It is very common for your hair to turn white as you get older, but if you have white strands of hair during teenage then it is a concern and there are various causes for this premature greying.
Common causes for premature greying:
- If you notice white hair at an early age, it’s likely that your parents or grandparents also had greying or white hair at an early age. You can’t change genetics. But if you don’t like white hair you can always color your hair.
- Any deficiencies of vitamin B-6, B-12, biotin, vitamin D, or vitamin E can contribute to premature graying.
- Stress can also affect your hair. Sleep disorders, anxiety, depression, hypertension will lead to chronic stress which will affect your hair and can cause hair loss and premature greying.
- Autoimmune diseases like vitiligo and alopecia will affect the pigment (melanin) present in the hair and cause white hair
- The health of your thyroid can also influence the color of your hair. An overactive or underactive thyroid can cause your body to produce less melanin.
- It’s well-known that smoking cigarettes increases the risk for lung cancer and heart disease. The long-term effects, however, can go beyond the heart and lungs and affect hair. Additionally, toxins in cigarettes can damage parts of your body including your hair follicles, causing early white hair.
PREVENTION:
With the right diagnosis and treatments, white hair progression can be stopped and reversed in some instances. In some cases, however, the process is irreversible. If you treat the underlying health problem, pigmentation may return, but there are no guarantees.
- Prevention usually depends on the cause. If the cause is genetics then there is nothing much you can do except coloring the hair if you don’t like grey hair.
- In some cases if thyroid disorder is the cause then hormonal therapy can reverse the grey hair.
- There are no proven results that replacement of vitamins in case of vitamin deficiencies can reverse grey hair but it can prevent further worsening.
- Reducing stress by doing meditation and yoga can help to some extent.
- A balanced diet and good hair care can also help in preventing grey hair.
- With exposure to pollution, dust, heat and humidity it is imperative that you take steps to protect your hair. Tying the hair up, when outside, and covering the head with a scarf could keep away from such unhealthy exposure.
– Dr.Y.Alekhya
#Thinkhealth blog 