Table Of Content
StyleCraze provides content of general nature that is designed for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The good news is there are a few ways to restore or reverse it, but it would depend on the cause. So to determine what you can do to avoid or reverse it, you must identify the cause first.
Senior Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
When diet and vitamin deficiencies are the cause of prematurely white hair, correcting these may reverse the problem or stop it from worsening. In this article, we look at some common causes of prematurely white hair, along with ways to slow down or prevent the graying process. Environmental pollutants, such as air pollution, can have adverse effects on hair health. These pollutants generate free radicals, contributing to oxidative stress and potentially accelerating greying. This is a process called repigmentation and takes place over a certain period of time. It is possible for white hair to regain its color due to the natural dying process of the hair cycle.
Genes
Gray hair can be turned black with the right diagnosis and treatment. If, however, the problem is genetic or age-related, then it is unlikely that it can be reversed. However, by eating a balanced diet and caring for your hair properly, you can slow down the process.
Health Alerts from Harvard Medical School
One of the extrinsic factors of oxidative stress is UV rays, which lead to premature graying of hair. Make sure you protect your hair when going out in the sun with a scarf or hat. There are a number of heat protection products that protect hair follicles from the harmful sun rays. Anecdotal evidence suggests that ashwagandha may stimulate melanin production owing to its tyrosine (an amino acid one needs to make proteins) content. Restoration of lost melanin (the substance responsible for pigmentation of hair and skin) could potentially reverse premature hair graying (1). A study indicated that onion juice might help reduce hair fall and aid hair regrowth in a few people (16).
If you want to dye your hair to disguise any gray, choose a color that is slightly darker than your natural shade. Finally, be sure to regularly use a mild shampoo, conditioner, and moisturizer to keep your scalp hydrated and healthy. If you are graying due to a vitamin B12 deficiency, you should consume more seafood, eggs, and meat, including pork, beef, and lamb. Dairy products, such as milk and cheese, are good sources as well.
Gray Hair Can Return to Its Original Color--and Stress Is Involved, of Course - Scientific American
Gray Hair Can Return to Its Original Color--and Stress Is Involved, of Course.
Posted: Tue, 22 Jun 2021 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Genes may play a role in turning your hair grey even at a young age. It may have just been the luck of the draw that you have white hair at age 15. Besides age, there can be lots of causes that result in hair turning white of a person.
Certain autoimmune disorders, where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own cells, can impact hair colour. Conditions like alopecia areata may lead to hair loss and changes in pigmentation, including white hair. The side effects of medications or the underlying health condition may contribute to white hair at an early age. Although it is more common to start seeing white hair in your 30s, it is not unheard of for someone in their 20s to begin getting white hairs.
One of the most common causes is genetics – some people simply have premature graying. Other possible causes for white hair at a young age can include hormonal imbalances, nutrient deficiencies, thyroid disorders, autoimmune disorders, and extreme stress. While effective evidence-based treatment options for premature graying are limited, temporary solutions such as diet changes, herbal remedies, and hair colorants are available. Nutritional deficiencies are a common cause of premature graying, so ensuring a balanced intake of essential vitamins and minerals is critical. Hormonal changes vary depending on your lifestyle, diet and more. Most hormonal issues are linked to hair loss resulting as a side effect.
Top 6 Causes of Premature White Hair
According to a 2017 study, there is a strong family history and genetic component to premature hair graying. Any deficiencies of vitamin B9, B12, biotin, or vitamin D can contribute to premature graying. It’s also important to make sure you’re getting plenty of essential vitamins and minerals, since the body needs these nutrients to create the building blocks of melanin. Getting outside in the sun is also important, since the ultraviolet light stimulates the production of melanin.
Eating a healthy and balanced diet is an important factor, as your hair’s natural color needs a combination of vitamins and minerals to stay vibrant. The natural repigmentation process of white hair is thought to start from the root area. The follicle serves as a container for the pigment cells, which provide the natural hue for a strand of hair. When follicles become weak, the pigment cells are released back into the surrounding skin, turning the hair white.
As mentioned earlier, if the body is lacking any of the vitamins B-6, B-12, biotin, vitamin D, or vitamin E can contribute to premature greying. You do have to make note that consuming vitamins simply cannot reverse white hair but can help to slow down the process. But yes, consuming a diet that is rich in vitamins D, B5, and B12, iron, and calcium can prevent your existing hair from turning white. Although calcium is not a vitamin, a deficiency of this too can affect healthy hair from turning white. Consuming vitamin D also helps the body to absorb calcium better which in turn will reflect on bone and hair health.
But stopping these behaviors entirely can help prevent more white hairs. If you feel like your premature white hair isn’t genetic and may be due to a health condition, check in with your doctor. Remember your parents saying, “You kids are turning my hair gray”? Stress is thought to cause premature white hair because it depletes melanocyte stem cells (which help create hair color).
These include vitamin B12, calcium pantothenate, iron, (9) biotin, and zinc supplements. (1) Make sure to consult your doctor before taking any supplements. One study found that stress induces the release of noradrenaline from sympathetic nerves, which depletes the stem cells that give hair its color.
This basically is responsible for giving colour to your hair, skin and nails. But with time, these pigment cells continue decreasing, especially due to ageing. It is ideally common for hair to turn grey or white with increasing age but as for young women especially in their early 20s, it's not a good sign. Some of the common reasons why hair turns white are listed below.
No comments:
Post a Comment