Smokers′ hair: Does smoking cause premature hair graying?

Abstract

Aims:To determine if there is a significant association between premature hair graying and cigarette smoking.Materials and Methods:A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in a nonclinical setting on 207 participants on August 24 until 25, 2010. Participants were classified into two groups [premature hair graying (PHG) and normal hair graying]. PHG was defined as the first appearance of gray hair before the age of 30. Data were collected using an interview questionnaire and measurements of body mass index, waist circumference, fasting blood glucose and blood pressure. Collected data were statistically analyzed using SPSS 16, Chicago, IL.Results:Of the 207 subjects, 104 (50.2%) had first appearance of gray hair before the age of 30 (PHG group) while the other 103 (49.8%) were considered normal hair graying group. The prevalence of smokers in the “PHG” group was higher (40.2% vs. 24.7%, P = 0.031). Smokers had earlier onset of hair graying (smokers: 31 (7.4) vs. nonsmokers: 34 (8.6), P = 0.034). Using multiple logistic regression with conditional likelihood, smokers were two and half times (95% CI: 1.5-4.6) more prone to develop PHG.Conclusion:This study suggests that there is a significant relation (with adjusted odds ratio of two and half) between onset of gray hair before the age of 30 and cigarette smoking.

Association of premature hair graying with family history, smoking, and obesity: A cross-sectional study

“…12 In the analysis of the severity of PHG, excluding smoking, family history and obesity showed significant associations.…”

“…Previous studies that reported an association between smoking and PHG also failed to show a correlation between smoking and the severity of PHG. 12,25 To confirm whether smoking affects the severity of PHG, a further study including participants with a wide range of ages is needed.…”

Premature Hair Graying: Profiling the Scalp Anatomical Patterns of Occurrence in Tanzania

“…The pattern of scalp regional graying development did not essentially differ between sexes but more males (75.5%) had hair graying initially involving the parietal areas than in the females whose regional graying patterns were mostly equally distributed all over the scalp regions. behaviors such as smoking and sedentary life style were reported by a huge proportion of participants [8,15,16] whereas some other studies established a weak association or no association at all [17]. The consequential psychological effects to the sufferers were enormous among the participants of the present study.…”

“…In the quest to search for preventable risk factors leading to or associated with PHG, some studies have proposed smoking and other forms of tobacco use, a positive family history, UV radiations and medical and illicit drugs as independent risk factors [6][7][8] while other studies contradict this view [9]. Hair plays a vital role in the physical appearance and identity and has a further covert role in social communication.…”

“…In the quest to describe the occurrence of PHG, Jo and co-workers [10] proposed a numerical grading of five grades I to V at a 20% interval scale referring to 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100% of grayness while other studies have proposed a much more nominal grading of 1-5 representing pure black, predominantly black, equal black and white, predominantly white and pure white respectively [11]. Globally, PHG is on the rise and it has been shown to affect up to over 50% of the young people [8,10]. In Tanzania and indeed the Africa continent at large, PHG is rarely studied.…”