A woman with grey hair. FILE PHOTO | NMG
As we age, our hair is bound to become grey. Typically,
Caucasians start going grey in their mid-30s to late 30s, Asians in
their early 40, and people of African descent in their mid-40s.
Development of grey hair before this is considered premature.
What gives hair its colour?
Tiny
follicles (sacs) that contain special pigment cells surround hair. The
pigment in these cells is known as melanin. Melanin gives skin its
complexion and hair its colour. Over time, hair follicles have been
known to lose this pigment resulting in grey/white hair.
What causes premature greying?
Genetics
Premature greying tends to run in families. If your parents or
grandparents developed grey hair early, then you have a higher
likelihood of going through the same experience. Unfortunately, there is
nothing you can do about genetically predetermined factors.
Vitamin deficiency
Lack
of sufficient vitamin B12 in the body can result in skin and hair
changes. Vitamin B12 can also cause severe anaemia (the blood cells do
not have enough haemoglobin, which the component of blood responsible
for carrying oxygen around the body). Usually, vitamin B12 is found in
meat, eggs and other animal products.
Hormonal factors
If
the thyroid gland is not functioning appropriately, your body’s melanin
production may reduce resulting in premature greying of your hair. The
thyroid is a small gland found in the front of the neck and it has been
known to over or underact even if it is not enlarged.
Autoimmune diseases
An
autoimmune disease is a condition whereby the body’s immune system
attacks its own cells. Two conditions in this category, namely alopecia
areata and vitiligo, can cause premature greying of the hair. In
vitiligo, the immune system attacks the melanin producing cells in the
body. This leads to development of white patches of skin and premature
greying of hair. In alopecia areata, there is unpredictable hair loss
and when the hair grows back, you may find that you have developed new
grey patches.
Smoking
Smoking
has a long list of side effects including cancer, cardiovascular and
lung disease. Smoking may be associated with premature greying of hair.
Chemical hair dyes and hair products
Hair
products containing hydrogen peroxide have been known to be harmful to
hair in the long run and can lead to the development of patches of grey.
Rare causes
Neurofibromatosis
(also called Von Recklinghausen’s disease) and tuberous sclerosis are
two uncommon inherited disorders, which cause one to develop multiple
non-cancerous tumours all over the body. There can be associated greying
of hair.
Causes under investigation
There
is some research linking premature greying to thin bones (osteopenia)
and heart disease but further investigation into this is needed.
Does stress cause premature greying?
Most
people notice that there is development of grey hairs in people in
high-pressure jobs such as presidents, CEO, chief financial officer
(even parenthood!). This causes us to wonder, ‘Does stress cause early
greying of hair?’ Stress has been known to be associated with eating
disorders, sleep problems and even weight changes.
However,
there is no conclusive evidence to prove that stress causes premature
grey hair. It has, however, been known to cause hair loss. Experiments
involving mice show that there may be reduction in hair pigment cells
due to stress but the same has not been comprehensively documented in
humans.
Can premature greying of hair be prevented?
If
the premature greying is genetic, the answer is no. You will have to
learn to live with the hair changes or dye your hair if you wish to
change your hair colour.
It is important to understand
that even ‘permanent dyes’ need to be reapplied from time to time as
the dye does not enter the pigment cells.
If
the hair was grey and you dye it black, when it grows back, it will
still be grey. Get your health problems sorted out: If you are unsure
whether your health issues are contributing to your premature greying,
then go for a full physical check-up and have yourself assessed.
If
any underlying condition for your grey hair is identified, it will have
to be addressed. Eat a well-balanced diet rich in vitamin B12: As
earlier mentioned animal products are very rich in vitamin B12. Dark
green vegetables and legumes are also a good source.
If
your vitamin B12 deficiency is severe, you will need to take supplement
tablets. Stop smoking: This will have improvement in your well-being.
Select
your hair products wisely: Avoid use of chemicals that are harsh on the
scalp and those that leave toxins in your skin. They can have long
lasting effects on your hair.
If you already have grey
hair, it is difficult to reverse the effect. However, if you treat the
underlying cause, you can sometimes prevent the development of more grey
hairs.
Send your health questions to bdlife@ke.nationmedia.com and health@healthykenya.co.ke
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