
These days, thinning hair is a common problem not only for men but also for women. Although there are various factors that cause thinning hair and there are differences between men and women, did you know that there is one thing in common that poses a major risk? It is smoking. Do you have any idea what it is?
Smoking isn’t good for your hair health!
The smoking rate among women in 2014 was 9.8%, as announced in the National Smoking Rate Survey by Japan Tobacco Inc. Although there are age differences, approximately 1 in 10 adult women smoked. Among women in their 30s and 40s, who are supposed to be more conscious of beauty and health, the smoking rate exceeds 13%.
However, smoking is also a factor in thinning hair and hair loss, both of which are on the rise among women today. No matter how much money or effort you put into hair care, it will be for naught if you continue to carry the risk of smoking. Let’s take a look at the effects of smoking on hair.
Constricts blood vessels in the scalp, resulting in poor circulation
The key to preventing thinning and hair loss is blood circulation to the scalp. When blood circulation is poor, the scalp becomes stiff, making it difficult for blood to circulate to the hair matrix cells, which produce hair, and preventing necessary nutrients from reaching them. This leads to thinning of the hair and disruption of the hair cycle, in which hair grows back at a regular rate.
Hair that should grow back falls out or does not grow back for a longer period of time, which naturally leads to thinning of the hair. Nicotine in cigarettes causes blood vessels at the ends of the body, such as the limbs and head, to constrict and blood circulation to deteriorate.
In addition, the body temperature of the scalp and lower extremities drops dramatically, so daily smoking leads to constant hypothermia and poor circulation.
Consumption of nutrients important for hair health
Vitamin C helps in the elimination of harmful substances that have entered the body through smoking. It is responsible for breaking down the active oxygen produced in the body. The amount of vitamin C consumed for this purpose is considerable, and is said to be about 25 mg in one cigarette.
The daily amount that an adult should consume to maintain good health is 100 mg, so smoking can easily cause a vitamin C deficiency. Vitamin C helps to strengthen the scalp and blood vessels. It is also known to consume B vitamins, which are necessary for cell metabolism, and vitamin E, which is essential for blood circulation.
Smoking consumes a very large amount of nutrients that are important for hair.
Cell aging due to reactive oxygen species
Reactive oxygen species are one of the causes of aging. Smoking produces a large amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the body, as many as 100 trillion in a single cigarette. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) combine with unsaturated fatty acids that surround the outer layer of cells to form lipid peroxide, which ages cells in the same way that iron rusts.
The division of hair matrix cells is necessary for the production of hair, but the reduced activity caused by reactive oxygen species can result in the loss of the ability to produce hair.
Smoking is a major risk not only for thinning hair and hair loss, but also for cosmetic reasons. There is no evidence that smoking makes you fat, and it is possible to have a healthy diet by simply being aware of what you are doing. It is possible to have a healthy diet by being aware of one’s own health.



