How Smoking and Alcohol Cause Hair Fall

Hair loss in men and women can occur due to various reasons. Genetics and age play a major role in hair loss but turns out so do the decisions you make every day. A wide range of lifestyle aspects which include stress, medications, styling techniques, sun exposure, smoking, and heavy drinking, could raise the risk of hair loss. However, these aspects are often overlooked. How many times have you wondered whether you are facing excessive hair loss because of smoking? 

Most of us knock back a few drinks, with our friends when out for a get-together or after a long day at work. Also, about a third of the male adult global population smokes. Both these habits, while seemingly harmless and routine in their appearance, bring with them oodles of health issues and hair loss due to smoking is one of them.

How alcohol affects hair

No matter what you consume regularly, whether it is wine, beer, or hard liquor, it could lead to nutritional deficiencies that result in hair loss and balding. Yes, research shows that alcohol cause hair loss and this is how- 

1) Dehydration

Alcohol is a diuretic, which leads to excessive urine production and thus causing dehydration. It drains water from your skin and also deprives your hair follicles of the much-needed hydration. As the body tries to get rid of all the alcohol, it also drains out the essential nutrients required for the body and hair growth. This makes the hair dry and fragile and can lead to hair thinning.

To lock in the moisture and hydrate the hair, we recommend the Pilgrim Argan Oil Hair Mask that will give your dull and lifeless hair some bounce and shine. Argan Oil can protect the hair from environmental pollutants and UV damage.

2) Increased level of estrogen

Alcohol can increase male and female pattern baldness by proliferating levels of estrogen. Both alcoholism and binge drinking can cause a rise in estrogen levels. Estrogen imbalances can lead to hair thinning on top and growth of hair on your face.

3) Deprives hair of Iron and Zinc

Alcohol also deprives hair of two key minerals, zinc and iron. The deficiency of zinc can affect the protein structure of hair follicles, causing hair loss. Lack of iron, on the other hand, can lead to a condition known as telogen effluvium where the hair begins to age before time and cause hair loss.

4) Affects gut bacteria balance

Most alcohols encompass some form of preservatives or artificial additives. Preservatives are used to kill bacteria, further making the beverage store longer without spoiling. However, these same preservatives also kill the bacteria in your gut when you drink it. This can largely affect your gut bacteria balance, essentially killing the good bacteria. Not having the healthy bacteria in your gut can cause a number of health issues that eventually may lead to hair loss.

5) Reduce levels of vitamin B, C and folic acid in the body

Regular intake of alcohol can also lead to lower levels of vitamins C and B. Along with it, it can also reduce the levels of folic acid levels, which is vital in maintaining healthy and strong hair.

How smoking affects hair

Smoking causes a large number of cardiac and respiratory health issues in smokers. However, there are a number of people that are going through hair loss due to smoking. Smoking affects your hair follicles and intervenes with circulation and hormone production in the scalp. Just like alcohol, smoking also leads to dehydration of the cells and causes thinning of hair and hair loss.

Nicotine and carbon monoxide are two of the most hazardous chemicals present in cigarettes that affect hair. The narrowing of blood vessels caused by nicotine makes it difficult for the blood to be pumped and carbon monoxide hinders the blood’s capacity to carry oxygen. This inhibits the oxygenation of hair follicles and affects the effacing of free radicals leading to hair loss from smoking.

Treatment for Hair affected by the Smoking and Drinking

Here is how you can treat smoking and alcohol-induced hair-

• The best way to treat it is by quitting smoking and alcohol completely. It will improve your health greatly, particularly your long term health.
• Consult your doctor regarding folic/zinc supplements if you are unable to stop or cut down on your drinking or don’t want to, this will help improve your diet. This may make the situation better.
• Avoid binge drinking.
• To boost the process, the use of Aloe Vera gel is also really effective. It improves the PH balance of the scalp, leading to fast hair growth.
• You can also opt for a Neem treatment to reduce your hair problem as it is recognized as one of the most powerful medicinal herbs in the world.
• Eat food rich in iodine, such as fish, carrots, and banana.

You can use the Pilgrim Argan Oil Hair Serum that will give your hair the luxury it deserves. The fusion of argan oil, camellia, and white lotus is a quick-fix for dull and frizzy hair. You can use it for wet and dry hair. It has a non-greasy and lightweight formula that coats the hair without being sticky or oily and restores the youthful luster and shine to the hair. You can use it to prevent hair loss after quitting smoking.

Hair Care regime is as important as a skincare regime. It is an art to get rid of dry, frizzy, and unhealthy hair. Still, there are many people who don’t take this seriously. Just washing and combing your hair is not enough. You have to pay close attention to the products you are using. They must be according to the type of hair you have. For grooming your hair, you need to select the right shampoo, serum, and hair mask. When you take good care of your hair, you can avoid extensive damage and have beautiful, shiny hair.