Premature Greying of Hair: Causes, Prevention, and Treatment
Due to stress and pollution, many young adults suffer from premature graying of hair. Find out ways to prevent and treat this condition. Greying of hair is a normal process as the age progresses, but if it occurs early in life it makes the person appear much older than his or her age causing poor self-esteem and personality issues.
The main cause of this graying is a reduction in melanin synthesis by pigment-producing cells known as melanocytes. These cells are present in the roots of hairs called the hair follicle. The point when hair turns gray is not only decided by age (usually average age of greying is the late 30s to 40 depending on the race), but it also depends on certain other factors like genetics and hereditary factors.
Causes for Premature Greying
The following are the main causes of drastic change in figures of the reported cases of gray hair in teenage.
Lifestyle change:
- Smoking – both active and passive.
- Stress.
- Excessive use of a hairdryer.
Dietary habits:
- Excessive intake of carbohydrates and sugary foods.
- Nutritional deficiencies like iron, iodine, vitamin, and proteins.
Pollutants:
- Toxins in the atmosphere.
- Chemicals are present in the water that is being used to wash the hair.
Certain drugs like:
- Chloroquine.
- Triparanol.
- Dixyrazine.
How to Prevent Premature Graying
If other members of the family have experienced the same problem in their childhood that means you will have it in your genes too. There is nothing you can do as it is a natural process that makes it worse. With age. If premature graying of hair is not in your family, lack of proper nutrients is probably the main cause.
General measures to follow –
Provide your children with food rich in iron, vitamin B12, and protein like fresh green leafy vegetables, fresh fruits, juices, white meat, seafood, eggs, and dairy products.
Avoid excessive intake of soda, cakes, candies, chocolates, and other foods that include refined sugar.
Avoid soaps and shampoos that are loaded with chemicals.
Apart from providing a healthy diet, it is also very important to check whether your children are suffering from any kind of disease like hypo or hyperthyroidism, pernicious anemia, vitiligo, etc.
Treatment
- Is It Possible To Reverse Premature Graying of Hair?
Due to the decrease in melanin production in the follicles with growing age, the hair starts to turn gray from the mid-thirties. Some vitamins, including biotin (vitamin B 7) and pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), and certain pharmaceutical drugs may be able to reverse graying of hair. But in some people, it is impossible to reverse the process if the early graying is caused by genetics.
- How To Prevent Premature Greying of Hair?
To prevent premature greying of hair, protect your hair from the sun, avoid stress, quit smoking, and turn to antioxidants. You can also prevent premature greying of hair with the following
ingredients:
A mixture of onion and lemon juice on your scalp and hair.
Hair tonic with coconut oil and curry leaves.
Use Indian gooseberry for hair.
Ridge gourd oil for hair color.
Carrot and sesame oil.
- What Do You Mean by Early Greying of Hair?
Due to a decrease in the production of melanin in the hair follicles during the growing age, the hair will start graying in mid-thirties; this is known as the early greying of hair.
4 . Does Grey Hair a Sign of Poor Health?
The majority of graying seen in people is age-related graying. But sometimes, it may indicate an illness if this graying occurs at a young age. The health problems that may be associated with premature graying are vitamin B 12 deficiency.
- Can Plucking Grey Hair Increase It?
Plucking grey hair will not increase the number of gray hair. And while pulling grey hair out, 30 percent of the hair shaft will remain under the shaft, and it will again give rise to gray hair, but the number of existing white hair will not increase. Plucking will also make the hair follicles weak.
6 . Can We Turn Grey Hair Into Black Hair Again?
White or gray hair due to aging cannot be turned black again naturally. In contrast, the white hair formed due to bleaching, stress, food, pollution, vitamin deficiency, and other physical influences can be turned black again if proper care is given.
- Which Vitamin Helps Prevent Graying of Hair?
Vitamin B 6 and B 12 are two complex B vitamins that help in healthy skin and hair. Vitamin B6 will help restore hair to its original color following an illness or deficiency, and vitamin B 5, known as pantothenic acid, helps combat premature graying of hair.
8 . At What Age Is It Considered To Be Premature Graying?
For humans, gray hair is considered premature when it happens at around the age of 30. The term premature hair graying is used when it occurs before the age of 20 in white people, 25 in Asian people, and 30 in African people. The primary cause of early graying of hair in teens and young people may be due to genetic, autoimmune disorders, smoking, and trace element deficiencies.
- Which Genetic Group Is Related To Premature Graying
Premature graying of hair may occur alone as an autosomal dominant condition or associated with various autoimmune or premature aging syndromes. Down syndrome (trisomy 21) is characterized by the features of accelerated aging, including premature graying of hair and deficient DNA repair. Early graying needs to be differentiated from various genetic hypomelanotic hair disorders.
- Which Food Can Make Hair Black?
The following are the foods that can make hair black:
– Protein: Eating protein-rich foods such as grains, meat, and soy aids in producing melanin which gives hair its black color.
Minerals: Foods rich in zinc, iron, and copper help keep hair healthy. A zinc deficiency can also cause hair shedding.
– Vitamins: Foods rich in vitamin B, found in fresh green leafy vegetables, tomatoes, bananas, yogurt, etc., and foods that are rich in vitamin A, such as dark green vegetables and yellow fruit, will help prevent gray hair.
Salmon: Salmon is a good source of omega-three fatty acids. Omega 3 fatty acids keep the scalp healthy, which is important because a dry scalp can make the color of your hair appear dull.
