Why Does Human Hair Turn Grey?
Hair turns gray as people age for several reasons, the primary one being age. Most people begin to start graying sometime in their 40s. If the hair turns gray in the 20s or 30s, it is referred to as premature graying, which is hereditary. Medical conditions, illnesses, smoking and vitamin deficiencies have been linked to causing gray hair. Does this Spark an idea?
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The Science Behind Gray Hair
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Our hair turns gray as we age because of the depletion of pigment-producing cells.
Researchers at the University of Bradford in the United Kingdom uncovered underlying issues behind graying hair by studying the medical condition "Vitiligo, which results from a low activity of the enzyme catalase. Since catalase breaks down hydrogen peroxide in the body, the low activity will result in elevated levels of hydrogen peroxide in the skin. The elevated levels of hydrogen peroxide end up blocking the normal synthesis of melanin, the natural pigment in hair."
Premature Gray Hair
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When hair turns gray at an early age, early 20s or 30s, it is called premature graying. Premature graying is mostly hereditary. If your parents or grandparents had premature graying, chances are that you will also gray prematurely. Medical conditions that can cause premature gray hair include thyroid disorders, neurofibromatosis, tuberous sclerosis, vitiligo and alopecia areata. Celebrity Steve Martin and American Idol winner Taylor Hicks both went gray at a very young age.
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Poor Nutrition, Deficiency Can Cause Gray Hair
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Poor nutrition and vitamin B12 deficiencies have been linked to graying the hair. According to Dr. Leia Melead at HealthyNewAge.com, "Premature graying can occur in the presence of nutrient deficiencies and the absence of optimal nutrition combined with abuse of alcohol, excessive smoking and caffeine." Excessive smoking directly affects melanin production in the body which in turn affects the color of the hair.
Gray Hair Myth-Stress Induced
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According to the Faculty at Harvard Medical School, stress causing gray hair is a myth. "As with most medical myths, there is an element of truth to the notion that stress can lead to graying hair. For the most part, however, it is untrue. Because a hair shaft cannot change color once it has grown in (unless exposed to chemicals that change its color, a regular event at hair salons), hair cannot suddenly turn gray with or without stress."
Aging and Gray Hair
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Graying can occur at any age, but most people begin graying naturally in their 40s. The age at which you will gray is based mostly on genetics. Typically, your hair will turn gray at around the age that your parents or grandparents started graying. There are very few people that do not gray as they age. Gray hair is coarser than regular hair and will need to be treated differently than the naturally colored hair. From the first time you notice a gray hair, it can take 10 years or more to go totally gray.
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References
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- Photo Credit girl brushing long hair image by NatUlrich from Fotolia.com
