CIGARETTE & SMOKING

Cigarette smoking is a leading cause of numerous health problems and diseases, such as blood clots, heart disease, and cancer. Now, recent medical research has discovered a link between smoking and increased instances of hair loss.

New Evidence Points to a Correlation Between Smoking and Increased Hair Loss

Scientists in Taiwan recently completed a study involving 740 men who were suffering from premature hair loss or alopecia. Both smokers and non-smokers were enrolled in the study and the findings point to a significant correlation between moderate smoking and hair loss.

According to recent findings, men who smoke 20 or more cigarettes per day have a greater chance of developing baldness. These findings were determined after taking into consideration family history of baldness, general health, age, and other habits

How Smoking Cigarettes May Increase Baldness

Although an exact relationship between cigarette smoking and hair loss is yet to be found evidence points to a disruption in circulation as a potential cause. For the hair follicle to function at optimal levels and produce hair growth at the normal rate the cells must receive adequate amounts of oxygen, nutrients, and minerals. Cigarette smoking has been shown to cause poor total body circulation, which can affect the amount of blood flow available to the hair follicles of the scalp. More specifically, scientists believe that smoking may actually disrupt or damage the circulation system that is responsible for delivering blood to the actual cells of the hair follicle

Another theory as to why smoking may increase the occurrence of hair loss is based on general health concerns. Smoking causes many illnesses and diseases, which can impair the functioning of other body systems. When the body is not healthy the organs do not function properly. Without properly functioning internal organs poisons, infections, bacteria, and other disease-causing substances are free to circulate throughout the body. These unwanted substances could further inhibit the hair follicle's ability to maintain the normal hair growth pattern.

Smoking has also been shown to accelerate the aging process and hair loss is often a symptom of aging. Smokers already know that they face an increased risk of developing wrinkles, facial discolorations, and grey hair. Recent medical findings suggest that premature hair loss could also be added to the list of accelerated aging symptoms seen primarily in smokers.

How to Prevent Smoking-induced Hair Loss

The most effective way to avoid hair loss caused by cigarette smoking is to stop smoking. If you have previously tried to quit smoking without positive results you should consult with your doctor to discuss ways to help you kick the habit. Many oral medications, patches, gum, and creams are available to help smokers beat their nicotine addiction and stay smoke free.

Once you have stopped smoking, or even while you are in the processes of quitting, you can help fight the affects of smoking on hair loss by getting adequate amounts of cardiovascular exercise. Cardiovascular exercise, exercise that increases the heart rate, helps boost poor circulation. Strive to get at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise at least five times a week in order to strengthen your heart and increase blood circulation.

HOME::Health-and-Fitness/Hair-Loss X Smoking And Hair Loss - Is There A Connection?

Before considering the question of whether smoking and hair loss are connected, it is important to get a little understanding of what goes on in the hair follicles, the tiny little factories responsible for hair growth.

What's Happening In The Hair Follicle

The bulb shaped dermal papilla located at the bottom of the hair follicle creates new cells which push upwards forcing older cells even higher. When these cells get to the middle of the hair follicle they die and harden and begin to form a central core which eventually becomes a new hair shaft.

On what is the dermal papilla dependent in order to keep up the production of new cells? A healthy blood supply. The hair follicle is fed by a network of tiny blood vessels which provide the needed oxygen and nutrients necessary for hair growth.

Smoking And Blood Circulation

Now back to the question of smoking and hair loss. What effect does smoking have on the blood supply and the circulatory system?

Here is a short list:

• Nicotine causes an increase in adrenaline which in turn increases blood pressure and suddenly makes the heart beat faster.
• Nicotine causes blood vessels to constrict which in turn makes it harder for the heart to pump blood through the arteries which in turn impacts the blood circulatory system.
• Smoking produces carbon monoxide which inhibits the blood's capacity to carry oxygen.

Seeing a healthy scalp and healthy hair follicles are so dependent on a rich supply of oxygenated blood which can deliver all the proteins and nutrients needed for new hair growth, it is only reasonable to conclude smoking and hair loss can be connected.

Of course, every individual is different and will respond in a different way to foods, substances, drugs and medications. However, as a general rule, smoking can be seen to have a negative effect on hair growth.

Learning From Mice

Interestingly, a report published in the National Library of Medicine from the Section of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Italy, indicated a connection between smoking and hair loss with tests carried out on mice.

After 3 months of exposure to cigarette smoke, most of the mice developed areas of alopecia and grey hair. The report stated: "Smoke-exposed mice had extensive atrophy of the epidermis, reduced thickness of the subcutaneous tissue, and scarcity of hair follicles."

So if hair loss is causing you anxiety and you are a smoker, you owe it to yourself to take definite steps to stop smoking as soon as possible. (See resource box below for free online guide)

The Whole Body Approach

Of course, smoking and hair loss is just one part of the story. Combating hair loss involves a number of other factors too such as diet, nutrition, exercise and proper breathing.

In his ebook "Hair Loss No More" leading hair loss analyst Jonathon E. Phillips sets out a plan which includes all the factors mentioned above in order to stop hair loss and promote new hair growth.

He strongly discourages smoking in view of the impact it has on the body's circulatory system and gives detailed instructions on how to train the body to breathe properly while doing rudimentary exercises that can make a huge difference, not only to one's general sense of well-being, but especially to the health and condition of the scalp and hair follicles. (See resource box below for more information on this 168 page guide on hair loss)

While there will always be those who contest whether smoking is really damaging to the health, despite the weight of evidence to now support that conclusion, anyone concerned about hair loss surely needs to consider this matter seriously.

From the evidence available it appears there is definitely a connection between smoking and hair loss. In your strategy to cope with hair loss and improve the condition of your head hair, be sure to include a 'Quite Smoking' program if you are a tobacco user.

Revivogen: The Hair Loss Treatment and Solution for Thinning Hair

Revivogen: The Hair Loss Treatment and Solution for Thinning Hair Revivogen® is an all-natural, dermatologist-formulated solution to help slow thinning hair in both men and women. Revivogen was developed by board-certified dermatologist Alex Khadavi, MD, using nature's most powerful ingredients that have been scientifically proven to help stop DHT - the actual cause of hair loss. Revivogen: Safely and effectively helps with thinning hair as well as actual hair loss in men and women Helps stop hair loss and stimulates healthy hair growth so you can grow new hair Promotes thicker, fuller, healthier hair from the follicle out An effective remedy for male and female pattern baldness No side effects If you're tired of thinning hair and are looking for the best hair loss product on the market today, try Revivogen. It's one of the safest and most powerful natural anti-DHT hair loss solutions available, and it is a natural alternative to pharmaceutical hair loss treatment products. Buy now with our 90-day money-back satisfaction guarantee and begin your treatment today. Revivogen is your source for information on the following topics: male hair loss, female hair loss and alopecia areata and DHT.

How do I find out if I'm a hair transplant candidate?

The only way to know if you are a candidate for hair transplant surgery is to attend a personal, in-depth hair transplant consultation. A qualified hair loss specialist can educate you on your hair transplant options and the methods of treatment. He or she can then evaluate your own personal condition, and from this, the determination will be made as to your hair transplant candidacy.

In determining your candidacy, hair loss doctors will consider:

• Number of grafts required to meet your expectations
• Density of donor hair
• Color of hair
• Skin complexion
• Texture of hair
• Future hair loss projections

8 Hair Loss Myths

Hair loss is an embarrassing condition that affects millions of Americans today. Hair loss can hit both men and women, and can be linked to a variety of causes. For years, people have done much speculating about what these causes are and, in the process, created some completely false hair loss myths to explain their thinning hair and premature balding. With continued scientific research and hair loss studies, we continue to learn more about the true mechanics and causes of hair loss. In this article, we have debunked some hair loss myths, and validated some others. Let's take a look at some of the more commonly held hair loss myths, and see which ones are accurate.

Popular Hair Loss Myths

1) Baldness is passed down from your mother's side: False

Genetic hair loss, or androgenetic alopecia, is considered the main cause of hair loss in women and in men. According to the Hair Loss Learning Center, genetics accounts for 95% of male hair loss. Long considered a trait inherited from our mother's side, genetic hair loss actually results from a combination of the genes from our mother's and our father's sides. So, although you can't entirely predict the future of your hairline based on your mother's or your father's scalp, you can get a good indicator from comparing the collective hairlines of your parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles.

2) Tight hairstyles and use of hair dryers can cause hair loss: True and False

It's true that constant use of tight ponytails and cornrows, and excessive blow drying can put a lot of stress on hair follicles and cause strands to break or become damaged. In extreme cases, the tight pulling of hair over time can create minor bald patches known as traction alopecia, but the hair loss is only temporary and growth will resume when severe styling is discontinued. These hair styling habits don't create permanent hair loss because they typically don't damage the root of hair follicles underneath the scalp's surface.

3) Medications and steroids can cause hair loss: True

While medications and steroids might not cause hair loss for someone who isn't genetically predisposed to hair loss, both can exacerbate balding tendencies in someone who's genetically susceptible. Various medications such as certain anti-depressants, birth control, and antineoplastic drugs have hair loss listed as a possible side effect, but it's not guaranteed. It's best to check with your doctor right away if you notice sudden thinning hair after being put on a new medication. On the other hand, steroids have been shown to greatly increase occurrences of permanent hair loss. Anabolic steroids boost the production of the hair loss-causing hormone, DHT.

4) Stress, vitamin deficiency and illness can cause hair loss: True

While none of these symptoms are known to create permanent hair loss, they can all create significant temporary hair loss in men and women. Aside from the hair loss that can result from chemotherapy and radiation treatments, patchy hair loss called alopecia areata can result from autoimmune disorders such as thyroid disease, lupus and diabetes.

When it comes to vitamin or nutritional deficiency and intense stress, the resulting temporary hair loss is called telogen effluvium. This hair loss happens when the body experiences a shock, either from psychological stress, sudden excessive weight loss, metabolic changes, vitamin deficiencies or a virus. When one of these situations occurs, the hair is forced into the resting stage of the hair growth cycle prematurely, resulting in sudden drastic hair loss.

5) Hair loss can be prevented by frequent hair brushing or standing on your head: False

Some people have maintained that constant brushing increases scalp circulation and thus boosts hair growth. However, because alopecia is primarily caused by the presence of DHT and genetic predisposition rather than blood flow, hair brushing will have no positive effect on hair growth. Similarly, standing on your head might give you a head rush from the increased blood flow, but it won't have any effect on your hair.

6) Regular haircuts make your hair grow faster and thicker: False

Getting frequent haircuts is a good way to keep existing hair healthy by removing damaged, split ends, but haircuts have no effect on your hair's growth rate or thickness.

7) Smoking causes hair loss: True

Although this myth has been discounted in the past as being an unvalidated assumption, recent studies by research groups such as the British Medical Journal (BMJ) have found sufficient evidence to claim there is a significant link between smoking and hair loss. It's still uncertain whether the connection is due to the effects of tobacco toxins, or the fact that smoking accelerates aging and other health problems.

8) Hair loss cannot be treated: False

In the past, there were no effective treatments in sight for hair loss and hair thinning patients; the only solution was to cover up hair loss with hats and artificial hairpieces. Fortunately, there are many effective hair loss medications and treatments on today's market that can either prevent future hair loss, or replenish balding hairlines.

The most popular hair loss medications include Rogaine® (Minoxidil) and Propecia® (Finasteride). Rogaine acts as a hair growth stimulator while Propecia prevents hair loss by inhibiting DHT production and activity.

For more severe cases of balding and hair loss, hair transplant surgery is one of the newest and most effective procedures out there. Hair transplant surgery takes hairs from the back and sides of the scalp that are more resistant to balding and implants them onto thinning areas. There are also some well-known topical hair therapy treatments that are good to use in the beginning stages of hair loss.

To learn more about hair loss, or to find out which treatment method will work best for you, it's best to meet with a professional hair loss specialist in your area. They will be able to analyze your specific scalp and hair conditions, identify what type of hair loss you have, and recommend the most appropriate treatment for you.

How do I know Hair Transplantation surgery will work?

Hair Transplantation Surgery

Hair Transplant Surgery has come a long way from its primitive beginnings, developing into one of the world's most trusted methods for treating baldness successfully and convincingly. During its initial rise to prominence in the '60s and '70s, Hair Transplant Surgery was still unrefined, using large hair grafts produced by round punches. This hair transplant surgery technique often led to the sparse, plugged look that many people came to associate with early hair transplantation. Fortunately, modern breakthroughs in the field of Hair Transplant Surgery led to amazing improvements in the quality of patients' results. Today, hair transplant surgeons use micro-grafts and follicular unit transplantations that are virtually indistinguishable from naturally growing hair, even by professional hairdressers.

A hair transplant procedure always begins with your own healthy donor hair. Really, hair transplant surgery is just a simple matter of hair distribution. This donor hair is located on the sides and back of the head and is naturally resistant to balding, allowing it to continue to grow throughout your lifetime. Most men suffering from standard male pattern baldness will have a healthy donor area with plenty of viable hairs for the transplant surgery. However, if your hair loss is not hereditary and is caused by other conditions such as stress or medication, you will want to see a dermatologist first before attending a hair transplant consultation.

In follicular unit hair transplantations, a small section of tissue is removed from the donor area and is broken down for surgery under intense magnification. This is where modern hair transplant surgeons show their true artistry. Follicular units grow in groups of 1-4 hairs. By keeping this composition intact, your hair transplant mimics real life. Hair transplant surgeons reproduce with micro-grafts exactly how hair grows in nature. Each hair is different and an experienced hair transplantation surgeon can make sure the hairs are transplanted in areas where they are best suited. For example, certain hair groupings belong at the hairline, while other belong at the crown of the head, knowing these differences is what makes hair transplant surgery truely successful.

Different hair transplant clinics use different methods and technology to achieve results. For your Hair Transplant Surgery, you'll want to keep in mind that you're maximizing hair growth, ensuring naturalness, and minimizing trauma to the scalp. With any hair transplant surgery there will be scars, but a good surgeon can keep that scarring to an absolute minimum, and more importantly, make it undetectable. When done correctly, your hair transplant surgery is a customized experience; it's living hair that you can style like you would before your hair loss ever happened.

Hair transplant costs vary from hair loss clinic to hair loss clinic. Finding the right hair transplant price can be just as crucial as finding the right hair transplant doctor.

How do I know Hair Transplantation surgery will work?

Hair transplant surgery has actually been around for quite awhile. For over 40 years, balding men and women have been turning to variations of this procedure, and finding successful results. However, the procedure is now better than ever. Heightened understandings of growth patterns and advancements in follicular unit grafting techniques have helped to produce remarkably natural results with hair transplant surgery. Because the newly transplanted hair is taken from a healthy patch on your own head, it will continue to grow in its natural pattern for the rest of your life, blending with the hair that is already there. Obvious hair transplants are a thing of the past!

Hair Restoration Cost

Hair transplant costs will vary from case to case. The price of transplants can vary so greatly because each patient's hair loss and expectations are unique, the only way to learn the total expense of your own surgery is through a personal consultation with a reputable hair loss specialist. There are several ways hair transplant costs are billed, a personal consultation will give you a better idea of your hair restoration costs.

Comparing Prices
The most common ways hair transplant clinics charging by the graft, by the hair and even by the session, so it can be hard to really compare hair transplantation costs. For example, price per graft means nothing unless you know how many hairs you get in a graft and the experience of the doctor. A skilled hair restoration surgeon can greatly cut down on the costs of grafts. Different hair restoration surgeons can perform a different number of micro-grafts per session, and these grafts can range in cost from $3 to $10. A final price of a smaller hair restoration procedure may wind up costing between $4,000 and $5,000, while an extensive hair transplant surgery may total out closer to $12,000. At a consultation, a specialist can break down hair restoration costs and give you a good sense of the total hair transplant price tag of your unique treatment plan.

Can you afford NOT to have a hair transplant?
As with any elective procedure, hair transplant cost comparing is an important part of the research process. However, the costs of grafts shouldn't be the sole deciding factor. Hair restoration surgery can be custom-tailored and planned out to fit each patient's individual budgetary needs. Plus, remember that hair restoration is a valuable investment, producing results that last a lifetime. Can you really put a price tag on peace of mind? When it's all said and done, most find that hair transplant costs are no where near the costs some people pay worrying about their hair loss.