Premature Greying of Hair: Causes, Treatment & Prevention

Hair greying marks a sign of old age, it can be graceful but when you start seeing grey hair early in life, it can lower your self-esteem and cause difficulty in adjustment. If you are someone who is looking at the mirror and wondering what could be causing early greying and where you can find the treatment of premature greying of hair in Delhi, read on to find out.

Table of Contents

Feel free to skip ahead if one topic catches your eye:

1. What is Premature Greying of Hair?
2. What Causes Premature Greying of Hair?
3. Can it be prevented?
4. Treatment of Premature Greying of Hair
5. Tips to prevent Premature Greying of Hair

1. What is premature greying of hair?

Premature greying of hair occurs when the strands of hair lose their pigmentation earlier than they should. Medically termed canities, standards of premature greying vary across races. Among Asians, greying under the age of 30 is considered premature, among Americans, the age goes down to about 25.

About 6-23% of Asians have 50% of their hair turned grey before the age of 30.  Among women, the incidence is about 38% as compared to 17% of men under the age of 30. Premature greying of hair treatment is available at Skinqure with expert dermatologists.

2. What causes premature greying of hair?

It involves a complex meshwork and causes of premature greying of hair include:

1. Genetics- It is one of the most dominant causes involved in premature hair greying. About 60% of people with a family history, especially on both sides of their parents, have premature greying of hair. The collaborative action of genes such as IRF – 4 and TYR have been identified to be responsible for those early appearing silver strands.
2. Stress- Hair goes through a process of growth called the hair cycle. In the growth phase of the hair cycle (anagen phase), the melanocytes give your hair a natural dark color by producing melanin.  This melanin production is negatively influenced by excessive stress.

Due to emotional, physical, or mental stress, a highly unstable molecule is formed which is called reactive oxygen. When the reactive oxygen accumulates, the melanin-producing melanocytes die. As a result, the hair appears grey. So, stress becomes one of the biggest reasons for premature greying of hair.

1. Deficiencies-  When your body is deficient in vitamins such as Vitamin B12, Vitamin B3, folic acid, etc, or minerals like zinc, calcium, your hair loses color earlier than it should. A major portion of the hair is composed of protein, thus protein deficiencies cause greying. Premature greying of hair treatment is possible by addressing the underlying cause of the condition
2. Extrinsic factors-  Overexposure to the sun and air pollution are important factors that contribute to premature greying of hair.
3. Immune disorders- Certain autoimmune disorders such as vitiligo, hyperthyroidism, and neurofibromatosis cause early greying of the hair
4. Smoking-  Smoking causes a surge in the number of reactive oxygen species that decreases melanocyte production thereby causing premature greying.
5. Medications-  The following medications are known to cause premature greying of hair.

• Chloroquine (used for malaria)
• mephenesin (a muscle relaxant)
• phenylthiourea (used in DNA testing)
• triparanol (used to reduce cholesterol)
• dixyrazine (used to treat various psychiatric disorders)
• Topical medications like dithranol, chrysarobin, and resorcinol (used for the treatment of psoriasis)

3. Can it be prevented?

Yes.  It can be prevented and premature greying of hair treatment is also available at Skinqure. By maintaining a healthy lifestyle, eating wisely, and adopting beneficial modifications, premature greying can be prevented. Finding out the cause is important to know how to prevent premature greying of hair

4. Treatment of premature greying of hair

To achieve premature greying of hair cure,

• Your dermatologist will find out the cause of premature greying such as nutritional deficiencies, autoimmune disorders etc
• Identifying and stopping the trigger factor helps to stop the progression. This is the most important step in pinpointing the causes of premature greying of hair
• Other treatments include adding color to the grey hair in the form of dyes, semi-permanent hair color, highlights, etc. The best treatment for premature greying of hair is available at Skinqure
• It is better to choose a nontoxic and environment-friendly product preferably one containing vegetable dyes
• You may be prescribed hair tonics that control premature greying and prevent further progression

5. Tips to prevent premature greying of hair

Self-care is of utmost importance when exploring how to treat premature greying of hair

1. Minimizing stress- Physical and emotional stress increase the reactive oxygen levels that causes the death of the melanin cells and causes premature greying
2. Avoid smoking and alcohol
3. Eat a healthy and balanced diet
4. Minimize caffeine intake
5. Take necessary supplements to combat any nutritional deficiencies
6. Include antioxidant-rich food in your diet. Antioxidants counter the effect of reactive oxygen species
7. Use lukewarm water to cleanse your hair
8. Eat iron-rich foods and include almonds, citrus fruits, chickpeas, liver, etc as part of your diet
9. Avoid overexposure to the sun
10. Maintain thyroid hormone levels
11. Do not blow-dry often
12. Avoid the use of hair gel and wax. Opt for aloe vera gel instead.
13. Straightening the hair too frequently using chemicals damages the scalp and hair follicles where the melanin-producing cells are located.
14. Make sure to use a scarf or a cap to avoid overexposure to UV rays that damage the melanocytes and contribute to hair greying

Certain home remedies along with a healthy diet have been found to show improvement in premature greying of hair. Ingredients such as Bhringaraj (Eclipta alba), Amla ( Indian gooseberry), Vibhitaka ( a component of Triphala), curry leaves, etc may be used in the form of packs or oils to improve the color of your greying hair.

If you notice that your hair is losing color before its time ( before you’ve turned 25 or 30), experience associated symptoms such as hair thinning, hair fall, etc it is time to visit a dermatologist. If you have a history of hormone abnormalities including thyroid, PCOS, etc, you may need prescription hair care. Treatment of premature greying of hair in Delhi is available at Skinqure.

Takeaway

Hair and skin conditions are universal and may cause aesthetic concern to many of us. At Skinqure, we offer an array of services ranging from hair transplant, laser body hair reduction and removal, anti-aging treatments, cosmetic body and face treatments, to name a few. We are a team of expert dermatologists with a wide experience and are equipped with the latest technology in the field. Visit us today to see a visible difference!