Hair is one of our most noticeable features. Hair can look great with proper care, but it can start to turn gray with age.
Although we are used to the idea that hair begins to gray "with age", this statement is not true. Both eighteen-year-old and seventy-year-old can have gray hair. What are the causes of premature hair loss? Is gray hair a correctable condition?
Graying of hair is a natural phenomenon
Gray hair is a natural phenomenon, as it is caused by a lack of melanin. You have hair follicles on your body. Hair follicle - it's like a hollow in the skin from which hair grows.
Hair follicles contain pigment cells called melanin. These cells give hair its color. However, over time, the hair follicles can lose their pigment, causing the hair to turn white.
Why does the hair turn gray?
There are several reasons why your hair turns gray. Of course, age is the obvious reason, but what other reasons can you have graying hair?
Genetics
Your genetics play a big role in when (if at all) your hair begins to turn gray. If you noticed white hair at an early age, it is likely that your parents or grandparents also had gray or white hair at an early age.
Stress
For different reasons, we all face stress. Frequent chronic stress the results are:
- Changes in appetite
- High blood pressure
Stress can also be a cause of gray hair. A study has shown a link between stress and stem cells. So, if gray hair suddenly appears, it can be a result of stress.
A diet rich in antioxidants, such as fish, olive oil, fresh fruits and vegetables, can reduce this oxidative stress.
For healthy hair, eat a balanced diet rich in protein, fruits and vegetables, and reduce stress by exercising or meditating.
Autoimmune diseases
Autoimmune disease can also cause premature graying of hair. This happens when the body's immune system attacks its own cells. Alopecia (a disease that causes hair loss) and vitiligo (a disease in which pigmentation disappears) the immune system can attack the hair and cause loss of pigment.
Thyroid disorders
Hormonal changes due to thyroid disorders such as hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism can also be the cause of premature hair loss. The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of the neck. It helps control many body functions, such as metabolism.
Thyroid health can also affect hair color. An overactive or underactive thyroid can cause your body to produce less melanin.
Lack of vitamins
Vitamin B12 deficiency can also be one of the reasons why you have gray hair. This vitamin plays an important role in your body. It provides energy and also contributes to healthy hair growth and hair color.
Benefits of Vitamin B12 is large. This vitamin is needed for healthy red blood cells, which carry oxygen to the body's cells, including hair cells. Deficiency can weaken hair cells and affect melanin production.
Vitamin D deficiency your hair color can also be affected.
Smoking
Studies have shown that there is a link between gray hair and smoking.
It is well known that cigarette smoking increases the risk of lung cancer and heart disease. However, the long-term effects can be not only on the heart and lungs, but also on the hair. Smoking constricts blood vessels, which can reduce blood flow to hair follicles and cause hair loss.
Also, the toxins in cigarettes can damage parts of your body, including your hair follicles, which can lead to graying at an early age.
Is it possible to stop hair graying?
It all depends on the cause of your gray hair. If it's genetics, then it can't be stopped. In this case, hair coloring is the solution.
If the graying of the hair is due to vitamin deficiency, this condition should disappear after taking vitamins.
If the white hair is caused by stress or smoking, there is no evidence that the pigmentation returns when you stop smoking or reduce the stress.
There are a few things you can do to prevent gray hair:
Eat foods rich in antioxidants
A person's diet is important in preventing white hair. A diet rich in antioxidants can reduce oxidative stress.
Foods rich in antioxidants:
- fresh fruits and vegetables
- green tea
- olive oil
- fish
Get enough vitamins
Anyone with gray hair due to vitamin deficiency should consume more foods rich in these vitamins.
For example, seafood, eggs and meat are good sources of vitamin B12, while milk, salmon and cheese are excellent sources of vitamin D.
Other micronutrients important for healthy hair:
- Vitamin E
You can get this vitamin from sunflower seeds and oil, almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts, spinach;
- Vitamin A
You can get this vitamin from sweet potatoes, spinach, carrots, ricotta cheese;
You can get this vitamin from oysters, beef, crab, lobster, pork loin, beans;
You can get this vitamin from beef, dark leafy greens, grains, oysters, white beans, dark chocolate, lentils;
You can get this vitamin from Brazil nuts, tuna, sardines, shrimp;
You can get this vitamin from pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, almonds, spinach, cashews;
Quit smoking
If your hair is graying and you are a smoker, you should consider quitting, as this may be the cause of the graying of your hair.
Natural remedies
There are many hair dyes on the market that cover white hair, but many of them promote premature graying and can cause allergic and adverse reactions.
Natural remedies offer an alternative to slow hair graying without harming the body or causing further damage to the hair pigment.
If you can't do anything else, take care of your hair
The likelihood of premature graying depends on how well your hair follicles produce melanin. Sometimes stress, nutritional deficiencies and other lifestyle factors can cause melanin production to stop. By addressing these issues, melanin can be restored.
However, in most cases, the age at which you start graying and the extent of graying is determined by your genes. Genetically determined hair graying cannot be reversed.
However, there are many hair products and dyes to choose from, whether you want to hide gray hair or grow it.
