Why hairs turn gray

The less melanin you have, the lighter your hair color. Gray hair has minimal melanin, while white has none. Some people see grays a bit sooner due to health and genetics. Here, we break down some of the most common myths about treating gray hair and explore other ways you can choose to manage your hair color instead.

At its core, hair is naturally white. Your hair follicles contain the cells melanin uses to create the pigments, which combine with protein keratins. Melanin loss in hair is naturally occurring, especially after your 30s. The precise rate of hair color loss is largely dictated by your genes, though. If your parents experienced premature graying, chances are that you may see the same. As melanin production slows, your hair turns gray, and then white when melanin production has completely stopped.

Premature gray hair before your 20s and 30s is most commonly hereditary. Talk to a doctor about the following possibilities. If your diet lacks certain nutrients , it could very well affect melanin production in your hair follicles.

Vitamin B is the most common culprit, with folate , copper , and iron deficiencies increasing your risk, too. Dietary supplements may help these deficiencies and you might see your natural hair color start to grow back after several weeks. Still, you should check with your doctor before buying any supplements. They will run blood tests to see if you actually need them. Hormone fluctuations can also play a role in graying hair. Managing such medical conditions could, in theory, help restore melanin and your natural hair color over time.

Permanent color can definitely get the job done, as well. Maybe you want to color your grays away before you meet Nicolas Cage for date night sorry, more Moonstruck spoilers. Maybe you love the look, whether you prefer the color itself—silver has been trending lately—or it just feels right.

Bazaar Bride. United States. Type keyword s to search. Today's Top Stories. Goodbye to All That. Andreas Kuehn Getty Images. What causes gray hair? There is no miracle cure to reverse gray hair. Related Stories. Whether it's during a fight-or-flight situation like finding a spider in your bed or normal stress like being overworked on the job , the sympathetic nervous system can do permanent damage to cells called melanocyte cells, which are responsible for coloring your hair.

Once melanocyte cells are gone, they're gone for good — and you're left with hair stripped of its color that has turned gray. Read about ways to reduce your stress levels. As if you needed another reason to reach for fruits and veggies over chips and salsa, poor nutrition can actually cause nutritional deficiencies that may lead to gray hair.

Graying is also associated with unhealthy habits, including alcohol consumption and smoking. Preventing gray hair is just one among many reasons to take care of your body, eat healthy, and kick those unhealthy habits once and for all. Learn about ways to kickstart your journey to healthy eating. On occasion, gray hairs can be a sign of illness, such as thyroid disease or alopecia areata a common autoimmune disorder.

If you have other tell-tale signs, such as balding patches, let your healthcare provider know. However, don't panic — these are rare and little cause for concern. Though the connection is less clear, certain environmental factors may play a role in how quickly you go gray. For instance, pollution and ultraviolet UV rays from the sun may cause oxidative stress, which has been linked to various forms of aging like wrinkles.

This can lead to a buildup of hydrogen peroxide in hair follicles that can cause grays. Finding that first gray hair may be shocking, which is a perfectly natural reaction. While it's important to keep your body as healthy as possible for reasons that go beyond the color of your hair , remember that it's normal to develop gray hair as you age.

Whether you choose to dye your hair or rock the silver vixen look, it's important to do what makes you confident and happy. Everyone will go gray at some point or another — but it's up to you to decide how to react to those silver strands. Do you have questions about ways to stay healthy and prevent signs of aging, including gray hair? Call to find a primary care provider at Chester County Hospital. Learn about other health-related hair concerns, such as hair loss.

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