Can smoking and drinking cause hair loss?

Yes, heavy smoking and drinking can cause hair loss and thinning.

Cigarettes contain over 7,000 chemicals that can damage the cardiovascular system, decreasing blood flow to the scalp and hindering hair follicle growth. Smoking also causes inflammation and oxidative stress that can make hair thin, brittle, and more likely to fall out.

Heavy drinking can cause nutritional deficiencies in important nutrients like iron and zinc, hormone imbalances, and overall health decline—all of which can lead to weak, stressed hair that falls out more easily.