Does Smoking Cause Hair Loss?

Increased Tobacco Smoke and Chemicals Exposure Causes Hairfall

The effects of smoking on hair loss are widespread, with some studies pointing to an increased risk of both men and women experiencing hair loss due to tobacco use. Research indicates that nicotine and other chemicals found in cigarettes result in increased hair loss.

Research performed by scientists concluded that smokers are twice as likely to suffer from moderate or severe hair loss than nonsmokers.

Nicotine is a vasoconstrictor, meaning it causes blood vessels to narrow, therefore limiting the amount of oxygen that reaches the scalp and follicles. The lack of oxygen can stunt follicle development and prevent proper growth of the hair shaft. Smokers often experience dull, lusterless hair with breakage along the length of the shafts, which may lead to excessive shedding of healthy strands.

Smoking impairs blood circulation to the scalp, resulting in a decrease in oxygen supply to the follicles of the scalp. This prevents the growth of healthy hair and makes it weak and brittle.

The harmful effect of smoking on hair is so severe that it can sometimes cause complete baldness if you continue with your bad habits of smoking or chewing tobacco after noticing this problem. So, precautionary measures should be taken from the first signs of thinning of hair.

Exposure to Tobacco Smoke Leads to Oxidative Stress

Hair loss is a common problem for many men and women. It may be caused by genetics, poor nutrition, or an underlying disease. Smoking is one of the leading risk factors for hair loss.

The effects of smoking on hair loss are likely the result of oxidative stress. When exposed to tobacco smoke, hair follicles are exposed to free radicals that lead to cell death and hair loss.

Oxidative stress is the imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in a person's body. Free radicals can cause damage to cells and tissues, while antioxidants protect the body from this damage. Exposure to tobacco smoke leads to oxidative stress, which has been linked to hair loss

The reason smoking causes hair loss has to do with the chemical makeup of cigarettes. They contain nicotine, which is highly addictive; carbon monoxide; hydrogen cyanide; ammonia; formaldehyde; acetone; benzene; and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). All of these chemicals are toxic in high doses and can lead to significant oxidative stress in your body when you're exposed to them long enough.

Negative Impact on Blood Circulation Due to Tobacco Smoke

The blood vessels that supply the scalp with vital nutrients are constricted when you inhale tobacco smoke, making it more difficult for these nutrients to reach your hair follicles. One of these nutrients is iron, which plays an essential role in hair health because it helps form red blood cells that carry oxygen throughout your body.

Smoking can harm blood circulation due to the toxic chemicals it contains. These chemicals can damage blood vessels, resulting in a poor supply of nutrients and oxygen to the hair follicles.

Smoking also damages the blood vessels in your scalp, which can make it harder for nutrients to reach your hair follicles. The result is thinner hair with less pigment that has a shorter lifespan

The nicotine content in cigarettes reduces blood flow to the scalp. This causes a lot of stress on your follicles and accelerates hair loss. The other primary reason for smoking-related hair loss is due to poor lifestyle choices. Smokers often suffer from heart problems which cause a reduction in the supply of oxygen to the follicle.

It doesn't matter if you smoke now and then or even if you use an electronic cigarette or another vaping product instead of traditional cigarettes or cigars — any amount of smoking does damage. And just because you don't see immediate effects doesn't mean that your hair isn't being damaged on a microscopic level.

Smoking Can Cause a Series of Hair Issues

Smoking also affects the growth phase of hair by reducing the amount of time it stays in this phase. This causes premature ageing and can result in thinner, more brittle hair that is more likely to break off. When they quit smoking, smokers with thinning hair may experience even greater amounts of hair loss because their older strands are already brittle and prone to damage.

It is not just the nicotine that damages the hair follicles, and it is also the tar and other chemicals in cigarettes. Hair becomes brittle, dry, and prematurely grey.

Smoking is a well-known cause of premature greying of hair. Tobacco affects melanin production – the pigment responsible for skin and hair colour, resulting in the white or grey strands that become more common with age. The addictive nature of tobacco leads many smokers to light up before bed, often resulting in dry and brittle hair due to its exposure to oxygen.