupts the metabolism.
Damaged scalp environment
Most of the harmful substances such as tobacco and soot produced during smoking are alkaline. But our scalp is weakly acidic. Smoking for a long time, the tobacco dust cover will destroy the pH of the scalp and will eventually affect hair growth.
What medical conditions cause hair loss?
Among the many causes of hair loss, the most common of the medical conditions that can cause hair loss are:
- Anemia
- Thyroid disease
- Other endocrine problems (especially those that produce excess androgens)
- Gynecological conditions – such as ovarian tumors
- Connective tissue disease (such as lupus)
- Surgical and general anesthesia
- Rapid weight loss or unbalanced diets
- Severe emotional stress
- Medicines such as oral contraceptives, thyroid medicines, blood pressure medicines (such as beta-blockers or water pills), “rejection” medicines such as lithium, Prozac or tricyclic antidepressants, blood thinners such as heparin or coumadin. The cure for all these medical causes of hair loss (which never cause total baldness) is that of the underlying cause.
What is local hair loss?
Hair loss can be generalized or localized. Local hair loss can be divided into types of scars and non-scars.
Alopecia Areata is a genetic, autoimmune disease that characterizes the scar-free type. It is manifested by the sudden appearance of round hair loss spots associated with normal skin and can be treated with topical corticosteroid injections. Fungal infections can cause hair loss in children.
Scarring alopecia can be caused by a variety of medical or dermatological conditions such as Lupus and Lichen Planus or by topical radiotherapy. Baldness from injuries or from local medical problems that are usually treated can lead to hair transplantation.
Traction Alopecia is the hair loss that occurs with continuous hair pulling, in some beauty treatments. Contrary to popular belief, the causes of hair loss do not include dandruff. Likewise, the type of water, the frequent shampoo, the oil of the scalp does not affect the hair growth at all. Various shampoos that claim to make hair grow have no basis.
Does smoking cause hair loss?
Long-term smokers suffer from poor circulation. Your blood is the vehicle through which oxygen and vital nutrients are delivered to the body. Efficient supply and free flow of your blood is what keeps your body healthy. Your hair follicles are certainly not different, but how can smoking cause hair loss?
In order to maintain healthy hair growth, your hair follicles require a rich amount of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. Some studies claim that for smokers, hair loss may worsen as reduced circulation leads to an inadequate supply of these nutrients.
Although science supports this claim, the link between smoking and hair loss is not closely linked to other hormonal or hereditary factors. Despite the links between smoking, hair loss and blood supply, many smokers have adequate (though not optimal) circulatory function. If this level of circulation is enough to lead you up a ladder, it will probably support some level of normal hair growth.
Of course, as a hair specialist, I would always recommend quitting smoking. The health risks are undeniable and certainly do not contribute to the promotion of healthy hair growth. There are also claims that the chemicals in tobacco are toxic to the hair follicles. However, personally, I believe that proper nutrition is the most critical factor in hair loss treatment.
There is evidence that this is the case, but it is inherently related to your general health. Correlations are constantly occurring between thinner strands and smoking, women who smoke and hair loss, smoking and premature thinning, and even the questionable relationship between toxic cigarettes and harmful hair follicles. A recent article in the New York Times highlighted the possible link between premature graying, smoking and hair loss. All of these links between smoking and hair loss are supported by some scientific principles, but what is important is a point that is no longer disputed. Smoking is bad for your overall health.
So does smoking cause hair loss? Directly or indirectly, it could be the cause of hair loss. The best thing you can do to nourish your hair from the inside is to create a fantastic environment for hair growth. So throw this package in the trash and make sure you provide your body with all the nutrients it needs to promote existing growth and give your favorite locks some TLC.
