Vaping and Hair Loss: My Story

I started vaping when I was 18, thinking it was a cool and harmless way to enjoy nicotine. I had never smoked before, but I was curious about the different flavors and sensations that vaping offered. I liked the feeling of relaxation and pleasure that vaping gave me, and I soon became addicted to it.

I didn’t think much about the possible health risks of vaping, as I believed it was safer than smoking. I ignored the warnings and the news stories about vaping-related illnesses and deaths. I thought I was young and healthy, and nothing bad could happen to me.

But then I noticed something that shocked me: my hair was falling out.

I had always had thick and shiny hair, and I took pride in it. I loved styling it in different ways and getting compliments on it. But one day, as I was brushing my hair, I saw a lot of strands on my brush. I thought it was normal, as everyone sheds some hair every day. But then I looked at my scalp and saw that it was visible in some areas. I panicked and ran to the mirror. I couldn’t believe what I saw: my hairline had receded, and my hair looked thin and dull.

I didn’t know what was causing my hair loss, so I went online and searched for answers. That’s when I learned that vaping could be a factor. I read that vaping could affect my hair health by:

Reducing blood flow to my hair follicles, which could deprive them of oxygen and nutrients.

Exposing me to chemicals that could irritate or damage my scalp and hair.

Drying out my hair and making it brittle and prone to breakage.

Dehydrating my body and my hair, which could affect their growth and quality.

I was shocked and angry at myself for vaping so much and not caring about the consequences. I realized that I had to quit vaping if I wanted to save my hair and my health. But quitting was not easy. I had withdrawal symptoms like cravings, irritability, anxiety, and insomnia. I tried using nicotine patches, gums, and lozenges, but they didn’t help much. I felt like giving up many times, but I kept reminding myself of why I wanted to quit.

I also took some steps to improve my hair health, such as:

Eating a balanced diet rich in protein, iron, zinc, biotin, vitamin C, and omega-3 fatty acids.

Drinking plenty of water to keep myself and my hair hydrated.

Using gentle and moisturizing hair products that contained natural ingredients like aloe vera, coconut oil, shea butter, or jojoba oil.

Avoiding heat styling tools that could damage my hair further.

Trying red light therapy, a treatment that used low-level laser light to stimulate blood circulation and cellular activity in my scalp. This helped improve the health of my hair follicles and promote new hair growth.

It took me several months to quit vaping completely and see some improvement in my hair. My hair stopped falling out as much, and it started growing back slowly. It also looked healthier, shinier, and more vibrant. I was so happy and relieved to see these changes.

I’m sharing my story to warn others about the possible effects of vaping on your hair. Vaping may seem harmless or fun, but it can have serious consequences for your hair and your overall health. If you vape regularly and notice signs of hair loss or thinning, please consider quitting or reducing your vaping habits. It’s not worth losing your hair over something that doesn’t benefit you in any way.

You can also try some of the tips I mentioned above to help your hair recover from the damage caused by vaping. You may also want to try red light therapy, which is a safe and effective way to support healthy hair growth. You can use a red light therapy hat or cap at home that fits over your head and emits red light onto your scalp. Red light therapy is FDA-approved for treating hair loss in both men and women, and it can show results in as little as 12 weeks.

I hope my story can inspire you to take care of your hair and your health. Remember that your hair is a precious part of you, and you deserve to have beautiful and healthy hair.

Have you experienced hair loss from vaping? How did you cope with it? Do you have any tips or advice for others who are going through the same thing? Please share your thoughts with me in the comments below!

: https://www.fda.gov/radiation-emitting-products/medical-devices/laser-products-and-instruments : https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3944668/