Hair Pollution: Research Suggests Air Pollution May Contribute to Hair Loss
The most common cause of hair loss is a hereditary condition known as pattern baldness. This condition runs through families, occurring in both males and females, and affects around 50% of women over the age of 65 (NHS England.) However, aside from the genetic aspect, hair loss has also been linked to other factors including vitamin deficiencies, various illnesses, high stress levels and most recently, environmental pollutants.
Particulate matter (PM) is a term used to describe solid or liquid droplets in the air. Common sources of PM include the burning of various fossil fuels such as petrol and diesel. PM is a very serious concern for human health as it has been shown to increase the risk of cancer, respiratory problems and cardiovascular diseases. Nevertheless, the effect of PM on skin and hair has not been studied until now.
The research was led by researcher Hyuk Chul Kwon and his team, from the Future Science Research Centre in South Korea. They exposed scalp cells, found at the base of hair follicles, to two common sources of pollutants. They later tested these samples and noticed a significant decrease in the levels of proteins responsible for hair growth and retention, suggesting a potential link between air pollutants and hair loss.
The research team also discovered that the cells exposed to more pollutants, were impacted to a greater extent. Based on this, it seems fair to assume that people inhabiting highly polluted areas are more likely to go bald. However, it is important to note that this research was purely lab based and does not shed any light on the effect of other factors such as gender or age. Therefore, in order to gain a better understanding of the effect of air pollution on hair loss, further research is required.
Whilst the link between environmental pollution and hair loss is slightly premature, this research still highlights a requirement to consider the wider implications of air pollution. Additionally, in light of more undeniable health implications, it is imperative that we take action to tackle this growing problem. This can be achieved by accelerating the switch to cleaner forms of travel, investing more in public transport and supporting the implementation of low emission zones.