Grey hair is a sign of aging however, there is an increasing incidence of grey hair in young adults and a study found that premature greying of hair occur in 6%–23% of people by the age of 50.
Occurrence of grey hair before 30 years of age is worrisome
and can affect the self-esteem and confidence of the affected individuals as
hair greatly alter the person’s physical appearance. Therefore, it is important
to determine the reasons for pre-mature grey hair (PGH) and the effective
therapeutic measures to avert these changes.
Causes of premature grey
hair
Oxidative stress
Increased accumulation of hydrogen peroxide and decreased
levels of antioxidants are linked to the PGH. Oxidative stress mainly occurs
due to environmental pollution, inflammation, ultra violet rays, alcohol
consumption and emotional responses such as stress.
Hair color is produced by the cells known as melanocytes
whereas oxidative stress leads to the damage and death of mature melanocytes
thus leading to the loss of pigmentation.
Vitamin deficiency
Deficiency of vitamin B-12 is associated with the premature
greying of hair. It has been studied that anemic patients are more prone to the
PGH (55 %) as compared to the control individuals (30 %), however, the
mechanism through which vitamin B-12 causes this effect is yet poorly
understood.
Thyroid hormones
Reduced levels of thyroid hormones change the structure of
hair that leads to baldness and PGH. Increased expression of T3 and T4 hormones
promote the melanocyte formation and increase hair pigmentation.
Medications and
autoimmunity
Certain chemotherapeutic agents such as anti-malarial drugs,
muscle relaxants , cholesterol lowering agents and
antipsychotic agents can also cause PGH. Autoimmune disorders also lead to premature hair whitening by attacking and destroying the melanocytes.
Smoking
Research revealed that smoking is also a significant
contributor towards PGH. Smoking increases oxidative stress and subsequently,
loss of pigmentation.
Nutritional deficiency
The deficit of essential minerals such as copper, iron and
calcium may cause PGH. A population based
study from India exhibited that decreased serum levels of Vitamin D3, calcium
and ferritin are important risk factors for PGH.
Chronic diseases
Recent studies also linked PGH with various chronic disorders
such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension and other cardio vascular disorders. However,
controversies also exist and further research is required to find the
conclusive evidence.
Hair products and dyes
Different shampoos and hair dyes contain hydrogen per oxide
that is damaging for the melanocytes (cells that produce hair color).
Takeaway: premature whitening of hair could be
due to various reasons and you have to find your own reason in order to best
manage the condition. In the next article I will come up with few proven
remedies for the treatment of grey hair, so keep reading…
References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6290285/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7048355/
0 Comments