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We used to think of gray hair as an inevitable companion of aging, but the loss of pigment in the hair can occur at any age. So, gray hair often appears after a strong experience of stress, fear or grief. In addition, gray hairs can be caused by genetics or hormones. We understand together with the trichologist the main causes of early gray hair.
As a rule, the first gray hair appears in people in their 30s and 40s. Earlier and more pronounced gray hair is a reason to turn to a trichologist, since a change in pigmentation can indicate various health problems. About it said dermatovenereologist, trichologist, cosmetologist Denis Barbinov.
What is gray hair
First of all, it is necessary to understand the mechanism of the occurrence of gray hair. Hair gets a certain color thanks to the pigment melanin, which is produced by special cells — melanocytes. Over time, melanin becomes less and the hair becomes discolored, acquiring a white or gray color. Doctors distinguish several types of hair loss.
By distribution:
Diffuse — gray hair appears evenly over the entire head, as well as on the body, eyebrows and eyelashes.
Focal — gray hair is formed in a certain area of uXNUMXbuXNUMXbthe head.
By color and texture:
Grey — the hair becomes soft and thin, as their scales become thinner and are located at a considerable distance from each other.
White (glassy) — the hair becomes stiffer, thicker and stronger, as their cuticle is compacted, the scales close and fit snugly together.
Grey-white — the hair has an average thickness and stiffness, since their scales are of a standard thickness and slightly lag behind each other, giving an uneven color to the rod.
However, the causes of gray hair in young and mature people will be different. So, older people turn gray due to the natural aging of melanocytes, and younger people due to the death or decrease in cell activity for various reasons.
Causes of early gray hair
1. Genetics
If our relatives turned gray at a young and young age, then with a high probability we will see gray hairs quite early. So, scientists from the UK found that the age at which gray hair appears depends on the work of the IRF4 gene, which is responsible for the production of melanin.
2. Hormones
The number of melanocytes depends on the organs of the endocrine system and, above all, the thyroid gland. This is why hormonal problems often lead to loss of hair pigmentation. We should be especially alert to mood swings, weight problems, atypical heartbeat, sweating and swelling on the neck against the background of the appearance of gray hair.
3. Diseases
Premature gray hair can appear due to autoimmune diseases, for example:
Celiac disease — gluten intolerance;
alopecia areata — hair loss, in which it is difficult for growing hair to retain color.
In addition, the reasons for the early appearance of gray hairs are:
Vitiligo — violation of skin pigmentation.
neurofibromatosis — a hereditary disease, accompanied by the development of tumors and the appearance of brown spots on the skin.
4. Lack of vitamins and minerals
Experts see a connection between early gray hair and a deficiency of certain substances and vitamins:
gland,
calcium,
copper,
zinc
vitamins of groups B and D.
5. Medication
A number of drugs have a side effect in the form of the appearance of gray hair. If our gray hairs are associated precisely with this factor, then the color must return a couple of months after the end of therapy.
6. Stress
Of course, severe stress is one of the main culprits of early gray hair. The thing is that when we experience strong emotions, a large amount of adrenaline is released into the bloodstream. This hormone blocks the effect of melanin on the protein structure of the hair, as a result of which the pigment is no longer absorbed.
In addition, stress leads to hair loss, which causes melanocytes to work harder and wear out faster.
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