Smoking is one of those insidious habits that almost no one plans to have. Usually, it starts because we think it makes us look cool or seem more grown up. Then it is an addiction that can impact both your money and your health.
But did you know that smoking can cause hair loss? Which often leads to another question that we are not as clear about – can vaping also cause hair loss?
How Does Smoking Affect Hair?
Much like how a cookie is not good for weight loss, smoking is not good for the human body. All the various ingredients mixed together can cause different types of problems… creating a multi-factored problem for your hair. Tobacco smoke is known to cause premature graying and nicotine, according to this study, might be responsible for accelerating androgenetic alopecia (or age-related hair loss).
Smoking can also cause your blood vessels to constrict, making it harder for blood to get to the hair follicles. The hair follicles need nutrients carried in the blood stream for hair growth and hair health. Tobacco smoke and nicotine accumulation in hair strands may also play a role in oxidative stress. Recent studies have shown that skin in areas with hair loss are more vulnerable to oxidative stress.
Oxidative stress is thought to cause damage to the hair follicle at DNA level and can contribute to hair brittleness. So, even if the hair does not fall out, it breaks off. That is bad for hair health in general and makes hair look thinner.
Does Vaping Cause Hair Loss?
The science is not clear yet, but the short answer is probably.
A 2018 study showed that cigarettes have different combinations of as many as 7,000 different chemicals that are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. While many of those chemicals are not present in vaping, other chemicals are present. And one of the most dangerous substances to your health is sort of the point: tobacco smoke.
According to this study from the National Institutes of Health, tobacco smoke can lead to hair loss and premature graying. So much for smoking making you look cool… It does make you look older though.
Will Hair Loss From Smoking Grow Back?
While hair loss from smoking is not a myth, it has been difficult for scientists and hair restoration specialists to address because it can cause hair loss in many different ways. If you are having all-over hair loss, you may simply have upset the delicate balance of nutrients that your hair needs and knocked it out of its normal cycle of loss and regrowth. In that case, hair regrowth could begin as soon as three to six months after stopping smoking.
But hair loss might also be caused by damage from the free radicals, and that stress oxidation requires a much different treatment approach. Finally, as we discussed, some smokers simply see age-related alopecia start at a much younger age. In that case, since the body has just responded earlier than usual to something it would have done anyway, the hair is unlikely to grow back. In this case, you may need a transplant to restore the area.
Since smoking can create more negative outcomes in hair transplants, smoking cessation before starting a hair loss restoration process is a good idea. Because it helps your overall health, it will also facilitate good recovery.
Reef Hair Has Solutions for All of Your Hair Loss Concerns
No matter what kind of hair loss you are experiencing, Reef Hair can help you find a solution. Our dedicated team will work with you to find the treatment options that best suit your specific needs surrounding your hair loss and thinning. Call us today to get started looking better!
