What causes premature gray hair?

Doctor Thai Thanh Yen, Department of Dermatology – Skin Aesthetics, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, explains that hair color is determined by melanin pigment. Over time, melanin gradually dies, turning gray and eventually white.

The normal graying process begins in the mid-30s in Caucasians, the late 30s in Asians, and the mid-40s in American women. However, premature gray hair can appear in some young people due to the production of melanin pigments being disturbed inside the hair follicles.

There is no way to prevent gray hairs from appearing. Therefore, many people have the habit of pulling out their hair with the desire to remove white strands. Initially, we may pull out one or two gray hairs at the roots. Over time, we become “addicted” to pulling out more, causing serious damage such as infection and pustules in the hair follicle area.

Plucking hair repeatedly can increase post-inflammatory pigmentation, causing premature hair loss that is difficult to recover due to damaged hair follicles, loss of function, and fewer hair cycles, making hair thinner and sparser. Therefore, we should not pull out gray hair.

Reason:

• Stress: When the body is under too much stress, it stimulates the sympathetic nervous system to produce noradrenaline. This is a neurotransmitter that causes melanin to move out of hair follicles and cause hair to fade faster.
• Smoking: The active ingredient nicotine in cigarettes is one of the reasons why your hair turns gray faster.
• Genetics: If your family has parents or relatives with premature gray hair, you are also at risk.
• Proper nutrition and unhealthy habits: Failure to supplement adequate nutrients can make your body more susceptible to weakness, leading to vitamin and mineral deficiencies, reducing blood supply. supply to your hair follicles and you will go gray much faster. At this time, the body cannot provide the necessary nutrients to nourish the hair, causing the hair to become weaker, more susceptible to breakage and premature graying. In particular, if your body lacks vitamins B, E and D along with many other important minerals, it will also affect your hair.
• Other related diseases: Premature gray hair can also originate from many different diseases such as pituitary disorders, thyroid disorders, vitiligo or people with chronic anemia. Overusing antibiotics, using hair chemicals, and regularly exposing hair to sunlight also causes hair to turn gray sooner.
• Exposure to toxic chemicals: People who work in toxic conditions may also notice premature graying of hair, as can workers exposed to formaldehyde and hairstylists who use hair chemicals.

Treatment:

There is currently no method to completely treat premature gray hair. To minimize, we can overcome and prevent this situation with the following methods:

• Get enough sleep every day and keep a comfortable mental state, avoid stress or tension.
• Supplement all necessary nutrients and vitamins to nourish strong, shiny hair such as providing enough B vitamins, vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E along with folic acid or riboflavin, copper-rich foods. , calcium, chromium, zinc, iodine and iron, dairy products, veal, eggs, mushrooms and legumes.
• Do not use too many chemicals such as dyes, perms, and relaxers as this will affect your hair. Priority should be given to products with natural ingredients, which are safer and less likely to cause damage and irritation to the scalp.
• Wear a wide-brimmed hat to protect your hair from the effects of UV rays and sunlight.
• Do not use drinks or stimulants that are harmful to health such as alcohol, beer, and cigarettes.
• Do not pull your hair frequently to avoid damaging and inflaming the hair follicles.
• Use natural medicinal herbs that have the ability to darken hair and make hair structure stronger and smoother, such as polygonum multiflora, black beans, and black sesame seeds.
• Drink enough water every day.