Hair Fall Risk Factors: Smoking cigarettes not only causes cancer and other problems, but it also damages your hair. Let us tell you whether it can also cause baldness.
Why does smoking cigarettes cause hair loss?
Does Smoking Cause Hair Loss? Hair loss is a problem plaguing a large number of people today. Many men accept it as a normal part of aging. But new information suggests that a common lifestyle habit in England may accelerate hair loss and even cause premature graying. Health experts say that smoking is not only harmful to the lungs and heart, but it can also damage hair roots.
How does smoking damage hair?
Smoking tobacco can damage your hair follicles and increase the risk of hair loss. A 2020 study of men aged 20 to 35, published in Wiley, compared the incidence of early-onset androgenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness) between smokers and non-smokers. It found that 425 out of 500 smokers had some level of hair loss, compared to only 200 out of 500 non-smokers. According to the Hamilton-Norwood scale, grade 3 is when the hairline recedes significantly, and grade 4 is when visible baldness appears on the top of the head. The study found that 47 percent of smokers reached grade 3 and 24 percent reached grade 4, while only 10 percent of non-smokers reached these levels. Researchers believe that nicotine and other chemicals in tobacco may accelerate hair loss, although more studies are needed on this.
Promote oxidative stress
Smoking increases oxidative stress in the body, meaning it increases the amount of free radicals. These harmful particles can damage the DNA of body cells. Tobacco smoke, pollution, and intense sunlight also have a similar effect. Damage to hair follicle cells can affect hair growth. Smoking also impairs blood flow, causing plaque to build up in blood vessels, preventing adequate oxygen and nutrients from reaching the scalp. This weakens hair, leading to breakage and hair loss. Smoking can also activate inflammatory proteins in the body, disrupt hormonal balance, and alter enzymes that regulate the hair growth cycle. All of these factors can contribute to premature hair thinning and baldness.
