Smoking men more likely to be bald

[AB Asks]

This is the new claim from scientists. We all know smoking is damaging to health but new claims are that it can increase baldness in men. What do you think? Is this another unrealistic claim?

[Batman7070]

Yes definetly unrealistic, I am bald so was my dad we never smoked. Its inherited

[Octavius]

I am sure there were many many bald men before smoking was �invented�. And I know lots of bald men who have never smoked. The Native Americans used to smoke a fair bit on the old peace pipe, and they were noted for their long hair (unless they were scalped of course).

What next? Lager/binge drinking �increases the chances� of your nadgers falling off?

[jake-the-peg]

Oh for goodness sake!

It goes like this - decent research picked up by journalist who
a) probably failed GCSE Science
b) has to squeeze it into 200 words
c) to be read by people who really don't understand scientific research anyway

Headline: Scientists research the blindingly obvious!

Do you really think that after years of study researchers were unaware of the inherited nature?

But unless people with a genetic disposition to baldness are more likely to smoke you'll get a similar percentage of those with a genetic disposition in both groups.

But this isn't even a new piece of work - it's a meta-study!

A review of the existing literature of other studies done on the subject

http://archderm.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/ 137/7/943?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFOR MAT=&fulltext=smoking+baldness&searchid=1&FIRS TINDEX=0&resourcetype=HWCIT

And all of a sudden there's a Mail headline " Smoking turns men bald - new research claims"

No it damn well doesn't claim that

[Octavius]

Actually I have just re-read the question.

It says �smoking men more likely to be bald�. If that is the case then it must be true as the smoking would probably be caused by their hair burning off.

[4GS]

smoking men?
no smoke without fire, men on fire, fire reaches hair, sets hair alight
voila!! bald men

simple.

[daffy654]

My fiance is 40 years old,has smoked since the age of 17 and still has a full head of hair,his dad who is 72 has smoked since age 16 and also has all his hair still.

[smudge]

My Dad smoked from the age of 14. He still had a head of very thick hair when he died aged 85.