Everyone is likely to experience some degree of hair loss or thinning due to age, which over time, can eventually lead to balding. However, did you know that if you’re a smoker, it’s common for you to experience premature hair loss? Since smoking combustible cigarettes can cause many negative health concerns, hair loss is just another reason to kick the habit.
Does smoking cause hair loss?
While many factors may lead to hair loss, including stress, genetics, hormones, and lifestyle habits, smoking combustible cigarettes are a huge contributor. This is because blood flow is vital to the hair follicle—tiny pores in the skin that produce hair—for healthy growth. High nicotine levels reduce blood flow throughout the body while constricting your blood vessels, negatively impacting the oxygen and nutrients needed to sustain your hair growth cycle.
What effects does smoking have on your hair?
Smoking combustible cigarettes:
- Depletes collagen, dehydrating your hair and robbing it of natural oils
- Causes a buildup on your scalp, making your roots oily
- Causes premature greying
- Brings changes to your endocrine system, hampering the glands
- Reduces vitamin A and C, which is needed for collagen production
Does quitting smoking help air growth?
One of the best ways to reverse the effects of smoking combustible cigarettes on the hair is by quitting for good. This is because hair loss due to smoking is reversible and treatable, allowing you to regrow healthy hair. While it takes time for hair to return to a healthier state, especially if you were a long-term smoker, it’s essential to take the steps towards quitting for good. For those who aren’t able to quit cold turkey, we recommend utilizing quit smoking aids like e-cigs to transition away from tobacco and lower your nicotine levels. Once you eliminate the contaminants from your body, hair growth will come.
Have you noticed any changes in your hair growth after using quit smoking aids? Drop a comment below to share with our readers.
