Does Smoking Cause Hair Loss?

Smoking and Hair Loss

Let’s delve deeper into the science of smoking and hair loss to uncover what happens to our hair when we smoke and how permanent the damage is. Scientists have long speculated about smoking and hair loss, and studies have shown that smoking can cause hair loss via the toxins in cigarettes that disrupt hair growth and can even lead to graying.¹

Impaired Blood Flow to the Hair Follicle

Smoking affects circulation because the toxins in cigarettes make the blood vessels shrink, therefore restricting blood flow. This in turn will affect the hair follicles because they are not able to receive the necessary nutrients and minerals that hair needs for growth. Without nourishment, the hair growth cycle is disrupted, leading to extensive hair loss. The hairs can also become brittle and dry, leading to hair breakage.

Increases Risk of Baldness

If you are genetically prone to male pattern baldness it seems that smoking might increase the speed of this happening. A few years ago, a study² was conducted on a group of Taiwanese men to show there might be a link between their hair loss and smoking. The research has shown that those who smoked more than 20 cigarettes a day are twice more likely to have moderate or severe hair loss. Those who used to smoke but have quit were no longer at risk of developing baldness. The study also found that those who might be genetically predisposed to male pattern baldness (meaning they have a first-degree relative affected by it), were 13 times more likely to lose their hair.

Increases the DHT Production

Another effect of smoking is the increase of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a type of hormone³ that is responsible for giving men their masculine traits, among others. It is also believed that DHT plays a big part in male hair loss and female hair loss by affecting the hair growth cycle. Scientists believe that DHT can inhibit the hair follicles by shrinking them. Due to DHT the anagen phase (the growing phase) becomes shorter therefore the hairs do not have time to peek through the skin, and struggle to do so through the shrunken follicles. As a result, the hair becomes thinner and thinner with each cycle of hair.⁴Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health, as well as for your hair. If you are worried about your hair thinning due to smoking, the damage can be reversed once you stop. Slowly the hair will start receiving the nutrients it needs to grow stronger and look healthier. Nioxin can help you on the journey to restore your hair’s health with our range of specialized hair thinning products.

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