A recent study has found that men who smoke more than ten cigarettes a day have over twice the likelihood of developing male pattern baldness compared to non-smokers.
Male pattern baldness is characterized by the influence of male hormones, which shorten the growth phase of hair, resulting in fine, downy hair instead of regular, thick hair from the forehead to the crown. To treat this condition, medications are used to slow the progression of hair loss, and if the effects of the drugs are insufficient, treatments such as laser therapy may be employed to restore scalp health.
According to the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, a study by Aditya K. Gupta from the Mediprobe Research team in Ontario, Canada, analyzed eight papers on the causal relationship between smoking and hair loss.
The results showed that men with a history of smoking are 1.8 times more likely to experience hair loss compared to non-smokers.
Furthermore, the amount of smoking that affects hair loss was found to be ten cigarettes per day. Men who smoke more than ten cigarettes a day are twice as likely to experience hair loss than those who smoke less than ten cigarettes a day.
In addition to these findings, the study found that among patients with male pattern baldness, the probability of continued hair loss was 1.3 times higher in smokers than in non-smokers. However, the amount of hair loss does not increase proportionally with the number of cigarettes smoked per day, nor does the disease progress more rapidly.
The researchers explained that smoking reduces the blood flow to the scalp due to the constriction of blood vessels caused by nicotine in cigarettes. They also added that cigarette smoke itself could induce hair loss.
The research team stated, “While male pattern baldness is known to have strong genetic factors, lifestyle habits such as smoking also have a significant impact. Patients with male pattern baldness should receive additional education about the negative effects of smoking on hair loss when receiving treatment.”
The study results were published in the April Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology issue.