Does Smoking Have a Role in Alopecia?

Whether it plays a role in alopecia or not is a long-debated issue. Many of us know that smoking has negative effects on hair health. Smoking slows blood flow in the veins and can cause clotting over time. So how is our hair health affected by this situation? Cigaret; It can cause hair loss by causing free radical damage in the hair follicle, accelerating the aging process and disrupting the hormonal balance in the body. In an article published in Pubmed in 2022, smoking and androgenetic There is a study showing that there is a relationship between alopecia -induced hair loss. In the article discussing how smoking can harm the hair growth cycle, a comprehensive literature review was conducted and 15 studies were identified and analyzed. In this article, based on scientific research, smoking and androgenetic I would like to share information on how a relationship is established between alopecia.

Is Tobacco or Smoke Harmful?

The use of tobacco includes different styles. Chewing, snuffing, and inhalation of smoke by burning. Consumption of tobacco in the form of smoke is the most common use. This is what causes the most physiological damage to users. Because it affects more areas in the body. Tobacco smoke has both a solid particle phase and a volatile gas phase. In the article published in Pubmed , it is stated that most of the components in the solid particle phase and gas phase can cause hair loss. This situation; The absorption mechanism of nicotine and its metabolites is explained as follows: Nicotine and other metabolites into the body; they enter through ingestion, inhalation, topical creams. This means: Hair can be affected by nicotine both through blood and exposure to smoke.

Which Mechanisms Smoking Accelerates Hair Loss?

Vasoconstrictor Effect:

The narrowing of the inner diameter of the blood vessels is defined as a vasoconstrictor. Nicotine causes vasoconstriction in chronic smokers, slowing blood flow to the skin. In studies on hair restoration, it has been determined that the risk of developing complications is higher in smokers than in non-smokers. Smoking is considered a factor that increases the risk of necrosis, that is, tissue death, after flap surgery. Although there are not enough studies on the relationship between smoking and hair transplantation, our first request from patients before hair transplant surgery is to quit smoking.

DNA Effect:

Pubmed states that smoking can cause DNA damage. This condition is thought to affect the hair growth cycle.

Effect on Free Radicals and Antioxidants:

Many studies have been conducted on the effect of smoking on free radicals and antioxidants. These studies concluded that cigarette smoke can induce oxidative stress . We can define oxidative stress as the body’s inability to control free radicals. It is stated that this situation disrupts the molecular balance in the hair follicle. Free radical production caused by smoking can cause hair to enter the catagen phase earlier.

Early Aging Effect:

Studies have shown that nicotine ages cells and accelerates the process leading to cell death. In this case, we cannot expect the hair follicles to survive.

Effect on Hormones:

Smoking can cause an increase in androgen levels. Testosterone increase androgenetic one of the causes of alopecia.

What Do Research Results Tell?

The androgenetic While there are studies showing that it has an effect on alopecia , there are also those who claim that there is no connection between them. Androgenetics Alopecia is caused by genetic factors. However, it is known that environmental factors are also effective. Smoking is one of these factors. There are also studies proving that there is a relationship between the amount of smoking and baldness. It cannot be thought that smoking, which can affect the body in many ways, will not harm the health of the hair.