Why does hair turn gray quickly?

The question of why hair turns gray worries many people, especially those who discovered gray hair at an early age.

Graying is hair discoloration resulting from loss of pigment and air bubbles filling the hair. Graying can be partial or complete, acquired or congenital, and also age-related.

The process of graying in men covers almost the entire surface of the body. Typically, the first gray hair appears in the temple area, gradually moving to the rest of the hair areas of the body.

In women, graying occurs somewhat differently in terms of extent of distribution, compared to men, since the hair is discolored only on the head and eyebrows.

The main reasons for graying:

1. age-related changes - the aging process;
2. heredity;
3. a consequence of past or congenital diseases;
4. frequent stress.

Gray hair appears in most people who have crossed a certain age limit. People most often notice their first gray hair at the age of 30-35 years, and then their number gradually increases over time.

However, premature graying is a common problem for many men and women who do not want to look older than their years, but suddenly find themselves with individual white hairs or even entire strands. A similar nuisance can happen both to those who often visit doctors and to absolutely healthy people.

Why do some people go gray and start dyeing their hair at 20, while others don’t have any worries until they are 50? If gray hair appears early, is there anything that can be done?

From the day a person discovers a few gray hairs, it can take more than 10 years before gray hair becomes predominant. Therefore, you can try to stop or at least slow down this process.

But first, it’s worth understanding how gray hair differs from “young” hair and where it comes from.

What is gray hair?

Eumelanin and pheomelanin

Melanocytes produce eumelanin, which is responsible for the black or dark brown color, and pheomelanin, which determines the reddish-yellow color.

In a certain proportion, these pigments color keratin, the main protein that makes up hair. Dark or light hair color depends on how much melanin each hair follicle receives. In turn, the volume and combination of different types of melanin are mainly determined by our genes. Thus, we get the widest range of natural shades: golden, light brown, reddish, chestnut, black.

Melanocytes begin to work before we are born, and their function gradually regresses over the years. Typically, their activity decreases by 10-20% every 10 years after age 30. As graying progresses, the melanocytes die off until they disappear completely, and then all the hair grows colorless, that is, gray.

Hydrogen peroxide

In 2009, scientists in Europe discovered another factor that causes hair to discolor with age. They found that hair follicles produce some amount of hydrogen peroxide. As any teenager knows, this substance is widely used to artificially whiten hair.

This substance is usually broken down by the enzyme catalase. But as a person ages, catalase production becomes less efficient. As a result, hydrogen peroxide accumulates, and it turns out that it whitens the hair from the inside, as if the owner had dyed it with bleaching dye.

Why does gray hair appear? (7 reasons)

There are many factors that can change hair pigmentation. Scientists divide them into internal (genetic characteristics, hormones, metabolism, age) and external (ecology, various adverse effects).

Very often, heredity is a predisposing factor. This means that most people will start to experience gray hair around the same age as their parents and grandparents. By the way, statistics show that representatives of different races turn gray at different times. The fastest are Caucasoids, then Mongoloids, and last of all are Negroids. It is noteworthy that those with red hair, on average, acquire gray hair earlier than anyone else.

Stress and psychological problems can also cause early graying of hair. According to research, people who suffer from anxiety and stress for a long period of time can expect gray hair to appear early. Depression and sadness can have a detrimental effect on health in general and reduce melanin production in particular.

It is noted that the early appearance of gray hair is more common in people who suffer from chronic sinusitis and colds.

Using hot water to wash your hair can disrupt the mechanism of pigment formation and cause graying.

Smoking also affects the age at which gray hair appears. The harmful substances that a smoker receives reduce the level of oxygen in the blood and the cells “starve”, including melanocytes.

Problems with the thyroid gland can cause hair discoloration.

A diet lacking vitamins can cause premature graying. The lack of certain vitamins, iron, copper, iodine in the daily diet is considered a significant factor.

How to eat to avoid going gray?

Lifestyle and diet are key factors in maintaining health and youth, but most of us buy food without thinking about its usefulness or making an attempt to maintain the right balance of vitamins and minerals.

Meanwhile, any product contains a certain set of substances, each of which performs its own function and its deficiency can cause certain disorders. Including hair loss and bleaching.

6 Minerals That Help Prevent Early Gray Hair

1. Calcium. Milk and any dairy products are a good source of calcium.
2. Chromium. Wheat bread, wine, and oysters are sources of chromium.
3. Copper. Green vegetables, eggs, chicken, mushrooms and beans, almonds and pumpkin seeds contain large amounts of copper.
4. Iodine. If you have problems with the thyroid gland, products containing iodine will help with hair loss and premature graying of hair. These are garlic, persimmon, black currant, sea fish.
5. Zinc. Mushrooms, oysters, whole grains and egg yolks are the main sources of zinc.
6. Iron. Beef, buckwheat, eggs, apples, seaweed, legumes and cocoa will help avoid iron deficiency in the body.

Groups of vitamins vital for hair

1. Beta carotene Known as an antioxidant, it helps the scalp stay healthy and also ensures proper sebum production. Vegetables, carrots, cabbage, spinach, fish, liver are the main sources of it.
2. Vitamins C, E and B vitamins (B3, B5, B6, B7, B12) promote active blood circulation in the scalp.
3. Vitamin Inositol considered very important for hair follicles. It is found in the highest concentrations in prunes, melon, and kiwi. It is present in some quantities in seeds (legumes, cereals, nuts), as well as milk and meat.

These substances are critical for preventing premature graying, as well as maintaining healthy hair. If you lead a healthy lifestyle and include enough vitamins and minerals in your diet every day, your hair will be healthy and shiny.

What to do to avoid going gray?

In addition to age-related skin changes and other annoying but inevitable side effects of the wisdom that comes with age, we are also faced with graying hair. But there are anti-aging serums for the skin, as well as surgical and non-surgical methods that can quite effectively counteract the effects of aging. What about hair?

Today, the most common way to “fight” gray hair is to dye all hair with a special dye. Unfortunately, we have to admit that this method is still the most effective: doctors and cosmetologists have not yet learned how to return the color to gray hair.

However, there are several principles, the observance of which helps to postpone gray hair until later years, and in some cases, to get rid of prematurely appearing single gray hairs.

Drinking enough fluids

Hair follicles need fluid to function properly. Lack of moisture and hydration prevents nutrients from reaching the hair follicles and thus can trigger the appearance of gray hair.

Neglect of thirst, addiction to alcohol and coffee abuse increase the likelihood of going gray prematurely.

Proper nutrition

The substances listed above will help maintain youthful and healthy hair for as long as possible. It is especially important to include foods with vitamin B12, folic acid and Omega-3 in your diet. These three ingredients are most effective in combating gray hair when taken as vitamin supplements or in foods.

Improved blood circulation

Blood circulation and blood supply are vital to preventing gray hair. There's little point in eating vitamins and minerals if they can't reach your hair follicles.

Physical activity will be helpful to improve blood circulation. For the lazy and busy, massage your scalp with your fingertips. If you spend 5-10 minutes a day on it, microcirculation will improve significantly and your hair may “change its mind” about turning gray and falling out.

Stress management

Stress is not the only cause of gray hair, but it is one of them. In 2012, Nobel Prize winner in chemistry Robert Lefkowitz discovered a mechanism that may explain why stress causes gray hair.

An extreme situation causes the release of numerous neurotransmitter substances designed to mobilize all the body's reserve resources. Usually their effect is short-lived and really helps to cope with the threat. Long-term exposure to these substances on the body, however, can cause graying and a host of other negative effects.

To give up smoking

It has been scientifically proven that smoking causes premature aging of the body and poor circulation. Giving up it is the first step of any person who wants to prolong his youth.

In addition to active rest and diet, it is important to take care of adequate, sufficiently long sleep.

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