With the advent of new technologies and topical medications that work wonders against hair loss, it is important to step back and determine what the causes of hair loss are. More specifically, we understand that androgenetic alopecia is the primary culprit when it comes to hair loss. In addition, there are external and physical factors that come into play that involve our habits and emotions. Smoking and Stress are known to have negative impact on our health and can also contribute to baldness.

Let’s start with smoking - How Smoking Affects Hair Growth or loss
Smoking has been proven to have a profound effect on hair loss by changing the dynamics of hair growth and restoration in the scalp. In essence, it works by promoting the level of DHT (dihydrotestosterone) in the hair follicles. According to a clinical study by the Harvard School of Public Health, DHT levels in randomly sampled smokers were 13% higher in smokers than in non smokers. In addition, testosterone was about 9% higher in smokers than non smokers, which means there are more levels for the enzyme Alpha-5-reductase to act upon in producing DHT. In conjunction with each other, testosterone and DHT increase the amount and rate of hair loss.

Is Smoking the Only Culprit?
Bear in mind that smoking alone will not cause someone without strong androgenetic alopecia genes to lose hair all of sudden. Quitting smoking will also not make your hair stay on your head if hair loss runs in your family. However, it is important to recognize the fact smoking expedites the hair loss rate. It causes the blood vessels in the scalp to constrict, which accounts for less blood flow. Plus, chemicals in smoke like carbon monoxide limit the bloods ability to carry oxygen. Smoking may even cause your hair transplant situation to become worse since it is known to cause infections and scarring, along with poor growth of the transplanted hair that’s already there. As we all know, blood flow is key when it comes to preventing the baldness cause.

Stress and baldness - What Is Your Hair Trying to Tell You?
A solid mindset contributes to vibrant and dynamic hair that’s easy to manage. Too much remorse and physical malaise turns hair dull, which leads to more maintenance that could involve the abuse of shampoos and conditioners. Waxy hair is also normal, since stress may contribute to overactive sebaceous glands that produce oil. The lack of equilibrium in the body can lead to telogen effluvim, which is a condition that affects people who have had a sudden stressful jolt to their systems. Hair loss may be induced through stressful situations that share an all-of-a-suddenness to them, like crash weight loss diets and surgery recovery.

Stress causes the hair follicles to revert back to a resting phase, which makes it stop growing temporarily. It is estimated that the amount of hairs switching to a resting phase go from a normal head’s 10 percent to as much as 30 percent of your hair. The good thing about this form of stress induced hair loss is that it is not a permanent situation and does not lead to baldness. Remember, telogen effluvim is a temporary condition as a result of shocking events. Clumps of hair may fall from your head but it will eventually grow back.

Hair is an excellent indicator of our well-being. Proper nutrition, relaxed lifestyle and good general health care can increase dramatically the number and quality of the hairs on our head. Asking your doctor for more information regarding your personal condition will help you understand and start a better lifestyle for your general health and also your hair.