Why does gray hair appear early?

It is generally accepted that gray hair appears in people who have reached a certain age. However, recently more and more people under 30 have noticed this problem. Premature gray hair can appear even in completely healthy people. So why is it that some people start going gray at 20, while others don’t have a single gray hair on their head even at 50? In this article we will talk about why people go gray early, what gray hair is and how to treat it.

What is gray hair?

Graying is the result of the hair bleaching process due to the loss of pigments that are responsible for dyeing the hair a certain color, as a result of which the hair is filled with air bubbles.

Hair follicles are deprived of the necessary nutrients and amino acids, as a result of which melanocyte cells suffer. After 30, every 10 years these cells reduce their activity until they disappear completely, and when this happens, the hair begins to grow gray. This entire process is completely individual and is influenced by many factors.

There are the following types of gray hair:

Causes

If you are over 40 years old, then the process of graying is absolutely natural and physiological. For some people, this process may not begin at all.

Let's consider the main reasons for the appearance of gray hair:

1. The process of age-related changes - aging
2. Genetic factor
3. The result of congenital or transmitted diseases
4. Constant stress

Graying factors are internal and external. The rate at which gray hairs appear is also affected by the environment and the negative impacts of the environment.

Why does hair turn gray at an early age?

Premature graying (if these are not single gray hairs) is when the hair turns gray at the age of 35 years. It is almost impossible to completely stop the process; it is only possible to slow it down if the cause is not genetic. It is best to follow some dietary guidelines and lead a healthy lifestyle to prevent this problem in the future.

If gray hair appears at the age of 20, you should definitely consult a doctor. This pathology is unnatural and requires a comprehensive examination to discover the cause.

10 reasons for gray hair in young girls

Although recently many young girls have been dyeing their hair gray on purpose, following fashion trends, not everyone likes this tone.

There are a number of factors that directly affect the formation of gray hairs in young girls. These include:

1. Heredity
   Very often, gray hairs appear in people at approximately the same age as their father and mother. It also depends on your natural hair color. Blondes and redheads go gray before everyone else.
2. Stress and frequent nervous breakdowns
   Long-term depression, constant quarrels and mental disorders have a very detrimental effect on our health. Due to the strong release of adrenaline into the blood, a person can turn gray even in one day, regardless of age. It is very important to take care of your psyche and nerves, since stress often causes not only gray hair, but also the formation of cancer cells.
3. Diet lacking vitamins and protein
   If your diet is missing vitamins A, B and C, as well as nutrients such as folic acid, copper, iodine and iron, this needs to be corrected urgently. In addition, a protein-free diet, which is so popular among women, only contributes to the appearance of gray hair.
4. Viral diseases or immune system problems
5. Thyroid diseases
6. Poor circulation
7. Effect of drugs
8. Chronic colds
9. Smoking
10. Frequent consumption of coffee and salt in large quantities

To accurately determine the cause, we advise you to consult a trichologist or dermatologist, who will send you for examination. Very often, early gray hair is a signal of problems in the body. The main thing is not to panic; gray hair is not a sign of old age.

What to do to avoid early gray hair?

If early graying of hair is not genetic in you, then there are some rules that will help slow down this process. The main thing is to understand that it is impossible to stop the manifestations of gray hair; it is very likely to simply postpone this process to a later time. To do this, follow the following rules.

Food should be rich in vitamins, minerals and always plant and animal proteins. Add more vegetables and fruits to your diet, as well as foods rich in calcium, zinc, iron, copper and iodine. Eat more dairy products, fresh berries, whole grains, lean meats, sea fish, legumes and nuts.

A sufficient amount of fluid is simply necessary for the good functioning of the hair follicles. Moisture will help nutrients reach the follicles faster and prevent early gray hair.

If possible, try to avoid nervous situations or at least control your emotions. Learn to calm yourself or take special training. Stress is the main cause of most diseases, so take care of yourself and your nerves.

Scientists have proven that smoking and alcohol can cause early aging of the body, as well as worsen blood circulation. If you want to stay young as long as possible, give up cigarettes and alcoholic beverages.

Adequate, long-term sleep will improve not only the condition of your hair and skin, but also your overall appearance.

The only way that will definitely help hide gray hair is coloring. But paint will not save you from this problem, but will only make it invisible. There are also cosmetics and folk remedies that promise to help you get rid of gray hair, but of course it will not be possible to completely return your hair to its former color, since this is physiologically impossible.

Previously, the appearance of gray hair always occurred in adulthood and was a sign of wisdom and importance. A modern person, exposed to frequent stress and the influence of unfavorable environmental factors, may notice the appearance of gray hair at the age of 20-30. Why does gray hair appear? How to prevent its occurrence? And is this process always physiological?

Typically, the first gray hair appears at the age of 35; over time, bleached hair becomes more numerous, and after about 10 years it begins to predominate over natural-colored hair. Sometimes their appearance can occur at a younger age. Such a process may indicate the development of various pathologies and always becomes a signal of concern. Despite the fact that almost no one can prevent the appearance of gray hair, there are factors in this physiological process that can be influenced and prolong the youth and beauty of your hair. In this article we will introduce you to the causes of gray hair and methods to combat it.

Why does gray hair appear?

In order to better understand the process of gray hair formation, let's get acquainted with the physiology of hair. In humans, hair color is determined by special pigments: pheomelanin, ossimelanin, eumelanin and a group of triochromes. They are varieties of such a pigment, so familiar to everyone from school, as melanin, which is produced by special cells - melanocytes, located in the basal (lower) layer of the epidermis and in hair follicles. Melanin synthesis occurs under the influence of mediators of the sympathetic nervous system, hormones of the thyroid gland, pituitary gland (melanocyte-stimulating hormone, ACTH and β-lipotropin) and sex hormones.

Eumelanin determines dark brown or black hair color, ossimelanin - light, pheomelanin - henna shades, and the triochrome group - red shades. The mixing of these pigments in different proportions determines the hair color of each person. They color the keratin that makes up the hair shafts, and the intensity of their shade depends on how much melanin each hair follicle receives. The combination and volume of eumelanin, triochromes, ossimelanin and pheomelanin are determined genetically. This is how a wide range of hair shades appears: chestnut, black, copper, golden, red...

Melanocytes begin to work even before the birth of a child and gradually regress with age. Every 10 years after the age of 30, their function fades by 10-20%, and it is depending on the degree of their repression that gray hair appears in the head of hair - almost colorless hair with a lack of pigment in keratin. When all the melanocytes that supply melanin to the hair shaft die, all hair becomes completely gray.

Not long ago, European scientists discovered another reason for the appearance of gray hair. As it turns out, as we age, hair follicles can produce small amounts of hydrogen peroxide, which interacts with pigments and discolors them. This process can be neutralized by catalase, a special enzyme. With age, this enzyme becomes less and less, and the peroxide produced and accumulated by the follicles discolors the hair shaft from the inside. As a result, the hair becomes colorless.

Causes of gray hair

Physiological graying is associated with the natural aging of melanocytes, and the appearance of early gray hair may be due to their death or decreased activity due to hormonal disorders. As a result, the hair loses its pigment, acquires a porous structure, and the resulting air “layers” give it a silvery-white hue.

Many different factors can change your hair color. They can be divided into:

1. external: unfavorable environmental conditions;
2. internal: genetic characteristics, age, stressful situations, metabolic processes, etc.

The causes of gray hair can be:

1. poor ecology: contributes to the development of diseases and premature aging;
2. hereditary predisposition: most people experience gray hair at the same age as their parents;
3. prolonged depression and chronic stress: nervous breakdowns provoke the release of large amounts of adrenaline into the blood, which breaks the connection between melanin and keratin in the hair follicles; in addition, nervous overstrain causes weakened immunity and premature aging;
4. race: gray hair appears earlier in Europoids and Mongoloids, and later in Negroids;
5. diseases of the thyroid gland: pathology of this endocrine organ leads to metabolic disorders;
6. conditions associated with pigmentation disorders: vitiligo, albinism, tuberous sclerosis and some other diseases - gray strands can appear at any age;
7. vitamin deficiencies and lack of iodine, vitamins A, group B, C, minerals copper, zinc, manganese, iron and selenium: cause pathology of internal organs and disrupt the normal blood supply to all tissues of the body;
8. Poor nutrition: leads to a deficiency of vitamins and minerals that ensure the normal functioning of the entire body;
9. diseases of the digestive system and kidneys lead to disruption of metabolic processes in the body;
10. skin diseases: herpetic or erysipelas, alopecia areata;
11. hormonal imbalance: unstable hormone levels (for example, during pregnancy, after childbirth, with polycystic ovary syndrome or during menopause) can provoke stressful situations, endocrine disorders of the thyroid gland and exhaustion of the nervous system;
12. autoimmune diseases: antibodies produced in the body destroy melanocytes and lead to a lack of hair pigmentation;
13. bad habits: cause many diseases, hormonal imbalance and premature aging;
14. taking medications: long-term and frequent use of certain medications (especially antibiotics, Rezoquine, Chloroquine, Hydroquinone and phenylthiourea) negatively affects immunity and metabolism;
15. improper care of hair and scalp: using hot water, staying in the sun or in the cold without a hat, using aggressive care, styling and coloring products have a detrimental effect on the scalp and contribute to the weakening of hair pigmentation.

Characteristics of gray hair

After losing most of the pigment, the hair shafts become ash-gray, and after losing all the melanin, they turn white. In smokers, gray hair with a yellowish tint can be observed.

In addition to bleaching, gray hair loses both its usual properties and normal structure, since melanin not only colors the hair shaft, but also protects it from external adverse factors (for example, from exposure to ultraviolet radiation) and gives it elasticity and strength. This is why, after graying, hair becomes stiffer, brittle, dry, split and unruly when styled. In some cases, they begin to tangle and curl.

How to prevent the appearance of gray hair?

Doctors and cosmetologists have not yet learned how to return gray hair to its previous shade, and the “fight” against gray hair that has already appeared can only consist of dyeing hair with special dyes with 3rd degree of durability. However, it is possible to prevent early graying, get rid of single gray hairs and stop the progression of this process if you follow a number of simple rules.

Nutrition

Balancing our diet is one of the key factors that contribute to maintaining youth, health and beauty. To prevent graying, you should include foods rich in these six minerals in your diet:

1. calcium – dairy products, soy, nuts, wheat, greens;
2. copper – eggs, beans, green vegetables, almonds, mushrooms, pumpkin seeds;
3. zinc – mushrooms, whole grains, oysters, egg yolks;
4. chromium – oysters, wine, wheat bread;
5. iron – seaweed, apples, legumes, buckwheat, beef, eggs, cocoa;
6. iodine – black currant, sea fish, persimmon, seaweed.

For normal hair pigmentation, your daily diet should include foods high in the following vitamins:

1. beta carotene – carrots, cabbage, fish, spinach, liver;
2. E – almonds, peanuts, hazelnuts, sea buckthorn, dried apricots, pistachios, wheat, spinach, viburnum;
3. WITH – citrus fruits, rose hips, kiwi, apples, berries, bell peppers, wild garlic, Brussels sprouts;
4. group B (B3, B5, B6, B7, B10 and B12) – pine nuts, cashews, lentils, pork, rabbit, mackerel, sardines, liver, champignons, eggs, dairy products, beans, walnuts, sea buckthorn;
5. folic acid – liver, peanuts, walnuts, beans, spinach, hazelnuts, broccoli, wild garlic;
6. inositol – melon, nuts, meat, prunes, kiwi, legumes.

The above minerals and vitamins are important not only for normal hair pigmentation, but are also necessary for maintaining hair health. Daily inclusion of foods rich in them in your diet will improve your hair and make it shiny and strong.

In addition to these vitamins and minerals, your diet should include foods high in Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids:

1. flax seeds;
2. fish fat;
3. salmon;
4. olive oil;
5. oats;
6. almonds, etc.

All these beneficial substances can be taken in the form of dietary supplements and vitamin-mineral complexes:

1. Melan+ for men and Melan+ for women;
2. Neurobex;
3. Complements selenium.

They should be taken with meals and with plenty of water. These medications should not be taken after heavy meals, as in such cases they will not be fully absorbed.

Drinking regime

Hair follicles are extremely sensitive to lack of fluid in the body. Lack of water impedes the intake and absorption of nutrients and can cause graying of hair. That is why, to maintain their health, it is necessary to drink 1.5-2 liters of water daily.

Proper hair care

When the first gray hair appears, you should pay close attention to hair care:

1. Wash your hair with water at a comfortable temperature.
2. Use shampoos, conditioners and masks that contain non-aggressive detergent ingredients, vitamins, natural extracts and nutrients.
3. Minimize the use of hair dryers, curling irons, straighteners, aggressive dyes and styling products.
4. Wear hats in hot and frosty weather.
5. Avoid styling that disrupts normal blood circulation in the scalp: ponytails, braids, the use of hairpins, elastic bands, etc.

Salon treatments

The appearance of gray hair can be stopped using the following procedures performed in beauty salons:

1. laser therapy;
2. plasma lifting;
3. ultrasound therapy;
4. microelementary mesotherapy.

Hardware hair treatment methods can be supplemented by the use of nourishing masks and vitamin serums:

1. Dikson POLIPANT COMPLEX;
2. Dercos Technique Vichy;
3. Intensive Energizing Complex, etc.

Folk remedies

To prevent the appearance of gray hair, you can use various folk remedies that help restore their health.

Garlic mask

Pass the garlic through a press. Add a little burdock oil to the resulting paste and rub into the hair roots with gentle massaging movements. The head should be wrapped in a warm towel. Rinse off the mask after 10-15 minutes, rinse hair with shampoo. Repeat the procedure 2 times a week.

Applications with infusion of burdock roots

Pour 2 tablespoons of chopped burdock roots and 2 teaspoons of dill fruit into 0.5 liters of boiling water and leave for about 3 hours. Rub into clean scalp 2 times during the day. The procedure should be repeated daily for 3 months.

Wheat germ oil mask

Mix 30 ml of wheat germ oil with 7 drops of lavender, rose and sandalwood oil. Apply with massaging movements to the scalp, wrap and keep for about 1-2 hours. Wash off with shampoo. The mask should be applied 2 times a week for 2-3 months.

Before using these and other folk remedies, you should make sure that there is no allergic reaction to the components of the recipe.

Stress management

Normal functioning of the body is possible only in the absence of stress. The mechanism of action of numerous neurotransmitters on the body and hair pigmentation, which enter the bloodstream during stressful situations, helped to understand the discovery made by 2012 Nobel Prize winner chemist Robert Lefkowitz. It is long-term exposure to stress factors that can cause graying and many other negative consequences.

To avoid physical and psycho-emotional stress, it is recommended to get rid of all provoking factors and bad habits, master relaxation techniques, normalize sleep and rest patterns, spend more time in the fresh air, engage in physical exercise, hobbies and lead a healthy lifestyle. If necessary, you should undergo treatment from a neurologist or psychotherapist.

Treatment of chronic diseases

Regular follow-up with a specialist and following all his recommendations will help prevent the appearance of gray hair in various chronic diseases - autoimmune pathologies, diseases of the skin, thyroid gland, digestive tract, kidneys.

Which doctor should I contact?

When the first bleached hair appears, you should contact a trichologist, who can conduct a detailed examination (spectral analysis of hair for the presence of microelements, blood tests for the level of thyroid hormones and vitamin levels, etc.) and draw up a plan for further treatment and prevention of graying. If you have early gray hair, you may need to consult an endocrinologist, nephrologist or gastroenterologist.

Video version of the article

Useful video about gray hair: the program “About the Most Important Thing”

It is considered normal for our hair to change color as we age; At the same time, it is considered the norm (albeit purely conditionally) if noble gray hair whitens the heads of people who have crossed the threshold of middle age.

At the same time, there are many elderly people in the world whose hair, it seems, is not at all affected by the years they have lived. But there are even more of those who began to go gray long before middle age. And even teenagers or young adults in their early 20s may find themselves with a strand of gray hair.

The human body has millions of hair follicles (hair follicles) throughout its surface. This is, in fact, the root of the hair, in which special cells (melanocytes) produce different types of melanin, which determines the color of the hair. Over time, hair follicles lose pigment cells, which leads to gray hair. This is how they usually explain the process of the appearance of gray hair in a person who, in fact, is already high time to go gray due to objective age-related reasons.

But why do young people turn gray? And why can gray hair be found even in small children? Does this indicate some kind of health problem, or is genetics to blame? In this article, you have the opportunity to not only learn about some of the most common causes of early gray hair, but also learn how you can slow down the process or even prevent it (to some extent, of course).

Early gray hair: causes that can be eliminated

When it comes to the premature appearance of gray hair and measures to combat this phenomenon, you should know that without accurately identifying the causes of gray hair, it is impossible to stop this process. And if you know the list of the main reasons, then you can take measures to prevent the appearance of gray hair at an early age.

In fact, there are not so many reasons for these, besides natural aging; and the number of products that are offered to combat gray hair is off the charts.

This is not surprising, since gray hair is a huge business for companies filling the relevant market niche with numerous hair dyes (and more). It is no coincidence that many large companies contribute to the study of the problem of the appearance of gray hair at different ages (at least at the level of collecting statistical data). For example, cosmetics giant L'Oreal found that gray hair in men aged 45 to 65 years is slightly more common than gray hair in women of the same age (78% to 71%); and at 50 years old, gray hair accounts for an average of 25% of all hair on the head (for most people).

Why does hair turn gray early?

The process of early gray hair is affected by a lack of any of the following vitamins in the body: vitamin B-6, B-12, biotin (the so-called antiseborrheic vitamin or vitamin H), vitamin E. In addition, in 2005, in the peer-reviewed scientific publication Development The results of several studies were published at once, proving that the process of formation of gray hair is also affected by a deficiency of vitamin D-3, B-12 and copper deficiency in the human body.

In 2016, another international publication (International Journal of Trichology), dedicated to the problems of trichology (that is, the science of hair), also drew attention to the factors that are associated with the premature appearance of gray hair in young people (up to 25 years). The subjects were found to be deficient in the iron-containing protein ferritin (which is a source of iron for cells), the same vitamin B-12 and “good” cholesterol (HDL, high-density lipoprotein).

Taking as a basis the fact that a deficiency of the above nutrients affects the formation of the necessary pigment in our body, it was assumed that appropriate vitamin supplements would help restore hair color.

If we are not talking about genetic causes of premature graying, then the next “accused” may be so-called oxidative stress (that is, cellular damage due to oxidation processes). Oxidative stress results in an imbalance where antioxidants (that is, oxidation inhibitors) are unable to cope with the destructive effects of free radicals (molecules that trigger the process of cell death, leading to disease and aging of the body).

The term often used is more pronounced oxidative stress: we are talking about more serious cellular damage that can become a trigger for various diseases, including one of the very dangerous pigmentation disorders - vitiligo. Vitiligo can also cause gray hair as a result of a decrease in the functional activity of melanin-producing cells or as a result of their death.

There is a common belief that everyday stress leads to premature gray hair. In fact, no study has yet proven this connection.

For example, studies that have sought to find an association between stress caused by bodily injury have produced conflicting results.

One such study from New York University, published in the medical scientific journal Nature Medicine, found that when the human body is under stress, the functionality of the cells responsible for hair color decreases.

However, there are other studies, the results of which, although they confirm that stressful situations can influence this process, lead to additional conclusions. According to them, this influence is just a small touch in the overall big picture, consisting of other numerous causes (for example, concomitant diseases, genetic factors, and so on).

Chemical dyeing and hair extensions (and even some types of shampoos) can also cause gray hair to appear at an early age. And this is not surprising, since many cosmetics contain harmful substances that reduce melanin levels. For example, one such harmful chemical that is found in many chemical hair dyes is hydrogen peroxide. And if you use hair lightening products very often, you can eventually cause the corresponding damage, leading to premature gray hair.

How to get rid of early gray hair?

A person’s diet plays a clear role in preventing the appearance of early gray hair. Foods containing antioxidants help reduce free radicals by stopping a process called oxidative stress. This is also the easiest way to prevent premature gray hair, as antioxidants are found in fresh vegetables and fruits, green tea, olive oil, fish and many other foods.

As for smoking, everything is clear: if you, as a smoker, are concerned about the problem of early appearance of gray hair, it makes sense to immediately quit smoking. It’s better not to start. Well, if the main reason for the early appearance of gray hair is a deficiency of vitamins, you need to include in your diet foods that contain the vitamins the body lacks. For example, seafood, eggs and meat are sources of vitamin B-12; milk, salmon and cheese are an excellent source of vitamin D.

Deficiencies of certain micronutrients in the body can also be corrected through regular consumption of certain foods. For example, if you have been diagnosed with a copper deficiency, you should include foods such as beef liver, lentils, almonds, dark chocolate, asparagus, and so on in your diet. If necessary, it is possible to adjust the intake of certain vitamins and minerals by introducing appropriate vitamin and nutritional supplements into the menu.

Now there are a lot of hair dyes on the market that can hide gray hair. There are also many anti-gray shampoos that promise quick and safe “camouflage” of hair.

Unfortunately, many of these cosmetics themselves cause even more gray hair to appear prematurely; in addition, their regular use leads to numerous side effects and allergic reactions.

Natural medicines are a very real alternative, as they help reduce the formation of gray hair without having a negative effect on the skin.

Let's take for example curry leaves. The use of curry leaves as a natural medicine goes back centuries. Nowadays, many people use curry leaf hair care oil (which, by the way, is easy to wash off) as it can slow down the premature appearance of gray hair. Curry leaves are also used to help dark hair retain its natural color longer.

If such a remedy seems too exotic to someone (although getting it now is not a problem), you can use infusions of nettle, sage, and other herbs. Even regular black tea is recommended, and in tea bags.

You should steam two or three tea bags in a regular cup, then wait until it cools down and apply to clean, damp hair. After regular use, the hair becomes darker, softer and has a healthy shine. Some people mix the tea with hair conditioner, apply it for one hour, and then rinse their hair.

Early gray hair in a child

Early gray hair, of course, can be a cause for some concern, which, however, is most often caused by purely psychological factors due to a violation of aesthetics.

However, the unexpected discovery of gray hair in a child can cause a real panic attack in his parents. However, there is no need to panic, since the appearance of gray hair in a child is caused by exactly the same reasons that cause early gray hair in young men and women.

But you shouldn’t ignore this fact. You should find out which of the above reasons leading to the appearance of gray hair at such an early age apply to your child. Most likely, it will be problematic to do this yourself, and therefore it is worth contacting a specialist. Considering the fact that we are talking about a child, you should initially make an appointment with a pediatrician and explain to him the essence of the problem; and the pediatrician will decide whether there is a need to contact other specialists for further examination in order to identify the causes of the lack of color pigment.

Treatment of early gray hair in Russia

In the international medical space, a separate scientific direction dealing with hair arose in the middle of the last century; in Russia, doctors specializing in hair health (that is, trichologists) appeared only at the beginning of this century.

Moreover, such a specialty still does not officially exist in our country: there is a cosmetologist or a dermatologist. Much of the modern data (including statistical data) that we have on the appearance of early gray hair was obtained as a result of foreign research.

Thanks to international experience, a lot is known about the causes of premature graying. However, there is no “magic pill” that allows you to get rid of gray hair.

Of course, with the correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment, the process of graying can be stopped, and sometimes even reversed. A balanced diet, proper hair care, the use of natural remedies - all this works to one degree or another.

And if we are not talking about a genetic predisposition to the appearance of early gray hair, a lot depends on our choices made at a very young age.

Having all the above information, today the majority are able to choose a path in life in which gray hair will appear only in old age. In any case, this process cannot be stopped completely; Almost everyone's hair eventually turns gray—it's just that some don't make it that far.

The site provides reference information for informational purposes only. Diagnosis and treatment of diseases must be carried out under the supervision of a specialist. All drugs have contraindications. Consultation with a specialist is required!