Vaping might be more dangerous than you think!
Vaping involves inhaling a chemical-filled liquid, and some of these chemicals can be toxic and harm your hair.
Nicotine in e-cigarettes can also cause hair loss by reducing blood flow and oxygen to hair follicles. While there is no direct evidence yet that vaping causes hair loss, it is important to understand the risks and talk to a healthcare professional for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.
What Is Vaping?
First, it’s important to understand what vaping is and how it works.
Vaping involves the use of an e-cigarette, which is a battery-powered device that heats a liquid (usually containing nicotine, flavorings, and other chemicals) to produce an aerosol, which is then inhaled.
The liquid used in e-cigarettes is usually made up of propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, and flavorings, as well as varying levels of nicotine.
Vaping & Hair Loss
There is no direct evidence to suggest that vaping causes hair loss.
However, there are a few potential mechanisms by which it could theoretically contribute to hair loss. For example, some of the chemicals found in e-cigarette vapor have been shown to have toxic effects on hair follicles in lab studies.
In addition, the high temperatures reached during vaping could potentially damage hair follicles, leading to hair loss.
According to a study by researchers at the University of Southern California, vaping may cause hair loss in men and women.
The study found that people who used e-cigarettes had increased follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), an important hormone for both male and female reproductive health.
FSH stimulates the growth of ovarian follicles and sperm production in males while stimulating ovulation and menstruation in females.
The authors believe that nicotine could be causing these hormonal changes, as nicotine has been shown to affect hormones such as estrogen and testosterone in animal studies.
This could explain why some e-cigarettes have been linked with changes in sex drive or sexual function as well as other effects such as changes in libido (which may indirectly affect how much sex you want) or weight gain/loss.
Cigarette Smoking Chemicals in Vape E-Cigarettes
Many of the same chemicals in cigarette smoke are also found in e-cigarettes. There are more than 7,000 chemicals in cigarettes, and only eleven have been tested for safety. This means many harmful substances could be present in e-cigarettes, but we don’t know about them yet!
In addition, vaping can cause respiratory issues and lung damage because it contains harmful chemicals such as
- Formaldehyde
- Acrolein
- Diacetyl (a butter flavoring)
- Acetone (nail polish remover)
- Benzene (car exhaust emissions)
- Metals such as lead and nickel
- Ultrafine particles that enter your lungs through inhalation
- Volatile organic compounds
Other smokeless tobacco products like chewing tobacco have been linked to oral cancer, gum disease, and tooth loss (periodontal bone loss). While these products come in many flavors, such as cherry cola or mint chocolate chip ice cream, they still have the same harmful effects on your body as cigarettes.
So, It’s important to understand the risks of vaping.
How to Prevent the Loss of Hair While Still Vaping
One of the biggest benefits of vaping is that it does not contain tobacco or nicotine. However, vaping can still cause some health problems.
Many factors cause hair loss, but there are ways to prevent it while still vaping.
Here are some tips on how to keep your hair while you vape:
1. Eat a healthy diet
2. Get enough sleep
3. Avoid Stress
4. Exercise Regularly
Nicotine
Another potential contributing factor to hair loss associated with vaping is the presence of nicotine in e-cigarette liquids.
Nicotine is a stimulant that constricts blood vessels, including those in the scalp, potentially decreasing blood flow and oxygen to hair follicles. This could potentially lead to hair loss.
However, it’s important to note that the level of nicotine in e-cigarette liquids can vary significantly, and it’s not clear how much nicotine is needed to potentially cause hair loss.
According to the American Lung Association, e-cigarettes are “unlikely to be harmless.” This is because nicotine exposure can cause cancer and heart disease. It can also lead to strokes and high blood pressure, contributing to other serious conditions like diabetes and kidney disease.
How to Stop Vaping and Quit E-Cigarettes with NRT
If you’re a vaper and want to quit, there are several other ways.
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NRT (nicotine replacement therapy)
NRT is an ideal way to eliminate e-cigarettes by slowly reducing your nicotine intake until it’s completely gone. While this method has been successful for many people, it can have some side effects such as feeling Tired & Irritable.
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Get Family Support
Getting support from friends and family can help with cravings when they strike and having someone else who understands what you’re going through can be incredibly helpful during this process.
Its important though to avoid triggers like friends who still smoke or vaping shops where temptation may arise.
Keeping busy also helps keep the mind occupied when cravings hit hardest.
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Seek Professional Help
In that case, plenty of resources are available as well
- Talk therapy (such as cognitive behavioural therapy)
Has been shown to improve success rates even further by helping people identify triggers and deal with them appropriately.
These therapies also provide coping mechanisms and strategies for dealing with stressors in everyday life that could lead back into smoking habits again down the road.
Hair Replacement Treatment for Hair Loss
There are several non-surgical treatments for hair loss that you may consider. These include:
- Medications: There are several medications that have been approved by the FDA for the treatment of hair loss. These include minoxidil (Rogaine), finasteride (Propecia), and dutasteride (Avodart). These medications can help to slow or stop hair loss and may even help to regrow hair.
- Laser therapy: Laser therapy devices use low-level lasers to stimulate hair growth. These devices are usually used in conjunction with other hair loss treatments and may be more effective in people with certain types of hair loss.
- Platelet-rich plasma: at our PRP hair London clinic a trained expert would inject a concentration of your own platelets into the scalp to stimulate hair growth. The platelets release growth factors that can stimulate the hair follicles to enter the anagen (growth) phase.
- Scalp micropigmentation: Scalp micropigmentation is a cosmetic procedure in which pigment is applied to the scalp to create the appearance of a fuller head of hair. It is not a treatment for hair loss but can help to camouflage areas of thinning hair.
- Wigs and hairpieces: If you are not a candidate for other treatments or if you are looking for a temporary solution, you may consider wearing a wig or hairpiece. There are many options available, including synthetic and human hair wigs, as well as partial and full hairpieces.
Conclusion & Next Steps
Vaping can have harmful effects on hair due to the chemicals present in e-cigarette vapor and the potential hormonal changes caused by nicotine.
While there is no direct evidence that vaping causes hair loss, it is important to be aware of the risks and take preventive measures. These include:
- Eating a healthy diet
- Getting enough sleep
- Exercising regularly
- Avoiding stress
If you are experiencing hair loss of any type including male pattern hair loss, it is important to speak with a healthcare professional for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.
Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), family support, and professional help are all effective ways to quit vaping.
Non-surgical treatments for hair loss include PRP Hair London, medications, laser therapy, scalp micropigmentation, and wigs or hairpieces.
