Study links smoking with hair loss
Scientists suggest that although genes are the main cause for adult hair loss, smoking can also be an important environmental factor.
According to the study published in the Archives of Dermatology, a positive association between moderate or severe androgenetic alopecia and smoking status has been determined.
The findings show smoking 20 cigarettes or more per day and smoking intensity are important factors which can result in hair loss.
Scientists believe smoking destroys hair follicles and damages the papilla which circulate the blood and hormones that stimulate hair growth. It is also possible that smoking increases the secretion of estrogen, which may counter androgenic effects.
Androgenetic alopecia, a hereditary androgen-dependent disorder, is characterized by the progressive thinning of the hair by various patterns.
For many years, scientists believed the disease was caused by the predominance of testosterone, while recent studies have shown DHT to be the main culprit.
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