Common pollutants in the air can cause hair loss and slow growth, according to a recent study.
According to a study on the effect of dust and fuel particles on the scalp cells, it was found that common contaminants reduce levels of 4 major proteins in the scalp, responsible for hair growth.
The study also showed that the effect increased when the amount of airborne particles increased, suggesting that those living in cities or near industrial zones are at greater risk of baldness.
The latest study, funded by a South Korean cosmetics company, is said to be the first to reveal the relationship between airborne pollutants and hair loss.
The study, which did not take into account any possible differences in hair loss between the sexes or ages, exposed human hair follicle cells to different concentrations of fine dust particles with a diameter of 10 micrometers or smaller and smaller diesel particles.
The researchers found low levels of betacatin, a protein involved in hair growth and the process of generating and regulating follicles.
Three other proteins responsible for hair growth and retention, cyclin D1, cyclin E and CD2, were also affected, with greater decreases observed when cells were exposed to higher levels of contaminants.