Changing hair color with age is standard. People in their 20s and even teenagers notice the whitening of hair. So it is common for your hair to turn gray, white, or silver over time. There are plenty of ways of premature greying, like genetics stress. In this article, we will discuss the causes of white hairs along with their prevention.
How Hair Loses Color
Melanin is present in the hair follicle, or tiny sacs lining the skin, which gives color to hair whether any shade between black, red, blonde, brown. Over time amount of melanin pigment become less, which results in the hair turning gray, silver, and eventually white.
Causes Of White Hair
There can be many causes that result in a greying of a person’s hair. These include:
Vitamin Deficiencies
Many vitamins and nutritional deficiencies can cause the loss of pigmentation. Deficiency of nutrients and vitamins B-6, B-12, biotin, vitamin D, vitamin E copper, zinc, and iron result in premature greying of hairs. It has been found that people under the age of 25 with premature hair graying found to have a low level of ferritin, vitamin B-12, and good cholesterol HDL-C.
Genetics
Whitening of hairs at an early age is primarily connected to genetics. Genes can lead to a change in a melanin-producing cell or stop its production. Family background and race play a role in it. If your hair becomes grey due to genetics, there is nothing you can do to reverse the change other than hair coloring. In most white people, premature graying can start from 20 years, among Asians at 25 years old.
Oxidative Stress
Oxidative stress in the body may play a part in whitening hairs at an early age. Oxidative stress can result in imbalances in the body due to fewer antioxidants to prevent the damaging effects of free radicals. Free radicals can promote the development of diseases such as vitiligo which decreases melanin production and cell function and cause premature greying of hairs.
Certain Medical Conditions
Some medical conditions, including autoimmune diseases and thyroid dysfunction disorder, can increase a person's risk of premature greying hairs.
Autoimmune Conditions
In autoimmune conditions, the hair on different body parts becomes whitened. For example, alopecia areata is an autoimmune skin condition that results in the loss of inches in other parts of the body. However, due to melanin deficiency, the hair that grows back is white.
Another form of alopecia areata is alopecia totalis, the total loss of hair on the scalp, only leaving the white hair in its place.
Vitiligo is another autoimmune disorder in which the melanin cells are destroyed, thus resulting in patches of white hairs.
Thyroid Disorder
Thyroid dysfunction disorder results in hair loss and premature greying of hair. Other than thyroid disorders, some types of medicines’ side effects can cause loss of hair pigment.
Smoking
Recent studies have shown relatively more chances for hair to start greying before age 30 in smokers. And there are fewer chances for nonsmokers.
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Hair Dyes And Hair Products
Hair products like shampoos chemical hair dyes contain many harmful chemicals and ingredients that destroy melanin-producing cells. In addition, hydrogen peroxide, which is used as the bleaching agent, is used in these hair products, thus resulting in premature hair graying and whitening.
How To Prevent White Hair From Spreading
The whitening of hair can be reversed if the whitening results from diet and vitamin deficiencies. But if it is caused by genetics or aging, switching is impossible. However, here are a few preventions for changing premature white hair.
Reduce Oxidative Stress
Oxidative stress can be reduced by eating a diet rich in antioxidants such as fresh fruits and vegetables, green tea, olive oil, fish, meat, and many more.
Addressing Vitamin Deficiencies
If hair whitening results from a deficiency of vitamins, then eating rich in vitamins can correct deficiencies. These foods include seafood, eggs, meats, milk, salmon, and cheese, which are good vitamin B-12 and vitamin D sources.
Avoid Smoking
Smoking contributes to white hair as there are greater chances of hair whitening in smokers than in nonsmokers. So by avoiding smoking, one can reduce the chances of premature greying of hairs.
How To Finish White Hairs
White hairs can be prevented and finished by quiet smoking and eating a rich source of vitamins and nutrients by reducing oxidative stress. In addition, many home remedies helped prevent white hairs, such as bhringaraj and curry leaves, when mixed with hair oil and applied to the scalp, can slow premature graying.
Conclusion
A balanced diet and good hair care can help reverse premature greying of hair. The use of natural remedies also slows down the process.
