Electronic Cigarettes And The Risk Of Hair Loss

added 18th December 2014

A number of hair loss forums have been discussing whether the craze for ‘vaping’ – inhaling an atomized nicotine solution from an electronic cigarette as a Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) aid when giving up smoking – could cause shedding. Many users wanted to know whether e-cigs posed the same risk of hair loss as smoking tobacco-based products.

Vaping and Whether Electronic Cigarettes Cause Hair Loss As this trend only really took off in 2014, there is no significant research available yet with studies are currently underway in relation to the effects electronic cigarettes may have on hair loss.

Although they do not contain many of the ingredients found in traditional cigarettes, concerned internet users have been debating whether the fact that e-cigarettes still contain nicotine (to varying degrees, ranging from 6mg to 18mg of pharmaceutical grade nicotine), may mean they still pose a noteworthy threat of hair loss.

Whilst giving up smoking is a positive move for hair and health, nicotine is still a highly addictive psychoactive that can increase the blood pressure and heart rate, and is known to constrict blood vessels. Nicotine may well contribute to hair loss by affecting blood flow and preventing the necessary nutrients for healthy hair growth from reaching the scalp.

It is thought that this stress on the body and circulatory issues could exacerbate androgenetic alopecia in those who are already predisposed to male or female hair loss, through premature ageing, or cause a temporary condition such as telogen effluvium. However, at the moment this is just speculation based around anecdotal evidence and the true effects of vaping on hair loss will not be known until the proper research has been carried out and clinical trial results are published.

The MHRA is trying to ensure all e-cigarette manufacturers who sell these products in the UK, seek a licence from them as e-cigarettes are classed as a medical product.

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