Sure, there is a wide range of shades out there from ash blonde to midnight black. But, fun fact: There are only two types of hair color pigments — dark and light. These two blend together to form these shades. Melanin doesn't produce at the same rate forever. As you get older, your hair follicles make less of it, which leads to less color and, eventually, graying hair. Another reason your hair may turn gray is related to its chemical processes. The cells in your hair naturally produce a small amount of hydrogen peroxide.
Normally, an enzyme called catalase breaks down the hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen. However, as you get older, you produce lower amounts of catalase, which allows the hydrogen peroxide to build up.
This buildup can damage the pigment-producing cells, leading to gray or white hairs. Chester County Hospital's Health e-Living Blog offers a regular serving of useful health and lifestyle information for the residents of Chester County, PA and the surrounding region. Health e-Living Blog. You're brushing through your hair when you see it — a little gray hair making its first appearance.
Whether you reach for the tweezers or decide to embrace the change, that first gray hair is often a memorable moment for many women. For some women, hair can be a form of self expression. When it begins to turn gray, some women think nothing of it or even realize that they love their new silvery strands. Gray hair develops as melanocytes decrease in number, but exactly when those cells begin to wane differs for each individual.
However, there are some general trends. Scientists have found specific genes related to graying hair. In a study published in Nature Communications , a team of researchers from University College London UCL identified the interferon regulatory factor 4 IRF4 gene as being responsible for regulating production and storage of melanin. While you can't change your genetics or turn back the clock, there are other factors at play in graying hair that may be within your control.
A study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology found that among 1, volunteers between ages 18 and 20, those with premature hair graying PHG were more likely to have a family history of PHG, have a genetic tendency to develop allergic diseases such as eczema or asthma, or be vegetarian.
To a lesser extent, they were also more likely to be overweight or report having higher levels of stress in their lives. The study suggests that it may be possible to prevent graying, or at least slow it down, through changes in diet, maintaining a normal weight and decreasing alcohol consumption.
Researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, also suggest that some causes of premature hair graying are reversible. In a article published in the International Journal of Trichology , they noted that a deficiency of vitamin B12 can cause premature graying, which could be reversed through supplements. Common natural sources of vitamin B12 are dairy products and meat, which may explain why a vegetarian diet could be a factor in PHG.
Older adults may also often have difficulty absorbing vitamin B12 through digestion. In one study , 55 percent of patients with pernicious anemia a condition caused by a lack of vitamin B12 had PHG, compared to 30 percent in the control group, the Mayo researchers noted.
Smoking has long been considered a factor in premature graying, according to a study that confirmed the association among Middle Eastern men and women living in Jordan. The study, published in the Indian Dermatology Online Journal , found that among study participants, smokers were substantially more at risk of PHG than nonsmokers.
Researchers at Harvard University have found that stress can accelerate the graying process and have determined the biology behind the phenomenon — at least in laboratory mice.
As we age, our hair eventually loses its color. A dermatologist explains why, plus shares some fascinating facts about what researchers believe contributes to the process. Learn more about vaccine availability. Advertising Policy. You have successfully subscribed to our newsletter. Related Articles. This means that most of us will start having gray hairs around the same age that our parents or grandparents first did.
Gray hair is more noticeable in people with darker hair because it stands out, but people with naturally lighter hair are just as likely to go gray. From the time a person notices a few gray hairs, it may take more than 10 years for all of that person's hair to turn gray.
Some people think that a big shock or trauma can turn a person's hair white or gray overnight, but scientists don't really believe that this happens. Just in case, try not to freak out your parents too much. You don't want to be blamed for any of their gray hairs!
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