It's natural for people's hair colours to fluctuate as they get older. White hair, on the other hand, can appear at any age. Even teenagers and people in their twenties may notice white hair strands.
The skin of the human body is lined with millions of hair follicles or tiny sacs. Hair and colour or pigment cells containing melanin are produced by the follicles. Hair follicles lose pigment cells over time, resulting in white hair.
In this post, we'll look at some of the most prevalent causes of prematurely white hair, as well as techniques to delay or even stop the greying process in some cases.
What causes white hair?
A person's hair can turn white for a variety of reasons other than age.
Deficiencies in vitamins
Premature greying can be caused by vitamin B-6, B-12, biotin, vitamin D, or vitamin E deficiency.
Various deficient studies on vitamin D-3, vitamin B-12, and copper and their connection to greying hair were highlighted in a 2015 article published in the journal Development. It discovers that dietary deficiencies have an impact on pigmentation, implying that colour can be restored with vitamin replacement.
Factors linked to premature greying in young Indians under 25 years of age were investigated in a 2016 study published in the International Journal of Trichology. Participants with premature hair greying had low levels of serum ferritin, which stores iron in the body, vitamin B-12, and the good cholesterol HDL-C.
Genetics
According to a 2013 study published in the Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprology, heredity has a big role in hair greying.
Race and ethnicity also play a role. According to the same 2013 study, premature greying in white people can begin as early as 20 years old, whereas it can begin as early as 25 years old in Asians and 30 years in African-Americans.
Stress due to oxidation
While greying is largely determined by genetics, oxidative stress in the body may have a role when it occurs prematurely.
When antioxidants are insufficient to prevent the detrimental effects of free radicals, oxidative stress occurs. Free radicals are unstable chemicals that cause cell damage and contribute to disease and ageing.
Excessive oxidative stress can encourage the development of illnesses, such as vitiligo, a skin pigmentation disorder. Due to melanin cell death or loss of function, vitiligo can cause hair to turn white.
Certain medical problems
A person's risk of greying early may be increased by certain medical disorders, such as autoimmune diseases. In fact, a study published in 2008 found a link between thyroid problems and hair irregularities.
Alopecia areata, an autoimmune skin condition that causes hair loss on the scalp, face, and other regions of the body, is also associated with white hair. Due to a lack of melanin, the hair tends to be white when it grows back. Source you can trust.
Stressors in everyday life
Real-life stress, such as that produced by injury, has been linked to premature greying in study investigations.
According to a study published in Nature Medicine by New York University, the cells responsible for hair colour
When the body is stressed, Trusted Source might be depleted.
Other research suggests that, while stress may play a role, it is only a minor portion of a larger picture that includes disease and other factors.
Smoking
According to a 2013 study published in the Italian Dermatology Online Journal, smokers are 2 1/2 times more likely than non-smokers to begin greying before the age of 30.
Smoking is also connected to premature white hair in young males, according to a 2015 study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Source you can trust.
Hair dyes and products containing chemicals
Chemical hair colours and hair products, including shampoos, can cause premature greying of the hair. Many of these products contain chemicals that reduce melanin production.
One such dangerous ingredient is hydrogen peroxide, which is included in many hair colours. Excessive use of bleaching agents will eventually cause hair to turn white.
Premature white hair prevention and reversal
Nothing can stop or reverse the process if it is caused by heredity or ageing. If the loss is related to a medical issue, however, addressing greying hair may allow colour pigments to return.
Correcting dietary and vitamin deficiencies, which are often the cause of prematurely white hair, can help to reverse the problem or prevent it from getting worse.
Increasing your antioxidant intake
White hair can be prevented by changing one's diet. Antioxidant-rich foods can help to minimise oxidative stress.
Foods high in antioxidants include:
- fruits and veggies that are in season
- fish with green tea and olive oil
Taking care of flaws
Anyone with white hair due to a vitamin shortage should eat more meals that are high in those vitamins.
Seafood, eggs, and meats, for example, are high in vitamin B-12, while milk, salmon, and cheese are high in vitamin D.
Over-the-counter vitamin pills can also help to rectify deficits.
Natural treatments
There are various hair colours on the market that conceal white hair, but many of them induce premature greying and allergic responses.
Natural therapies are an option for slowing down hair whitening without causing harm to the body or further hair pigment damage.
Curry leaves: Curry leaves have been used for therapeutic purposes for millennia. Curry leaves, when mixed with hair oil and applied to the scalp, can help to prevent premature greying.
Curry leaves have been used traditionally to keep black hair colour and even prevent premature greying, according to a study published in the International Journal of PharmTech Research. Curry leaves can be found at both Indian supermarkets and regular grocery stores.
- Bhringaraj: According to some claims, the false daisy or bhringaraj will darken hair and prevent it from becoming white too soon. The leaves' juice is cooked in coconut or sesame oil before being massaged into the hair. Bhringaraj leaves can be purchased as an oil.
- Tea that is black in colour: Hair can be made darker, shinier, and softer with black tea. 3 to 5 tea bags can be steeped in 2 cups boiling water, cooled, and applied to clean, wet hair. Tea can also be blended with conditioner and applied to the hair for an hour before rinsing.
- Copper: According to a 2012 study, low copper levels can cause premature grayingTrusted Source. Beef liver, lentils, almonds, dark chocolate, and asparagus are all good sources of copper.
Result:
White hair progression can be slowed or reversed in some cases with the appropriate diagnosis and treatment. A well-balanced diet and proper hair care might also be beneficial. However, in rare situations, the procedure is irreversible.
The use of natural therapies on a regular basis may help to slow down and potentially reverse the onset of white hair. However, everyone's hair eventually turns white, and the individual must decide if they are happy with the white or wish to try to slow down what is a normal ageing process.
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