One of the most vexing
outcomes of modern lifestyle is white hair. Nothing matches the dread you feel
at the appearance of your first white strand. You know that there will be more
to follow, and you look for remedies and treatments that might stop the inevitable.
And here, we are talking about premature graying.
The occurrence of white
hair with old age is obvious. But, when you notice them in your early 30s and
sometimes, even 20s, it’s absolutely disheartening. Both gray and white hair
are the result of your hair losing its pigment. When there is a significant
reduction in the pigment, the hair turns gray. When there is absolutely no
pigment present, it turns white. But, the exact causes of gray and white hair
are still inconclusive.
What Causes White Hair
Hair growth happens when
old cells are pushed out by the hair follicles due to the production of new
cells. It occurs in three stages – growth (anagen), cessation (catagen), and
rest (telogen). During the rest period, your hair reaches its lifespan and falls
out, and a new strand grows in its place. When your hair grows, it is injected
with pigments that give it color. With age, the amount of pigment that is
injected into each strand of hair gets reduced, which is why it turns gray, and
eventually white.
There are several factors
governing the reasons why your hair loses its pigment. Contrary to popular
belief, white hair is not a result of stress. At least, it is not in any way
directly responsible.
The occurrence of white
hair is determined by the following factors.
1. Genetics
It is the predominant factor in determining at what age your hair
loses pigment. For some people, it can happen even before they turn 20. For
others, the first strands of white appear rather late (1).
2. Deficiency Of Melanin
In most of the cases, a
deficiency of melanin is the major cause behind hair whitening. The production
of melanin depends upon appropriate nutrition and protein supplements. Lack of
these nutrients causes melanin to fall below the acceptable levels.
3. Hormones
Your hormones have a huge impact on the pigmentation of your hair.
An imbalance can cause your hair to turn white (2).
4. Medical Conditions
Certain underlying medical conditions can trigger a loss of
pigment in your hair. They include adeficiency of vitamin B12 or problems with the thyroid and pituitary glands (3).
5. Stress
Stress caused by hectic schedules is a major cause of premature
graying, along withexcessive intake of alcohol and junk food.
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6. Chemical Hair Products
Sometimes, usage of
chemical-based shampoos, soaps, hair dyes, etc. may directly cause this
problem. However, it can result from some allergic infections as well.
7. Extrinsic Factors
Changes to your hair color can occur due to external factors such
as the climate, pollution, and exposure to certain chemicals. These factors
speed up the process of aging (4).
There has been a recent breakthrough regarding the loss of pigment
in hair. It was discovered that hair follicles release a small amount of
hydrogen peroxide, which gets accumulated over time. It bleaches the hair and
causes it to turn gray, and eventually white. By removing this accumulation, it
is possible for your hair to regain its natural color (5).
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