Arriving at an early age with graying hair can be both shocking and distressing for both men and women, potentially impacting self-esteem, and creating complexes or anxiety; commonly referred to as premature canities.
An absence of melanin can cause gray hair, the pigment responsible for eye and skin color, due to stress or genetics. It’s normal. No need for alarm if you notice your first gray hair! Aging is a certainty, and nothing you do can stop the process from taking place. But certain factors could exacerbate it, such as smoking and poor diet; genetics also play a significant role in how quickly one grays. If one or both parents went gray early, you will likely, follow in their footsteps.
hair follicles (pronounced FAHL-ih-kul) provide your locks with their color. Pigment cells in each hair follicle produce melanin pigment cells, which give your locks their hue. When these pigment cells become exhausted, your locks turn gray – typically between 30s-40s for White people, 40s for Asians, and mid-40s for Black people. Some factors contributing to premature graying include low levels of vitamins B12, folic acid, and biotin. It’s a sign of aging.
Gray hair is an inevitable part of growing older, yet its timing varies from person to person depending on factors like genetics, stress levels, and health history. Smokers or those with diabetes may notice gray hair appearing earlier than those without such illnesses.
Melanocytes are cells that infuse protein hair follicles with pigment to give their color. With age comes less melanin production, and eventually, all graying will result. This process occurs not only on the scalp but also on body hair and facial fur. Gray hair cannot be prevented, but you can delay its onset by eating a diet rich in whole foods and decreasing stress levels. Furthermore, medications could contribute to premature graying; if this happens to you, you should consult your physician immediately. It’s a sign of stress.
Gray hair can often be taken as an indicator of stress. While chronic stress has a variety of negative impacts on our bodies, including accelerated aging, digestive disorders, cardiovascular disease, and depression – it remains unknown exactly why stress leads to premature graying of the hair – though new research indicates this could be caused by stem cell disruption that produces melanin pigment in hair follicles.
Scientists isolated the neurotransmitter responsible for this effect in mice: noradrenaline. Noradrenaline served as the central component of our bodies’ fight or flight response system and was also found to cause hair color changes among stressed animals. Researchers also observed this neurotransmitter’s effect on hair color changes due to stress.
This discovery could have profound ramifications for humans who are concerned about stress levels and early graying of hair. With this knowledge in hand, individuals could pursue changes that may help delay the appearance of the first grey strands; such as decreasing stress, eating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, and limiting sun exposure time. It’s a sign of heart disease.
Gray hair may seem like an indicator of aging. Still, according to a new study, premature greying (also called early canities) may also serve as an early marker of cardiovascular risk in young Indian men.
Scientists discovered that those with early grey hair were five times more likely to suffer heart disease before reaching 40 than those without it, independent of traditional risk factors like smoking and obesity. This may be explained by similar biological pathways between the hardening of the arteries causing atherosclerosis as a form of heart disease and hair greying, respectively.
Dr. Allan Stewart says greying at an earlier age could be an early warning of heart issues. While no definitive cause has been established for early greying, possible sources may include vitamin B12 deficiency or thyroid conditions.
