Graying of hair can be very embarrassing especially when you are very young and when you are about to step into the realities of life. Many a times the cause for graying is not because of ones age but many other factors which play an important role. When the color producing pigments in the hairs becomes scant, it could lead to the graying of hair.
Just as melanin is required to give color to our skin, it is required to give color to your hair as well. People who have problems with their melanocytes, the melanin producing glands, may also have premature graying. The primary cause of premature gray hair is the loss of the color giving pigment in the hair.
Though the lack of melanin in the hair strands is the primary cause of premature gray hair, there are other causes of premature graying too. The most common of them is the buildup of naturally occurring hydrogen peroxide in the hair strands. This causes the hair to be bleached, and they begin to appear lighter. Eventually, as the peroxide builds up, the hair become gray and then turn completely white. Climatic changes, hereditary can be some of the reasons for having gray hair at a very young age. The type of hair one person has also gives good reason for graying of hair. The different types of hair which may be prone to effect your graying are oily hair, dry hair and wiry hair.
It has been told that graying is a sign for aging but now times have changed. Many young children also face such problems which are due to the gradual fall in melanin production in the hair bulb. If such kind of graying appears in childhood then it is called premature graying or canities which is pronounced as kah-nish'-eez. Typically, Caucasians begin to lose their hair color when they reach their mid-thirties while Asians lose their hair color at a later age. Usually, for Asians the graying hair begins to start around the end of their thirties or early forties. Africans are the last ones to lose the color of their hair. By the time they turn fifty half the hair in the head of most people have turned gray. Usually, if your hair starts to turn gray before you are thirty years old, it is referred to as premature graying.
Most people try hard to prevent premature graying hair. However, once the process of graying hair is set in motion, it usually does not stop until you have a head full of salt and pepper hair. A lot of people believe that stress is a cause for premature gray hair. However, the treatment of stress does not help in premature graying treatment. This is because stress is rarely ever a cause for gray hair. Gray hair is primarily caused by loss of pigmentation in the hair and this usually has a genetic association.
There are some autoimmune diseases which can also cause premature graying. Vitiligo, alopecia and Werner syndrome are some of these diseases which are associated with premature graying of hair. Alopecia areata does not cause graying hair, but it attacks the colored strands of your hair, therefore making it appear as if your head only has white hair in it. Hormonal problems, such as those with the pituitary gland and the thyroid gland could cause the melanocytes to stop producing melanin, therefore causing the hair to turn gray. A deficiency of vitamin B 12 is often a contributing factor to premature gray hair. Among other causes of premature graying hair is the level of your bone density. Ethnicity, weight, and height, when combined together, could cause the premature graying of hair as well. Hair can be bleached over the years by the sunlight, which causes the change in color. The rapid graying happens mainly due to shedding of pigmented hair where the gray hair is retained and sometimes it may take months but it can also happen in a matter of few days.
Graying can also happen due to stress and tension. In that case taking care of your hair is very important. If you have oily hair too much washing can drain out all the oil which can make your hair prone to graying and this can be changed with some good conditioner and shampoos. A diet rich in vitamin B 12 may help treat premature gray hair in children. Premature gray hair in teenagers may also be prevented by a diet which is rich in folates, vitamin B 12, and biotin. Keeping your hair and scalp clean is a great way to prevent your scalp from fungal and bacterial infections. Since bad hygiene, especially when it comes to maintaining your hair and your scalp, is often the primary cause of premature graying and many other kinds of hair problems, it is important to take good care of your hair and scalp.
Though premature gray hair in women and men would usually have similar incidences, the condition is seen more in men than in women. Men are much more prone to losing the melanin in their hair, than women. The exact cause for the same however, is not known. If you have a habit of taking care of your hair it will be very useful to protect your hair from graying. The different experiments when done on hair causes lot of problems to your hair, if avoided will be very helpful. Proper shampooing and conditioning can be of great help in the long run. It can create a good and clean look for your hair.
There are certain herbs which can help remedy the gray hair. These could also form part of natural remedies for premature graying. Henna is one of the most popular remedies as it helps color your hair naturally. Though henna cannot completely reverse the graying of your hair, it can definitely help you control the color of your hair. This is one of the premature gray hair remedies which need to be repeated often, so that hair remains colored and also lush and beautiful.
If you have only a few gray hairs, you can remove them by using a pair of tweezers and tweezing them out. Also, try and keep your hair short. Gray hairs are more apparent when your hair is longer. However, when your hair is shorter, the appearance of graying hairs is also much less. The easiest alternative to this is to color your hair. There are a lot of healthy hair products available commercially, and though these products contain certain chemicals, if you take good care of your hair, these chemicals will not be able to affect your hair in a bad manner.
Of course, if you do not wish to dye your hair or remedy the graying hairs, you could always let them remain the way they are and flaunt the gray haired look. This look can really suit some people.
