The Effects of Smoking on Hair Health: A Systematic Review

The systematic review from January 1, 2021, analyzed 32 studies with a total of 23,685 patients to assess the effects of smoking on hair health, specifically looking at the relationship with premature hair graying (PHG) and alopecia, including androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA). The review found that smokers had a higher prevalence of hair loss and PHG compared to nonsmokers, with a higher risk of moderate or severe AGA and a higher frequency of alopecia areata in current or past smokers. However, the evidence was mixed, as some studies did not find a significant correlation between smoking and hair health issues. The review concluded that smoking status should be considered in patients with hair loss and PHG and highlighted the need for further research, including randomized controlled trials, to establish causality and understand the mechanisms involved.