Plenty of people realize there are various health risks associated with smoking. However, you might think more along the lines of lung cancer and similar diseases than anything to do with hair loss.
In this article, we are going to answer some of the more common questions that crop up revolving around a potential link between smoking and hair loss. If you’re searching for ways to stop hair loss and you’re a smoker, this might inspire you to give up.
Does Smoking Cause Premature Hair Loss?
The clinical term for hair loss is alopecia. There are several types of alopecia. One recent study from 2020 looked at the hair of 1,000 participants. Five hundred of those were smokers, with the remaining 500 being non-smokers. Of the 500 smokers, 425 showed some hair loss, whether mild or more severe. Only 200 of the 500 non-smokers had any signs of hair loss. The degree of hair loss shown in the smokers was also more notable. Almost half had a noticeably receding hairline or worse. In contrast, this was only noted in 10% of those in the non-smoking group.
So, while this information comes from just one study, it seems there is a correlation between smoking and some degree of hair loss. We know that smoking restricts blood flow, hence why it is a risk factor for circulatory problems. However, this reduced blood flow affects the entire body – including blood flow to the hair follicles.
Our bodies rely on all kinds of vitamins and minerals to work properly. Those travel in the blood to reach various parts of the body. If the blood flow is reduced, it makes sense that the nutrients reaching the hair follicles are reduced too. This in turn means that you may become more prone to hair loss.
You might also notice a change in the condition of your hair. There is a chance that the reduced blood flow may slow the production of collagen. This in turn means your hair may become more brittle. You might notice this more if you have a hairstyle that puts more pressure on your hair. For example, women wearing tight ponytails will be more likely to experience traction alopecia – and smoking may in turn make the hair even more brittle and prone to this.
Is Hair Loss From Smoking Reversible?
It’s unclear, although it may depend on the type of hair loss you are experiencing. It can also depend on how long you’ve been smoking for. If you’ve only been smoking for a short while, you’re likely to notice better hair regrowth than if you’ve been smoking for years.
Hair loss caused by male-pattern baldness (or the female version) will not recover. However, if you’re suffering from thinning hair, you may see an improvement in hair growth once you stop smoking. This could take a few months to show if you can stop hair loss this way, since you’ll need to wait for the condition of the hair to improve and grow through.
Another plus point is that cigarette smoke contains toxic chemicals. We all know the dangers of so-called secondhand smoke. However, that smoke will be wafting around your head and your hair and may cause further and more immediate damage to your hair follicles. Stop smoking and that smoke stops affecting your hair in this manner, too.
Is Hair Loss All Down to Smoking?
There are many factors that can influence the condition and growth of your hair – and of the chance of experiencing some form of alopecia. Certainly, genetics plays a key role here. However, the above-mentioned study – and several others over the years – do point to the risk of smokers having a higher chance of experiencing hair loss.
If you smoke, there are all kinds of reasons why stopping is the best bet. The sooner you do it, the sooner you are likely to begin noticing the positive effects on your hair. While most people are likely to stop for other reasons, you now know that your hair might well thank you for it as well. And this is a far more visible change to note than many others that can occur at the same time.
If you are experiencing hair loss or thinning hair, contact the team at Unique Hair Concepts and schedule a private, complimentary consultation, located near Scarsdale, NY.