Aging is a rational fear we all share, from men to women to people of every age. On the list, maybe one of the first signs is grey hair. It’s normal for hair color to change as people age and grow older. Grey hair can appear at almost any time in life, even if you are young. Even teenagers and people in their 20s may notice strands of white hair. According to Medical News Today, the human body has millions of hair follicles or small sacs lining the skin. The follicles generate hair and color or pigment cells that contain melanin. Over time, hair follicles lose pigment cells, resulting in white hair color. We here at Amodrn have outlined a few more reasons this may be happening to the young. Why do you get grey hair? Keep reading for more!
Why Do You Get Grey Hair?
1) Vitamin deficiencies
According to Medical News Today, vitamin B-6, B-12, biotin, vitamin D, or vitamin E deficiency can contribute to premature graying.
2) Genetics
Premature graying of a person’s hair is largely connected to genetics as well. Race and ethnicity play roles, as well. Premature graying in white people can start as early as 20 years old, while a person can be as young as 25 years old among Asians and 30 years in African-Americans populations.
3) Oxidative stress
While graying is mostly genetic, oxidative stress in the body may play a part when the process happens prematurely. Oxidative stress causes imbalances when antioxidants are not enough to counteract the damaging effects of free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that damage cells, contributing to aging and disease. Too much oxidative stress can promote the development of diseases, including the skin-pigment condition vitiligo. Vitiligo may also turn the hair white due to melanin cell death or the loss of cell function.
4) Certain medical conditions
Some medical conditions, including autoimmune diseases, may increase a person’s risk for graying early. Research published in 2008 showed a connection between hair abnormalities and thyroid dysfunction. White hair is also common in alopecia areata, an autoimmune skin condition that causes hair loss on the scalp, face, and other body parts. When the hair grows, it tends to be white due to melanin deficiency.
5) Real-life stressors
One study from New York University, reported in Nature Medicine, finds that the cells responsible for hair color can be depleted when the body is under stress. Other studies indicate that while stress may play a part, it is only a small part of a bigger picture where disease and other factors contribute.
6) Smoking
A study from 2013 reported in the Italian Dermatology Online Journal shows that smokers are 2 1/2 times more likely to start graying before age 30 as non-smokers. A 2015 study in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology also demonstrated that smoking is linked to premature white hair in young men.
7) Chemical hair dyes and hair products
Chemical hair dyes, products, and even shampoos can contribute to premature hair graying. Many of these products contain harmful ingredients that decrease melanin. Hydrogen peroxide, which is in many hair dyes, is one such harmful chemical. Excessive use of products that beach hair will also eventually cause it to turn white.
What Can We Do To Stop This Process?
There are several ways to fix or reverse this process, but ultimately your body will decide what it wants to do. Eating more antioxidants, for one, is key. This can include fresh fruits, vegetables, green tea, olive oil, and fish. There are also many natural remedies like curry leaves. The medicinal use of curry leaves goes back centuries. When combined with hair oil and applied to the scalp, curry leaves can slow premature graying. Curry leaves retain black hair color and even prevent premature graying. Curry leaves can be purchased at Indian supermarkets and traditional grocery stores.
If all else fails, heading to your nearest salon and getting some color or letting your beautiful greys flow naturally are options!
While you’re here, check out what IGK’s master colorist says about seasonal hair color.
