Causes of early graying of hair in women

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Early graying is caused by the appearance of gray hair before the age of 25. Early gray hair is most often associated not with the general aging process, but with negative internal factors that can disrupt the functioning of melanocytes. Head massage, masks, hardware procedures, and mesotherapy will significantly slow down the appearance of early gray hair.

Early gray hair is the appearance of gray hair before the age of 25 in representatives of the Caucasian and Mongoloid races and before the age of 30 in representatives of the Negroid race. Early gray hair, as a rule, is associated not with the general aging process, but with various kinds of unfavorable internal factors that disrupt the functioning of melanocytes. In order to find out the reasons for early graying of hair, it is necessary to consult a trichologist, study the level of vitamins and microelements in the blood and hair, and thyroid hormones. Head massage, hardware procedures, masks, and mesotherapy will help slow down the appearance of early gray hair. You can hide gray strands by dyeing your hair.

This is only for men, when the beard turns gray, the demon pushes you in the rib, inviting you to remember your brave daring. Early gray hair in women, on the contrary, causes a lot of problems and grief. Agree that silver in a young woman’s hair reminds of approaching old age and can cause a bad mood. Someone immediately begins to resort to the method of camouflage using dyeing, while others try to pull out the emerging silver hairs.

The first method does not suit everyone, since you will have to use the paint regularly and paint the regrown roots at least once a month. If you yourself cannot carry out this procedure at home, then there are additional expenses not only for paint, but also for a hairdresser. And pulling out gray hair over time is fraught with thinning of hair.

Sooner or later, gray hair appears in everyone, both women and men. Better, of course, later.. What are the reasons for early gray hair? Why do hair follicles stop producing melanocyte cells, which precisely serve to produce and preserve the hair pigment melanin?

There is a joke: you can’t crush genes with your finger. In this case, too, the genetic factor plays a certain role. If women in your family started turning gray at the age of thirty, then be prepared for the fact that it will not pass you by either. Alas, it is impossible to slow down or stop this process. There is only one way out - paint. If you are afraid of damaging your hair with chemical ingredients, use natural dyes, such as henna and basma. Read also: Hair care in autumn: main rules and subtleties.

If everything seems to be in order with genetics, but silver threads begin to appear, you should pay attention to your health status. Early gray hair in women can be caused by the presence of a number of chronic diseases. An examination prescribed by a doctor will help you find out the causes of early gray hair - a biochemical blood test, ultrasound of the thyroid gland, etc.

Stress also affects the color of our hair. It is a well-known historical fact that the night before her execution, Queen Marie Antoinette of France at the age of 37 became white as a harrier. The guillotine does not threaten us, but modern life presents stress quite often.

Main causes of graying hair

Although there are a huge number of causes of graying listed on the Internet, we will name those that are supported by evidence in the dermatological literature:

1. Heredity: Premature graying is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait, meaning anyone in your immediate family may have experienced graying at an early age. Graying of hair in this case is independent and is not accompanied by any other abnormality.
2. Autoimmune disorders: Premature graying of hair is common in those with an autoimmune disease such as pernicious anemia, hyper- or hypothyroidism.
3. Premature Aging: As expected, a rare cause of premature graying is premature aging syndromes such as progeria and Werner's syndrome. Don't worry as these are very rare syndromes in which other signs of aging such as facial wrinkling, weak bones, diabetes, cataracts etc. are present at a very early age.
4. Predisposition to allergic diseases: atopic dermatitis, asthma, conjunctivitis, rhinitis, may be associated with premature graying.
5. Nutrition: Only severe or chronic loss of protein, iron, folic acid, vitamin B12 and copper can cause premature graying. This occurs commonly in various malabsorption syndromes, nephrosis, kwashiorkor, etc. One study found significantly low levels of calcium, vitamin D3 and ferritin in people with early gray hair. Another study showed low copper levels in healthy children aged 15 years with premature gray hair.
6. Severe stress: Daily stress is unlikely to affect graying hair, but excessive stress, both physical and mental, can cause graying.
7. Medications: Premature graying of hair can be caused by the following drugs: Chloroquine, Mephenesine, Phenylthiocarbamide, Triparanol, Fluorobutyrophenone, Epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor, Interferon-alpha
8. Medical disorders: Early gray hair can also occur due to diseases such as HIV infection, cystic fibrosis and Hodgkin's lymphoma.
9. Smoking and substance abuse: A relationship has been found between chronic smoking and drug abuse and early greying.

There are three aspects to hair graying: age-related or physiological, associated with the natural aging process; congenital, associated with a hereditary lack of pigment; premature, occurring at a young age.

The appearance of age-related and early gray hair follows the same pattern. In both cases, this results from the loss of melanin pigment. Physiological graying is caused by the aging of pigment-producing cells; The cause of early gray hair may be a decrease in the activity of melanocytes or their death. As a result, the structure of hair devoid of pigment will be porous, and the resulting air cavities will give the hair a silvery-white color.

If we consider the genetic aspect, then it is applicable in the case when the older generation of the family first had gray hair in their youth. Symptoms of early gray hair may be a sign of certain diseases. This may be iron deficiency anemia, vitiligo, thyroid dysfunction, gastritis with low acidity, atherosclerosis, etc.

The cause of early gray hair can be a nervous shock: during stress, an excessive amount of adrenaline enters the blood, which can disrupt the connection of melanin with the protein structure of the hair. As a result, the pigment is neutralized or washed out. In addition, spasm of the blood vessels that feed the hair follicles leads to atrophy or death.

Often, early gray hair is a consequence of drug therapy that affects the regulation of melanin production. Impaired melanocyte function and premature graying can be caused by:

1. deficiency of vitamins A, B, C;
2. deficiency of zinc, copper, iron, manganese, selenium;
3. protein-free diets;
4. excess ultraviolet radiation;
5. smoking;
6. frequent hair perm,
7. dyeing and bleaching hair with products containing hydrogen peroxide.

How to prevent early gray hair

Early gray hair in girls can be a real frustration, as it becomes difficult to always monitor their good condition. At the same time, minimal impact on gray hair will be a good prevention against its further development. Below are 7 simple hair care tips to prevent further graying:

1. Don't towel dry your hair too often or vigorously; blow drying is best for gray hair.
2. Do not use curling irons or other straightening devices frequently.
3. Avoid permanent procedures.
4. Don't straighten it frequently: Strong chemicals used to straighten hair can further damage gray hair, especially if the chemical touches the scalp and gets into the hair roots where the pigment cells are located.
5. Don't waste money on shampoos and other cosmetics that promise to rid your hair of gray hair. They are unlikely to help.
6. Avoid exposure to bright sun: make sure you cover them with a hat, scarf or bandana. Since gray hair does not contain melanin, it cannot protect itself from damage from the sun's ultraviolet rays.
7. Dye Safely: Yes, gray hair should be dyed, but the truth is that it doesn't take dye as easily as regular hair. Gray hair doesn't take dye very easily, and your many ineffective efforts may expose it to chemicals that can cause hair loss.

Here are some tips you should follow:

1. Hair dye should be applied properly so that the dye does not touch the scalp and is distributed evenly.
2. The longer the gap between painting sessions, the better.
3. Visit your stylist for better and longer lasting results. One session from a professional, which relieves the harmful effects of the scalp, is better than several ineffective coloring treatments at home.

As you can see, early gray hair in women requires special care. Men's hair is less likely to be exposed to such chemical and physical effects. Now let's move on to methods of treating gray hair.

Unfortunately, it is impossible to reverse the graying process once started. However, active prevention can slow down the process of early gray hair. To do this, you need to avoid stress, protect your scalp and hair from exposure to ultraviolet radiation and temperature changes, give up bad habits, and eat well. Professional hair care will prevent the appearance of early gray hair: scalp massages, masks, microelement mesotherapy, plasma lifting, hardware procedures.

The only way to return gray hair to its original color is to dye it. If the volume of gray hair is small (about 25%), simple toning will cope with the problem of early gray hair. Blonding or highlighting will also help hide the first gray strands.

Why does gray hair come early?

1. severe stress - either a single incident or lasting for a long time. Adrenaline, released in a stressful situation, causes a disruption in the connection between pigment and hair protein;
2. incorrect lifestyle - this applies to bad habits, mono-diet, and daily routine;
3. as evidence of diseases in the body;
4. genetic predisposition - if the adult generation turns gray at a young age, then this can be inherited;
5. X-ray irradiation - in this case, focal appearance of gray hair is usually observed; exposure to ultraviolet radiation - protect your head from the sun so that early gray hair does not become the cause of your grief;
6. deficiency of vitamins and microelements - these are vitamins A, B, C, as well as a lack of manganese, selenium, iron, copper, zinc.

How to avoid early gray hair

If you notice your first gray hair, then you need to completely reconsider your attitude towards life in order to slow down the aging of melanocytes and slow down the process of hair bleaching. It is impossible to avoid stressful situations. If stress is associated with the death of a loved one, then you should consult a specialist and choose sedatives.

When the source of a stressful situation is your work, study or environment, then it is necessary to minimize this impact - change your place of work, complete school assignments on time or change your environment. You need to pay attention to your lifestyle - stop drinking alcohol and tobacco products, and maintain a proper sleep schedule. This way you will not only eliminate the causes of early graying, but also preserve your health.

Work hard and earn money, study well to become a real professional, have fun and have fun - every young girl has her own priorities in life.

Many people think that vegetables and fruits are an excellent solution for feeding a woman at a young age, while meat and fish only cause harm. They do not link the lack of protein in the diet with the appearance of gray hair. And in vain - protein-free diets cause irreparable damage to the hair.

5 reasons why you shouldn’t be afraid of gray hair at an early age

If you're upset about going gray when you're young, here are 5 reasons why you shouldn't:

1. if gray hair is a sign of illness in the body, then thank your hair for signaling you about it in time. A timely visit to a specialist will allow you to start treatment when it is not too late;
2. when bleached hair is a hereditary predisposition, you will not love your mother less because she turned gray early and passed it on to you;
3. when your hair gives you a signal that work takes too much effort, and entertainment only worsens your health. This is the reason why you should quit smoking, establish a regular daily routine and try to avoid stressful situations;
4. if gray hair is a sign of an imbalance in nutrition, then changing your diet will benefit your body and help you live a long and happy life;
5. and finally - even gray hair is your family, which will continue to grow. Cosmetology offers so many colors and methods of applying them that no one will notice your gray hair. The main thing is to keep your hair in a healthy condition.

Causes and methods of eliminating gray hair

Genetic predisposition

In adulthood, almost all people experience gray hair. But increasingly, young girls are showing early gray hair. It happens that they find gray hair both at 30 and at 20 years old. Scientists have proven that early gray hair is a genetic phenomenon.

The role of stress

But sometimes early gray hair appears after experiencing stress. Severe psychological trauma or experienced shock provokes graying. Also, many scientists associate the appearance of white hair with smoking, anemia, lack of vitamin B 12, thyroid diseases, and chronic colds.

Other causes of early gray hair

It is believed that the cause of early gray hair may be frequent hair coloring. Experts also recommend using less devices that can injure your curls - these include various straightening irons, curling irons, and hair dryers. During the cold season, you should always wear a hat so that the microcirculation of the scalp is not disrupted.

Healthy lifestyle

The process of early gray hair can be slowed down. The best way to prevent this unpleasant phenomenon is proper nutrition and a healthy lifestyle. You need to give up bad habits and, if possible, eliminate stress. You need to eat right, take minerals and vitamins. The daily diet should include elements such as iodine, copper, iron, B vitamins, inositol, pantothenic acid. It is necessary to abandon strict diets.

Correct coloring

Many women believe that the only and surest way to combat gray hair is to dye their hair. But not every dye can cope with gray hair. It’s easier to paint over gray hair with a darker color. Natural dyes such as basma and henna are beneficial for hair. But when used for the first time, they may not cover gray hair. Only after re-coloring does the gray hair become invisible. It is recommended to use high-quality, expensive and proven dye for coloring gray hair.

Treatment of early gray hair

Both girls and boys with this problem can seek advice from a dermatologist, which usually begins with finding the cause of premature gray hair. If necessary, your doctor may ask you to test your levels of iron, folic acid, copper, vitamin B12, thyroid hormones, etc. If the test result shows a nutrient deficiency, then you may need to take supplements. Read also: Hair wraps recipes.

If your thyroid hormone levels are abnormal, you may need further testing to rule out an autoimmune cause. If the cause is treatable, there is a chance of recovery. However, in the case of a chronic disease or hereditary causes, partial treatment is possible, but complete recovery is unlikely.

Natural Remedies for Gray Hair

You can try the following home remedies to prevent premature graying or color gray hair:

1. Coconut oil and curry leaves. The combination of vitamins contained in curry leaves and the nutritional properties of coconut oil are great for gray hair.
2. Tea: Brew tea, strain and use the cold mixture as a hair rinse, this may give a temporary black color to your hair.
3. Coffee: Brew coffee, strain and use the cold mixture as a rinse, this may give a temporary brown color to your hair.
4. Henna: It is a natural hair color that gives red tints to black hair and orange in the case of gray hair. The advantage of henna is that it is unlikely to cause allergic reactions. You can make a mixture of henna in water in which tea or coffee is brewed to give black and brown color to your gray hair.
5. Try Ayurvedic oil with herbs that help prevent further graying.

Video: Early gray hair - causes, symptoms

Early gray hair is an aesthetic phenomenon when gray hair appears at a young age: up to 25 years in Caucasians, and up to 30 years in people of the Negroid race. By about 40 years of age, hair is almost completely bleached.

Gray hair at an early age, as a rule, is not associated with general aging of the body and is a consequence of unfavorable internal and external factors that disrupt the functioning of melanocyte cells.

Not everyone delves into the root causes of early gray hair, regularly dyes their hair and forgets about the problem, while a symptom may indicate internal pathological changes in the body. Identifying the cause of early gray hair is not easy.

To do this, a person should consult a trichologist, endocrinologist, undergo a study on the level of microelements and vitamins in the hair and blood, as well as the level of thyroid hormones (see also causes of hair loss in women).

What is considered normal?

There is no specific age norm for the onset of gray hair that can be applied to all races and nationalities. In addition to the genetically determined mechanisms of aging, this process is influenced by living conditions, stress, some diseases, etc. Single hairs with altered pigmentation can be found after 30 years, most often on the temples and the front of the head. Almost complete gray hair is observed by the age of 55-60.

Brunettes and brunettes are at risk for earlier graying.

Causes of early gray hair

Graying can develop in three possible ways:

1. Physiological, associated with age-related changes in the body and its natural aging (see treatment of hair loss);
2. Congenital or leukotrichia, caused by a congenital lack of pigment in the hair shafts;
3. Earlier, premature, which develops in young people;

Along the way, graying can be:

1. complete, in which the entire hairline loses pigmentation;
2. partial (individual hairs or strands turn grey);
3. focal (greying in only one area).

As for the mechanism of graying, it is the same for both age and early development: the loss of melanin pigment from the hair shaft occurs. This pigment is synthesized in special cells - melanocytes, which are located in the basal layer of the epidermis, as well as in hair follicles. The cells produce pigment, and it travels from the follicles to the hair shafts.

Stimulation of melanin formation occurs under the influence of mediators of the sympathetic nervous system, pituitary hormones (ACTH, melanocyte-stimulating hormone and β-lipotropin), as well as thyroid hormones and sex hormones.

With the physiological variant of graying, melanocytes age, which produce less and less pigment.

The causes of early gray hair may be related to:

1. Some diseases:
   
   
   
   

1. thyroid dysfunction (autoimmune thyroiditis, hypothyroidism);
2. vitiligo;
3. iron deficiency anemia;
4. atherosclerosis;
5. Wardenburg syndrome;
6. gastritis with low acidity;
7. Werner's syndrome;
8. Shingles.

Characteristics of gray hair

The color of the scalp for each person depends on the type of pigment:

1. Eumelanin creates black or brown color;
2. Pheomelanin is a red or similar shade;
3. A lower concentration of pigments is typical for blondes.

Hairs lacking melanin change not only their color, but also their structure. The changes are more noticeable on dark hair than on light hair. The pigment provides elasticity and strength to the hair shaft, protects it from ultraviolet radiation and adverse environmental influences. In addition to discoloration, hair shafts become hard, split, dry, brittle and dull. They are more difficult to care for, i.e. comb and style.

Is there any point in pulling out gray hair?

Some people, in the hope of getting rid of gray hair, begin to pluck it, but this is pointless - a new, identical gray hair will grow in place of the plucked hair. Moreover, you can damage the hair follicles and develop dermatitis.

How to get rid of gray hair

It is impossible to reverse the graying mechanism, but it is quite possible to stop or slow it down. It should be noted that the problem should not be ignored by doctors and be sure to visit a therapist, endocrinologist, trichologist, who will prescribe the appropriate examination and treatment of gray hair.

How to fight gray hair and care for gray hair at home:

1. Stop smoking - all heavy smokers have dull and brittle hair;
2. Eat well. It is imperative that the diet includes meat, fish, vegetables and fruits;
3. Be sure to get enough sleep, 8 hours a day;
4. Be a physically active person. Physical inactivity is invariably associated with chronic hypoxia. And cells that do not receive enough oxygen cannot function fully, including melanocytes.
5. Limit yourself from stress as much as possible. If this is not possible, take mild sedatives in traumatic situations (valerian tincture or tablets, motherwort, etc.);
6. Protect the scalp and hair from temperature changes and ultraviolet radiation;
7. Use high-quality cosmetic care products. Recommended products for dry, damaged hair;
8. Regularly carry out self-massage of the head using special massagers or a comb with soft teeth;
9. Once a week, rub a mixture of castor and burdock oil into the hair roots and leave under a warm towel for 1 hour, then rinse with shampoo;
10. Instead of a rinse, you can use infusions of burdock, nettle, chamomile, and birch.

How to fight gray hair with salon treatments:

Salon treatments cannot restore natural color, but they can prevent gray hair or slow down its progression.

1. Massage of the scalp. A pleasant procedure activates blood circulation, which means it improves the trophism of melanocyte cells. The procedure is carried out in beauty salons, using various nourishing oils and compositions. It is recommended to undergo 10 procedures once a quarter.
2. Microelement mesotherapy, which involves intradermal injection of the scalp with microelement meso-cocktails using special syringes. The drugs are injected to a depth of 2-4 mm, allowing the delivery of useful elements to the area where the hair follicles are located. As a rule, the procedure is preceded by a spectral analysis of hair for microelements, which detects a deficiency of certain substances.
3. Nourishing masks and compresses. Special formulations make it possible to restore a healthy appearance and shine to the scalp and hair, improve the structure of the hair shafts, which undergoes changes when graying, and also prepare them for coloring. Wheat germ oil, algae, natural clays, plant extracts, vitamin and microelement essences are used as components for masks (see masks for hair loss).
4. Plasmolifting. For this procedure, the patient’s blood is taken, which is specially processed and purified, as a result of which plasma is released from it, without formed elements. Plasma is injected into the scalp using special syringes according to the principle of mesotherapy. It is believed that the procedure triggers the self-healing processes of skin cells, including melanocytes.

How to dye gray hair

This is perhaps the most effective way to disguise loss of hair color.

It should be noted that at least the first time you should seek help from a beauty salon specialist so that the coloring is effective. The choice of dye composition, color, exposure and frequency of dyeing is based on the following factors:

1. number of gray hairs;
2. hair length and structure;
3. growth rate of hair shafts;
4. skin type.

Sometimes before dyeing they resort to bleaching in order to achieve uniform coloring of the hair.

1. With a small percentage of gray hair on the head (up to 25%), you can resort to tinting or coloring when the changed hair is dyed. The second option is highlighting or blonding, i.e. dyeing gray locks in a light color.
2. When changing more than 50% of the hair, complete permanent dyeing with natural or chemical dyes is effective.
3. As for the color, the darker it is, the more contrasting and noticeable the gray hair will be as the roots grow. The optimal color is golden; it does not allow gray hair to show through.

What colors really cover gray hair?

On the packaging, the manufacturer often writes “covers gray hair 100%,” but the veracity of these promises can only be verified through personal experience. Professional series of dyes or mixtures prepared by hairdressers in beauty salons, as well as special lines for gray hair from well-known brands (for example, Estelle, Matrix), are considered good. To improve the durability and strength of paint, it is recommended to add 6% professional oxidant to it.

As a rule, good and professional paints are very expensive, and you will have to use them regularly, which not everyone can afford. You can use cheap natural dyes that are safe for frequent use and easy on your wallet.

1. To obtain a dark chestnut color, basma and henna are mixed in equal proportions, diluted with water to the consistency of sour cream and applied to the scalp for half an hour. The roots should be painted especially carefully. The paint is washed off with warm water.
2. To obtain a soft, natural black color, mix 2 parts basma and 1 part henna, prepare the mixture according to the algorithm above.

It is easier for men to hide gray hair - just have a short haircut without focusing on problem areas of the hair. Women can use asymmetrical and multi-layered haircuts, and arrange their strands so that gray hair is hidden under normal hair.

For a long time it was believed that the appearance of gray hair indicates the decline of the body, a turn from youth to old age. Gray hair? Pull him out quickly! It's time to dispel this myth: gray hair has nothing to do with age!

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Trichologist Joe Cincotta participated in a large study in which thousands of volunteers agreed. A group of scientists monitored the subjects’ diet, their lifestyle, the amount of stress and nervous tension, and correlated this with hereditary factors, skin and hair color, gender and age.

The conclusions that scientists have reached are impressive.

Firstly, stress does not play a significant role in the formation of gray hair. Among the study participants were people experiencing very serious life dramas, from the loss of a business to the death of loved ones. None of them showed the appearance or increase in the number of gray hairs immediately after a stressful situation. So the expression “Gone gray overnight” is nothing more than a beautiful metaphor.

Secondly, a decrease in the production of melanin, which is responsible for the presence of pigment in the hair, does occur with age, but for each person - at an individual rate, which does not depend on the region of residence, nor on diet, nor on the amount of physical activity, nor on general condition of the body. Absolutely healthy people sometimes turn gray at the age of 20, and those suffering from severe chronic diseases do not have a single gray hair by the age of 50.

Mane, come back! 8 reasons for hair loss - and how to improve the situation

The third conclusion: taking vitamins and dietary supplements is not able to slow down the appearance of gray hair. There is not a single proven effective set of dietary supplements that would stimulate melanin production.

The fourth conclusion: gray hair is in no way interconnected with other processes in the body that are traditionally considered age-related. Neither the appearance of wrinkles on the skin, nor changes in joint and bone tissue, nor the condition of internal organs, nor metabolism - all this has nothing to do with the presence or absence of gray hair.

And finally, plucking gray hairs, early resort to coloring, and any hair and scalp care procedures also have no effect on the process of gradual loss of pigment.

The culprit behind the occurrence of gray hair has nevertheless been found: it is a genetic factor. The sooner your parents started going grey, the sooner you will most likely go grey. And on the contrary, if in a family traditionally gray hair appeared in people at a very respectful age, you also don’t have to worry about the early appearance of silver strands.

So, get out of your head the worries about “Oh my God, I’m getting old, I have a gray hair on my temple!”, and if this gray hair bothers you, read our material about the most fashionable hair colors of the season!