If you frequently use e-cigarettes and have been observing increased hair loss, you might be wondering if vaping causes hair loss. Vaping is a newer phenomenon whose long-term effects are not well-documented, but by looking at what we already know about hair loss and about the main ingredients of e-cigarettes, we may be able to come to an answer. In this article, we’ll answer all your questions about whether vaping causes hair loss as well as ways to prevent hair loss if you vape regularly.
If you are curious about smoking weed and hair loss, check out our previous blog!
Is it true that vaping causes hair loss?
The short answer is yes, it is true that vaping can cause hair loss, especially when done in excess. While vaping is less harmful than using cigarettes because the former contains fewer harmful chemicals, the main component of vapes – and what makes them so addictive – is nicotine.
E-cigarettes efficiently introduce nicotine to your lungs; your lungs then deliver the substance to your blood, quickly spreading the nicotine throughout your body in a matter of seconds. While nicotine levels vary depending on the brand of e-cigarette, you will probably inhale 0.5 to 15.4 milligrams of nicotine for every 15 puffs, compared to 6 to 28 milligrams for a cigarette.
Nicotine consumed through vaping can cause hair loss and damage other areas of your body by constricting your blood vessels and hindering circulation; in doing so, vaping prevents nutrients in your blood from reaching your cells (especially your hair follicles, which require these much-needed nutrients to thrive and to grow hair).
By impeding your hair follicles from receiving the nutrients they need, the nicotine that comes from vaping causes hair loss. Other possible health risks associated with vaping include brain damage, mouth or gum disease, lung cancer, and heart issues, although there is a lack of clinical studies on vaping’s long-term effects.
Preventing hair loss while vaping
One course of action to prevent hair loss from vaping is to simply quit vaping, but given that nicotine is addictive, oftentimes quitting vaping cold turkey is difficult and takes a great deal of time, effort, and dedication. Here are some lifestyle changes you can consider to help prevent hair loss even while you’re still vaping. These will also help prevent hair loss even if you don’t vape at all!
- Eating a healthy, well-balanced diet: While this won’t completely cancel out the side effects associated with nicotine, consuming foods with nutrients like antioxidants (compounds that can “slow down” aging in cells) will strengthen the health of your hair follicles and prevent hair loss. Foods with plenty of antioxidants include kale, blueberries, and pecans.
- Reducing alcohol consumption: It’s important for your body to absorb sufficient nutrients that can allow your hair to thrive. Heavy drinking alongside vaping can reverse this by damaging your gut. If you drink, consider consuming less alcohol if you’d like to minimize hair loss.
- Reducing sun exposure: Hair is easily damaged and broken by too much exposure to the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. If you are trying to prevent hair loss, consider wearing a hat or carrying a parasol on especially sunny days to protect your hair.
- Avoiding heat and other chemical treatments: The NIH linked heat and chemical treatments such as dying and perming to increased hair loss. Consider avoiding these procedures to help prevent hair loss.
- Exercising regularly: Hair loss has also been linked to stress, and regular exercise has been proven to reduce hair loss. The National Health Service recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week, or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise a week.
Try these tips to prevent hair loss caused by vaping, or hair loss in general!
