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Causes of gray hair after 30 years. Gray hair - is it possible to get rid of it? How to identify early graying tendencies

It is considered normal when our hair changes its color with age; at the same time, it is considered the norm (albeit purely conditionally) if noble gray hair whitens the head of people who have stepped over the threshold of middle age.

At the same time, there are many elderly people in the world, whose hair, it seems, is not at all influenced by past years. But there are even more of those who began to turn gray long before middle age. And even teenagers or young people in their 20s can find a lock of gray hair.

The human body has millions of hair follicles (hair follicles) all over its surface. It is essentially the hair root in which special cells (melanocytes) produce different types of melanin, which determines hair color. Over time, hair follicles lose pigment cells, which leads to the appearance of gray hair. This is how they usually explain the process of the appearance of gray hair in a person who, in fact, is already time to turn gray due to objective age reasons.

But why do young people turn gray? And why can gray hair be found even in small children? Does this indicate some kind of health problem, or is genetics to blame for everything? From this article, you have the opportunity not only to get information about some of the most common causes early education gray hair, but also learn how you can slow down this process or even prevent it (to some extent, of course).


Early gray hair: causes that can be eliminated

When it comes to the premature appearance of gray hair and measures to combat this phenomenon, you should know that it is impossible to suspend this process without an accurate clarification of the reasons for the appearance of gray hair. And if you know the list of the main reasons, then you can take measures to prevent the appearance of gray hair in early age.

In fact, there are not so many reasons for these, in addition to natural aging; and the number of products that are offered to combat gray hair is off the charts.

This is not surprising, since gray hair is a huge business for companies filling the corresponding market niche with numerous hair dyes (and not only). It is no coincidence that many large companies are contributing to the study of the problem of the appearance of gray hair at different ages (at least at the level of collecting statistical data). For example, cosmetic giant L "Oreal found that gray hair in men aged 45 to 65 is slightly more common than gray hair in women of the same age (78% to 71%); and at 50 years, gray hair is on average 25% of all hair on the head (in most people).

Why does hair turn gray early?

In addition to the natural aging of the body, there are many reasons that can lead to the premature appearance of gray hair; moreover, in the overwhelming majority of cases, they are well studied thanks to various long-term studies. There are also ways to delay the appearance of early gray hair, slow down this process, or even reverse it.


Lack of vitamins


On process early appearance gray hair is affected by a deficiency in the body of any of the following vitamins: vitamin B-6, B-12, biotin (the so-called antiseborrheic vitamin or vitamin H), vitamin E. In addition, in 2005, the results were published immediately in the peer-reviewed scientific publication Development There are several studies proving that deficiencies in vitamins D-3, B-12 and copper deficiency in the human body also affect the formation of gray hair.

In 2016, another international publication (International Journal of Trichology), devoted to the problems of trichology (that is, the science of hair), also drew attention to the factors that are associated with the premature appearance of gray hair in young people (up to 25 years old). The subjects were found to lack the iron-containing protein ferritin (which is a source of iron for cells), the same vitamin B-12 and "good" cholesterol (HDL, high density lipoproteins).

Taking as a basis the fact that the deficiency of the above nutrients affects the formation of the necessary pigment in our body, it was assumed that the appropriate vitamin supplements would contribute to the restoration of hair color.

Genetic causes


Very often, premature appearance of gray hair is associated with genetic causes. At the same time, according to data obtained as a result of some studies, such reasons can explain up to 50% of cases of early gray hair. By the way, important role playing racial and ethnicity... For example, in the white race, gray hair can begin to appear after 20 years, while in Asians it occurs mainly after 25 years. In African Americans, the process of graying begins closer to 30 years.

Oxidative stress


If we are not talking about genetic reasons premature appearance of gray hair, the next "accused" may be the so-called oxidative stress (that is, cellular damage due to oxidation processes). Oxidative stress leads to imbalance when antioxidants (i.e. oxidation inhibitors) are unable to cope with the damaging effects free radicals(molecules that trigger the process of cell death, leading to diseases and aging of the body).

The term is often used as more pronounced oxidative stress: we are talking about more serious cellular damage that can become a trigger for various diseases, including one of the very dangerous pigmentation disorders - vitiligo. Vitiligo can also cause gray hair as a result of a decrease in the functional activity of cells that produce melanin, or as a result of their death.

Medical pathology


Certain medical conditions (such as autoimmune disease) increase the risk of early gray hair. There are a number of studies proving a direct link between early graying and thyroid dysfunction. Gray hair also often accompanies alopecia areata, an autoimmune skin disorder that causes hair loss in certain parts of the head or other parts of the body. And if the hair grows back, it can be gray due to a lack of melanin.

Constant stress


There is a common belief that everyday stress leads to the premature appearance of gray hair. In fact, no research has yet proven this link.

For example, studies aimed at finding a link between stress-related injuries have led to conflicting results.

One such study by New York University, published in the medical scientific journal Nature Medicine, found that when the human body is exposed to stress, the functionality of the cells responsible for hair color decreases.

However, there are other studies, the results of which, although they confirm that stressful situations can influence this process, but lead to additional conclusions. According to them, this influence is just a small touch in the overall big picture, consisting of numerous other reasons (for example, accompanying illnesses, genetic factors, and so on).

Smoking


In 2013, the results of a study appeared in many media outlets demonstrating the fact that smokers are 2.5 times more likely to have gray hair before the age of 30 than non-smokers. Then this dependence was confirmed by other studies, according to which this risk is 4 times higher! Be that as it may, the researchers agree on one thing - smoking definitely contributes to the early appearance of gray hair.

Chemical staining and hair extensions


Chemical dyeing and hair extensions (and even some types of shampoos) can also cause early graying. And this is not surprising, since many cosmetics contain harmful substances that reduce melanin levels. For example, one of these harmful chemicals that are included in many chemical dyes for hair is hydrogen peroxide. And if you use hair lightening products very often, you can eventually cause the corresponding disturbances, leading to the premature appearance of gray hair.

How to get rid of early gray hair?

To begin with, if the cause of the appearance of gray hair in young age is genetics, then nothing is able to stop this process and even more so turn it back. However, if the cause of the appearance of gray hair is some kind of concomitant medical pathology, the correct approach to solving the problem can normalize the color pigmentation of the hair. Also, if the reason for the appearance of gray hair at a young age is an unhealthy diet or a lack of any vitamins, this process can be reversed (or made so that it does not develop further).

Choosing an antioxidant-rich menu


A person's diet plays an unambiguous role in preventing early gray hair. Foods that contain antioxidants help reduce free radicals by halting a process called oxidative stress. It's also the easiest way to prevent premature gray hair, as antioxidants are found in fresh vegetables and fruits, green tea, olive oil, fish, and many other foods.

Quitting smoking and eliminating vitamin deficiencies


As for smoking, everything is clear: if you, as a smoker, are concerned about the problem of early appearance of gray hair, it makes sense to immediately quit smoking. Better not to start. Well, if the main reason for the early appearance of gray hair is a deficiency of vitamins, you need to include in your diet foods that contain the body's missing vitamins. For example, seafood, eggs, and meat provide vitamin B-12; milk, salmon and cheese are excellent sources of vitamin D.

The deficiency of certain micronutrients in the body can also be eliminated through the regular consumption of certain foods. For example, if you have been found to be deficient in copper, you should include foods such as beef liver, lentils, almonds, dark chocolate, asparagus, and so on in your diet. If necessary, it is possible to adjust the intake of certain vitamins and minerals by introducing the appropriate vitamin and food additives.

Choosing natural medicines


There are a lot of hair dyes on the market today that can hide the presence of gray hair. There are also many anti-gray shampoos that promise quick and safe "masking" of hair.

Alas, many of these cosmetics themselves are the cause of the premature appearance of even more gray hair; in addition, their regular use leads to numerous side effects and allergic reactions.

Natural medicines, on the other hand, are a very viable alternative, as they help reduce the formation of gray hairs without affecting negative impact on the skin.

Take for example curry leaves... Using curry leaves as a natural medical aid is rooted in the depths of centuries. Nowadays, many people use curry leaf based hair oil (which, by the way, is easily washed off), as it can slow down the premature appearance of gray hair. Curry leaves are also used to help dark hair retain its natural color for longer.

If someone finds such a remedy too exotic (although getting it now is not a problem), you can use infusions of nettle, sage, and other herbs. Even regular black tea is recommended, and in tea bags.

Steam two or three tea bags in a regular cup, then wait until it cools down and apply to clean wet hair... After regular use, the hair becomes darker, softer and different healthy shine... Some people mix the tea with a hair conditioner, apply it for one hour, and then rinse the scalp.

Early gray hair in a child

Is gray hair in a child a cause for concern?


Early gray hair, of course, can be a cause for some concern, which, however, is most often due to purely psychological factors due to violation of aesthetics.

However, the unexpected discovery of gray hair in a child can cause a real anxiety attack in his parents. However, you should not panic, since absolutely the same reasons lead to the appearance of gray hair in a child that cause early gray hair in young men and women.

But this fact should not be ignored either. You should find out which of the above causes of gray hair at such an early age are taking place in the case of your child. Most likely, it will be problematic to do it yourself, and therefore it is worth contacting a specialist. Given the fact that we are talking about a child, you should initially make an appointment with pediatrician, explain to him the essence of the problem; and the pediatrician will decide whether there is a need to contact other specialists for further examination in order to identify the causes of the lack of color pigment.


Early gray hair treatment in Russia

Is there a hair specialist in Russia?


In the international medical space, a separate scientific direction dealing with hair originated in the middle of the last century; in Russia, doctors specializing in hair health (that is, trichologists) appeared only at the beginning of this century.

Moreover, we still do not have such a specialty officially: there is a cosmetologist or a dermatologist. Many of those modern data (including statistical data) that we have about the appearance of early gray hair were obtained as a result of foreign studies.

Thanks to international experience, a lot is known about the causes of premature gray hair. However, there is no “magic pill” in the world to get rid of gray hair.

Of course, with the correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment, the gray hair process can be stopped, and sometimes even reversed. Balanced diet, proper care hair care, the use of natural remedies - it all works to one degree or another.

And if we are not talking about a genetic predisposition to the appearance of early gray hair, a lot depends on our choice made at a very young age.

With all of the above information, today most are able to choose such life path, in which gray hair will appear only in old age. In any case, this process cannot be stopped completely; almost everyone's hair eventually turns gray - it's just that some don't live to see it.

Earlier, the appearance of gray hair always occurred in adulthood and was a sign of wisdom and importance. Modern man, subject to frequent stress and the influence of unfavorable environmental factors, can detect the appearance of gray hair in 20-30 years. Why does gray hair appear? How to prevent its occurrence? And is this process always physiological?

Usually, the first gray hair appears at the age of 35, over time, bleached hair becomes more, and after about 10 years they begin to prevail over natural hair. Sometimes their appearance can occur at a younger age. Such a process may indicate the development of various pathologies and always becomes a signal for concern. Despite the fact that almost no one succeeds in preventing the appearance of gray hair, there are factors of this physiological process that can be influenced and prolong the youth and beauty of their hair. In this article, we will introduce you to the causes of gray hair and how to deal with it.

Why does gray hair appear?

In order to better understand the process of gray hair formation, let's get a little familiar with the physiology of hair. In humans, hair color is determined by special pigments: pheomelanin, ossimelanin, eumelanin and a group of triochromes. They are varieties of such a well-known pigment since school, which is produced by special cells - melanocytes, located in the basal (lower) layer of the epidermis and in hair follicles. Melanin synthesis occurs under the influence of sympathetic mediators nervous system, hormones, pituitary gland (melanocyte-stimulating hormone, ACTH and β-lipotropin) and sex hormones.

Eumelanin causes dark brown or black hair color, ossimelanin - light, pheomelanin - henna shades, and the group of triochromes - red shades. Mixing these pigments in different proportions determines the hair color of each person. They color the keratin, of which the hair shafts are composed, and the intensity of their shade depends on how much melanin each hair follicle receives. The combination and volume of eumelanin, triochromes, ossimelanin and pheomelanin is genetically determined. This is how a wide range of hair shades appears: chestnut, black, copper, golden, red ...

Melanocytes begin to work even before the birth of a child and gradually regress with age. Every 10 years after the age of 30, their function fades away by 10-20%, and it is precisely depending on the degree of their repression that gray hair appears in the shock of hair - almost colorless hair with the absence of pigment in keratin. When all the melanocytes that supply melanin to the hair shaft die off, all hair becomes completely gray.

Not so long ago, European scientists have discovered another reason for the appearance of gray hair. As it turns out, with age, hair follicles can produce a small amount of hydrogen peroxide, which interacts with pigments and discolors them. This process can be neutralized by catalase, a special enzyme. With age, this enzyme becomes less and less, and the peroxide produced and accumulated by the follicles discolours the hair shaft from the inside. As a result, the hair becomes colorless.

Causes of gray hair

Physiological graying is associated with natural aging of melanocytes, and the appearance of early graying may be due to their death or a decrease in activity due to hormonal disorders. As a result, the hair loses its pigment, acquires a porous structure, and the appeared air "layers" give them a silvery-white tint.

There are many different factors that can change hair color. They can be divided into:

  • external: unfavorable environmental conditions;
  • internal: genetic characteristics, age, stressful situations, etc.

Gray hair can be caused by:

  • poor ecology: contributes to the development of diseases and premature aging;
  • hereditary predisposition: most people have gray hair at the same age as their parents;
  • lingering depression and chronic stress: nervous breakdowns provoke a blowout a large number adrenaline in the blood, which breaks the bond between melanin and keratin in the hair follicles, in addition, nervous overstrain causes a weakening of the immune system and premature aging;
  • race: gray hair appears earlier in Europoids and Mongoloids, and later in Negroids;
  • diseases thyroid gland: pathology of this endocrine organ leads to;
  • conditions associated with a violation of pigmentation: albinism, and some other diseases - the appearance of gray strands can begin at any age;
  • and lack of vitamins A, group B, C, minerals copper, manganese, iron and selenium: cause pathology internal organs and disrupt the normal blood supply to all body tissues;
  • inappropriate nutrition: leads to a deficiency of vitamins and minerals that ensure the normal functioning of the whole body;
  • diseases of the digestive system and kidneys lead to disruption of metabolic processes in the body;
  • skin diseases: herpetic or erysipelas, alopecia areata;
  • hormonal imbalance: unstable hormone levels (for example, during pregnancy, after childbirth, with polycystic ovary disease or during menopause) can provoke stressful situations, endocrine disorders of the thyroid gland and depletion of the nervous system;
  • : antibodies produced in the body destroy melanocytes and lead to the absence of hair pigmentation;
  • bad habits: cause many diseases, hormonal imbalance and premature aging;
  • reception drugs: long lasting and frequent reception some medications (especially antibiotics, Rezohin, Chloroquine, Hydroquinone and phenylthiourea) have a negative effect on immunity and metabolism;
  • improper hair and scalp care: the use of hot water, exposure to the sun or frost without a headdress, the use of aggressive care products, styling and coloring have a detrimental effect on the scalp and contribute to the weakening of hair pigmentation.

Characteristics of gray hair

After the loss of most of the pigment, the hair shafts become ash gray, and after the loss of the entire volume of melanin, they become white. In smokers, gray hair with a yellowish tinge can be observed.

In addition to discoloration, gray hair loses both its usual properties and its usual structure, since melanin not only colors the hair shaft, but also protects it from external adverse factors (for example, from exposure to ultraviolet radiation) and gives it elasticity and strength. That is why, after graying, the hair becomes more rigid, brittle, dry, split ends and unruly when styling. In some cases, they begin to get tangled and curled.

How to prevent the appearance of gray hair?

Doctors and cosmetologists have not yet learned how to return the gray hair to its previous shade, and the "fight" with the gray hair that has already appeared can only consist in dyeing the hair with special dyes with the 3rd degree of durability. However, it is possible to prevent early graying, get rid of single gray hairs and stop the progression of this process if you follow a number of simple rules.

Nutrition


Proper nutrition will help maintain the beauty of your hair for longer.

The balance of our diet is one of the key factors that contribute to the preservation of youth, health and beauty. To prevent gray hair, you should include foods rich in these six minerals in your diet:

  • calcium- dairy products, soybeans, nuts, wheat, greens;
  • copper- eggs, beans, green vegetables, almonds, mushrooms, pumpkin seeds;
  • zinc- mushrooms, whole grains, oysters, egg yolks;
  • chromium- oysters, wine, wheat bread;
  • iron – seaweed, apples, legumes, buckwheat, beef, eggs, cocoa;
  • iodine- black currant, sea fish, persimmon, seaweed.

For normal hair pigmentation in daily diet Foods high in the following vitamins should be included:

  • beta carotene- carrots, cabbage, fish, spinach, liver;
  • E- almonds, peanuts, hazelnuts, sea buckthorn, dried apricots, pistachios, wheat, spinach, viburnum;
  • WITH- citrus fruits, rose hips, kiwi, apples, berries, bell pepper, wild garlic, Brussels sprouts;
  • group B (B3, B5, B6, B7, B10 and B12)- pine nuts, cashews, lentils, pork, rabbit, mackerel, sardines, liver, mushrooms, eggs, dairy products, beans, walnuts, sea buckthorn;
  • folic acid- liver, peanuts, walnuts, beans, spinach, hazelnuts, broccoli, wild garlic;
  • inositol- melon, nuts, meat, prunes, kiwi, legumes.

The above minerals and vitamins are important not only for normal hair pigmentation, but also necessary to maintain their health. Eating foods that are rich in them on a daily basis will heal your hair and make it shiny and strong.

In addition to these vitamins and minerals, the diet should include foods with high level content of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids:

  • flax seeds;
  • fish fat;
  • salmon;
  • olive oil;
  • oats;
  • almonds, etc.

All these useful substances can be taken in the form of dietary supplements and vitamin-mineral complexes:

  • Melan + for men and Melan + for women;
  • Neurobeks;
  • Selenium compliant.

They should be taken with food and washed down. enough water. These medications should not be taken after large meals as they will not be fully absorbed in such cases.

Drinking regimen

Hair follicles are extremely sensitive to a lack of fluid in the body. Lack of water makes it difficult for nutrients to be absorbed and absorbed and can cause hair to turn gray. That is why, in order to preserve their health, it is necessary to drink 1.5-2 liters of water daily.

Proper hair care

When the first gray hairs appear, you should pay close attention to hair care:

  1. Wash hair with water at a comfortable temperature.
  2. Use shampoos, conditioners and masks that contain non-aggressive detergents, vitamins, natural extracts and nutrients.
  3. Minimize the use of hair dryers, curling irons, irons, harsh dyes and styling products.
  4. Wear hats in hot and frosty weather.
  5. Avoid styling that disrupts normal blood circulation in the scalp: tails, braids, hairpins, elastic bands, etc.


Salon procedures

The appearance of gray hair can be stopped by using following procedures performed in beauty salons:

  • laser therapy;
  • plasma lifting;
  • ultrasound therapy;
  • microelement mesotherapy.

Hardware hair treatment methods can be supplemented with the use of nourishing masks and vitamin serums:

  • Dikson POLIPANT COMPLEX;
  • Dercos Technique Vichy;
  • Intensive Energizing Complex, etc.

Folk remedies

To prevent the appearance of gray hair, you can use various folk remedies that help restore their health.

Garlic mask

Pass the garlic through a press. Add a little to the resulting gruel burdock oil and rub into the hair roots with gentle massaging movements. The head should be wrapped in a warm towel. Rinse off the mask after 10-15 minutes, rinse the hair with shampoo. The procedure is repeated 2 times a week.

Applications with burdock root infusion

2 tablespoons of chopped burdock roots and 2 teaspoons of dill fruits pour 0.5 liters of boiling water and leave for about 3 hours. Rub into clean skin heads 2 times during the day. The procedure should be repeated daily for 3 months.

Wheat Germ Oil Mask

Mix 30 ml of wheat germ oil with 7 drops of lavender, rose and sandalwood oil. Apply with massaging movements on the scalp, wrap and hold for about 1-2 hours. Wash off with shampoo. The mask should be carried out 2 times a week for 2-3 months.

Before using these and other folk remedies, you should make sure that there is no allergic reaction to the components of the recipe.

Gray hair is a physiologically inherent process, a common manifestation of those biological mechanisms that constantly occur in the human body with increasing age. Is it possible to prevent or treat gray hair? For most people, trichologists and dermatologists attribute hair depigmentation to one of the direct consequences and one of the first signs of aging in the body.

The mechanism of natural hair bleaching

A hair follicle is complex structure, on the state of which the growth and natural coloring of hair depends. It contains melanocyte cells that synthesize melanin. The latter consists of two pigments - eumelanin, which has a black-brown color, and pheomelanin, which is yellow-red. The amount and different proportional ratio of these pigments provide brightness and a whole spectrum of all existing shades hair, which is due to the genetic code.

Hair is composed of elongated keratin fibers. They, in turn, are formed as a result of cell division of the hair shaft located in the follicular base. During division and development, cell proteins combine with melanin, which is supplied to their melanocytes, as well as keratin, which is also a protein structure.

As cells develop, they lose their nucleus and organelles, turning into filamentous keratin protein structures (fibrils). All this occurs cyclically, including the production of melanin, and corresponds to the stages of hair growth. There are two types of melanocytes - active, which are destroyed during the catagen period (growth arrest), and those that are activated during the next cycle of their hair growth. The supply of melanocytes is limited.

Thus, the color provided by melanin depends on the color of the root itself. The outer part of the hair, that is, keratin fibers, do not have the ability to receive or give melanin. In other words, the hair turns gray from the root as a result of a lack or absence of pigment. It can lose its color within a few hours only under the influence of any chemical substances but not as a result of stress, as some people assume.

Hypothetical Causes of Gray Hair

  1. Lack of melanocytes or a decrease in their function.
  2. The appearance of air layers between keratin fibrils, as a result of which the refraction of light rays changes, and the hair appears gray.
  3. Violation of the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide formed in the hair follicles.

The inevitability of graying may be due to factors such as:

  • limited supply of melanocytes;
  • damage to the DNA structure of melanocytes by highly active oxygen forms against the background of a reduced function of the skin antioxidant system; as a result of this, there is an accumulation of free radical groups formed under the influence of ultraviolet rays, aggressive chemical elements external environment, inflammatory processes of the skin and general diseases of the body, leading to a violation of blood microcirculation in the bulbs, etc.;
  • a decrease in the activity of tyrosinase (the main enzyme involved in melanogenesis), as a result of which the amino acid tyrosine, which is part of the structure of proteins, is not absorbed, the interaction of hair cells with melanocytes is disrupted and the migration of the latter to the follicles slows down.

Premature gray hair

The onset of the appearance of gray hair in men is considered normal at 30-35, in women - at 40-45 years. If gray hair appears at the age of 20 or even at 25, this is regarded as premature graying. Most men begin to go gray from the chin. In women, gray hair appears first on the temples, and then on the parietal and occipital regions.

Some trichologists believe that early gray hair occurs as a result of certain viral diseases, for example, caused by cytomegalovirus. Although it is common, only immunocompromised individuals get sick.

It is useless to remove gray hair in the hope that new ones with normal color will grow, since the same defective melanocytes remain in the hair follicle. The reasons for the appearance of gray hair at an early age are different. Their influence has not been sufficiently studied and in many respects controversial. Factors that accelerate and predispose to early graying are:

  1. Genetic predisposition, that is, heredity, similarity in children and parents immune system... Prevention or control of such gray hair by any means is useless.
  2. Stressful conditions, especially of a chronic nature. Presumably, stress hormones contribute to the formation of intrafollicular inflammatory processes with the formation of free radical groups, disruption of blood microcirculation in hair follicles, and distortion of signals that control melanin delivery.
  3. Deficiency of vitamins and minerals, in particular, copper, zinc, iron, magnesium, sulfur, selenium, calcium.
  4. Endocrine diseases - hypothyroidism, diabetes... Thyroid hormones, for example, affect hair structure and pigmentation. In women, hormonal dysfunction of the gonads is possible, the cause of which can be determined by a gynecologist-endocrinologist.
  5. Gastrointestinal and liver diseases, as a result of which the breakdown and assimilation of nutrients, vitamins and microelements is impaired.
  6. Weight loss diets and diets that are deficient in protein, resulting in tyrosine deficiency.
  7. Anemia of various etiologies, blood diseases.
  8. Excessive exposure to ultraviolet rays.

Gray hair treatment

When asked about the possibility of slowing down the appearance of gray hair or returning the hair to its original color, scientists now do not give such an unambiguous negative answer as before. The ability of white hair melanocytes to synthesize melanin was experimentally established in cell culture conditions. but universal remedy from gray hair has not yet been invented. However, given the mechanisms, causes and contributing factors, it is theoretically considered possible to slow down the processes affecting graying.

For these purposes, it is necessary:

  • if possible, avoid situations leading to psycho-emotional overwork;
  • restore good nutrition;
  • examine and treat diseases of internal organs, endocrine system, chronic inflammatory and skin diseases;
  • take preparations containing basic microelements, as well as vitamins from gray hair in combination with selenium, which have an effect on metabolism and have a pronounced antioxidant effect - ascorbic acid, vitamins "E" and "A", para-aminobenzoic acid (vitamin "B 10" ). The drugs "Selmevit" and "Selmevit Intensive", consisting of a complex of vitamins, are considered effective.

Cosmetologists and trichologists also recommend the Antisedin lotion, which stimulates the function of melanocytes, the introduction of magnesia solutions, carrying out with amino acids, vitamins, magnesium, rubbing creams and ointments with microelements and irritants to improve microcirculation in the hair follicles.

Hardware methods (, iontophoresis, ultrasound, soft laser exposure) help to improve blood circulation in the follicles, restore metabolism and reduce inflammation.

In the case of a genetic predisposition, the only reliable way to get rid of gray hair is only masking hair coloring.

Hair can turn gray at an early age. It depends on many physiological and a number of other provoking factors. V old age gray hair is a common phenomenon and does not cause such violent disappointments and fears as in young people. It is generally accepted that the "silver threads" begin to flash only when the natural, gradual aging of the body begins. However, this is not the case.

Often, many owners of gray hair, who inherited it at an early age, remain mobile and active later. long years after the first signs of graying. Therefore, it is wrong to consider the process of changing hair color exclusively within the framework of natural aging.

Each case is different, and see true reasons graying is possible only taking into account all the predisposing factors that can lead to the first graying.

Why does hair turn gray?

The hair contains the pigment melanin, which is synthesized in the melanocyte cells that live in the hair follicles (hair follicles). Moreover, their presence is genetically based. The amount of melanin in hair is directly proportional to the amount of natural hair color or pigment. Gray hair is triggered when melanocytes stop producing melanin. Hair begins to turn gray at the roots, and later along the entire length of the hair.

The accompanying signs of gray hair are:

  • hard hair surface;
  • high fragility;

To find out the causes of gray hair, you need to understand: why melanocytes age and die. According to the latest research achievements, it became known that representatives of the Caucasian race are susceptible to early graying. Graying is noticed, on average, in age category 35-40 years old. There is also not unfounded evidence that men turn gray earlier than women by an average of 5-10 years.

The main causes of gray hair at a young age



The first gray hair at the age of 30 and a little earlier is considered serious reason for thorough comprehensive survey... V in this case you need to pay close attention to health and well-being. At an early and young age, the main causes of graying hair are:

  • very strong stress;
  • genetic predisposition;
  • x-rays;
  • the influence of the sun;
  • long-term hypovitaminosis;
  • diseases of the digestive tract;
  • liver diseases in which the absorption of proteins, fats and carbohydrates is impaired;
  • scarce, unbalanced diet and craze for mono-diets;
  • endocrine pathologies;
  • hormone-dependent diseases;
  • diabetes;
  • diseases of the pancreas;
  • hypocidal gastritis;
  • diseases of the thyroid gland, in particular, hypothyroidism;
  • disruption of the adrenal glands.

The mechanism of disruption of melanin production is often hidden in the malfunction of any of the body systems. The leading causes of gray hair are severe stress.

Having experienced a strong shock, the human body reacts by releasing a huge amount of adrenaline and norepinephrine into the bloodstream, which cause colossal harm and even damage DNA. Early gray hair can be the result of manifestation on the part of the body.

The appearance of whitish strands at a young age is a symptom that cannot be ignored. If there are no health problems, then you need to pay attention to the quality of food and lifestyle. Passion for mono-diets, fasting can easily become the reasons for the onset of early gray hair. Often, protein-free diets cause irreparable harm to the body, one of the manifestations of which will be early gray hair. Lack of vitamins and minerals, in particular, A, B, C, as well as a lack of selenium, copper, iron and zinc can be the first impetus to gray hair. Nutritional gaps should be fully compensated balanced menu... Dairy products rich in calcium, valuable varieties of wheat containing chromium, pumpkin seeds, eggs, turkey, beans, persimmons, fish, black currants are rich in vitamins and essential minerals. Beef, liver, offal are rich in iron and are essential for women who experience regular blood loss.

Passion for alcoholic beverages, smoking, along with insomnia, stress intensify the death of melanin in cells and start an irreversible process. Modern science unable to provide stimulation of cells and their ability to produce natural pigment. It is also impossible, nowadays, to restore the chain between melanocytes and hair follicles, whose bond is often the leading cause of early graying.

In order to avoid early gray hair, medicine recommends paying close attention to the lifestyle and, if necessary, adjusting it. You should also avoid stress and frequent anxiety. The daily diet must be enriched with foods that are valuable in terms of the content of copper, zinc, manganese and iron.

Who is at risk?

  • girls who are fanatically addicted to all kinds of diets, poor in protein content;
  • heavy smokers;
  • those whose parents turned gray early;
  • persons in constant stress;
  • people who are inattentive to their health;
  • persons living in ecologically unfavorable areas.

You can find out about the causes of early gray hair with the help of a full examination of the body.

Diagnosis of early gray hair

If you notice that your hair starts to turn gray prematurely it is imperative to undergo an examination of the body. To obtain reliable information and clarify the causes of premature gray hair, sometimes it is enough to go through:

  • blood chemistry;
  • Ultrasound of the thyroid gland;
  • general blood analysis;
  • hormonal research;
  • blood for sugar;
  • visiting a therapist, endocrinologist and neurologist.

Early gray hair is the premature appearance of gray hair in a person. The phrase early gray hair awakens a lot of questions. Let's take a closer look at this difficult topic. Since ancient times, gray hair has been a sign of old age and an attribute of people of advanced age, but it turns out that this is far from the case. Human hair color depends on the presence and quantitative ratio in hair follicles of eumelanin (granular pigment) and pheomelanin (diffuse pigment), which have different shapes. Eumelanin has Brown color, combining blue, red and yellow colors, and an elongated shape. Pheomelanin - pigment yellow color and round / oval.

In education the colors of all natural hair both pigments are involved, and the colors of the hair are formed as follows:

  • blondes have more pheomelanin;
  • red are obtained as a result of a combination of round or oval granules with an average amount of elongated;
  • brunettes with dark brown hairstyles are formed from the combination of a large amount of eumelanin with pheomelanin;
  • brunettes with black hair come out during synthesis a large number eumelanin and very little or no pheomelanin.

As you can see from the research, there are 3 main hair colors: blonde, red, black - and almost 300 types of shades, which are formed due to the various combinations of two pigments for which Mother Nature is generous. Human hair color depends on many factors, but the most important are genetic and endocrine ones. Pigments eumelanin and pheomelanin are synthesized by certain cells (melanocytes) in strict accordance with the genetic program. From the uneven activity of melanocytes throughout a person's hair, different shades of each of the individual's hairs are obtained, which is natural. By various reasons, which will be discussed here, the activity of the pigment-producing cells is reduced, and the hair grows without pigmentation, namely, gray.

As people get older, the pigment cells in their hair follicles gradually die off. When less melanin is produced in the hair follicles, the hair strand will become more translucent, gray, silver or white. People can turn gray at any age, depending on their genome. In other words, most of them will turn gray from about the same age as their parents and grandparents.

Causes of early gray hair

Gray hair at an early age is another mystery of the Universe, when neither the reasons nor the methods to get around the problem, which many call a disease, are not exactly clear.

The relentless research of scientists around the world in the field of early and age-related graying of a person is very controversial and betrays all kinds of reasons for this, as well as new hopes for stopping graying or converting it back. Early gray hair has such reasons as:

  • lack of production of the signaling protein Wnt in melanocytes, which is the coordinator of pigmentation in two types of cells;
  • early graying of ancestors in several generations;
  • lack of tyrazine, contained in basic proteins, vitamin complexes;
  • dysfunctions of the nervous and endocrine systems, pituitary gland;
  • anemia, chronic fatigue, excessive insolation;
  • dysfunction of the thyroid gland, vitiligo (violation of skin pigmentation).

Often, a sharp graying of a single strand or part of the hair is associated with severe stress, fright or a violent nervous shock, when the release of adrenaline leads to a spasm of the arteries of the hair papillae, which deprives the hair follicles of proper nutrition and may result in their death. However, gray hair does not appear immediately, but only after changing the hair to new ones. The effect of instant graying can occur in connection with a sharp focal loss of dark hair as a result of the above events, and gray hair will remain in place.

Consider the common causes of early graying for all people that arise when there is:

  • genetic predisposition of the body;
  • lack of vitamins and minerals;
  • oxygen starvation of melanocytes with impaired blood circulation;
  • imbalance in the digestive tract;
  • liver and kidney disease;
  • migraine, erysipelas, baldness;
  • dysfunction of the thyroid gland;
  • inadequate state of the nervous system and other individual causes of health disorders.

Early gray hair in men, the causes of which are still being investigated, seems to be the result of a failure in the production of pigment in the dermal papilla of the hair, to which a decrease in protein synthesis leads to a decrease in the flow of amino acids and nutrients. Melanocytes stop producing pigment, and the hair shaft begins to accumulate air instead of pigment, and then the hair becomes gray, then colorless, i.e. gray-haired. The hair structure is a tube filled with air containers. The appearance of early gray hair in men before the age of 30 is already a symptom that cannot be ignored.

Early gray hair in girls, the reasons for which are still practically incomprehensible and little studied, as well as the causes of early gray hair in women, may have the same roots as in men, but it is also possible additional reasons, Related physiological characteristics and the tasks of the female body. These include:

  1. Passion for various, especially strict protein-free diets, vegetarianism, which often deprives the body and hair of girls 17-25 years old of essential minerals, B vitamins, amino acids and other things.
  2. Menstrual menstrual cycle, often accompanied by heavy blood loss, leading to loss of essential hair nutrients and anemia.
  3. Pregnancy, when the female body for nine months gives everything it needs to build a new body, losing trace elements, vitamins, amino acids and other useful substances.
  4. Childbirth (this is stress) and the lactation period drain the nervous system, all nutrients from the woman's body enter breast milk.
  5. Diseases of the nervous, cardiovascular, endocrine systems as a result of imbalance women's health during pregnancy, childbirth, the postpartum period.
  6. Viral infections - Staphylococcus aureus, herpes.
  7. Disruption of the normal functioning of hormones in women during menopause, as well as a stressful condition during this period.
  8. Presence of osteoporosis and other systemic diseases.
  9. Atherosclerosis, metabolic disorders.
  10. Vascular disorders lead to a decrease in the delivery of oxygen with the blood to nourish the hair, which reduces, and sometimes completely stops the formation of melanin (hair pigment).
  11. Strong stress or prolonged stressful situation forces the body to produce substances that violate the chemical bond of melanin with protein, and as a result - rapid loss, washing out or neutralizing the pigment.

In our indefatigable time, gray hair at an early age most often arises from severe stress, when numerous neuropeptides begin to be produced inside us, penetrating into the hair follicles, thereby disrupting the mutual bonds between the building protein and melanin. The effect of hydrogen peroxide from the inside develops. In such an unbound state, melanin is unable to resist and in 70% of circumstances it cannot recover.

Characteristics of gray hair

Each of our hairs has a three-layer shaft, consisting of a core, a color pigment layer and an outer colorless protective layer, as well as a root located in the follicle.

Throughout life hairline grows up together with a person and gradually the formation of melanocytes responsible for the production of hair pigment stops in the follicle, the process of their graying begins:

  • at first, little by little and imperceptibly in different parts heads;
  • further gray hair captures almost half of the hair, mixing with the hair of the main color;
  • the process ends with a complete graying of all hair.

Gray hair is a hair that has absolutely lost its original pigment, an almost lifeless shaft, a harsh, white color with a grayish or yellowish tinge. This condition is caused by a deficiency of protein in the stem cells of melanocytes.

Some people have gray hair in young age when they’re in high school or college, while others may find their first graying in their 30s or 40s, it’s determined by our genes.

Gray hair on light hair is less noticeable than on dark hair, so it can be detected later. Since the discovery of the first gray hairs ten or more years may pass before complete graying.

Early gray hair treatment

It is considered impossible to treat gray hair today, only staining can help. Early gray hair appeared - what to do? Don't forget: To have healthy hair and scalp, you need the following:

  • a thorough examination of the whole body in search of diseases that provoke graying;
  • treatment of cardiovascular problems;
  • thyroid medication;
  • getting rid of foci of infections;
  • rejection of strict diets and the transition to a full-fledged diet;
  • conducting courses of vitamin and mineral "nutrition";
  • careful selection of caring and coloring cosmetics in order to avoid the loss of gray hair;
  • enhanced nutritious nutrition during pregnancy and lactation;
  • supervision by a trichologist and strict implementation of his recommendations;
  • treatment nervous disorders and maintaining a relaxed lifestyle;
  • preservation of microcirculation of blood in the scalp with the help of a warm headdress in winter;
  • other, depending on individual circumstances.

Complex measures will help to suspend or long time delay the graying process in all cases, except hereditary factor... Also, the use of mesotherapy can slow down the process of early graying, in which preparations with a huge content of B vitamins and the precursor of melanin, which provide hair color, are injected into the skin.

The current cosmetology market sometimes offers means to stimulate the production of pigment and promise hair transformation, but there is no panacea yet. Basically, people with gray hair resort to hair coloring. Trying to fight gray hair, some women use henna, hoping that it not only paints over gray hair, but also strengthens it, however, this is a mistake, because henna has tanning properties that damage the scalp and hair shafts.

How to get rid of early gray hair - this question has been asked by more than one generation of scientists dealing with the problem of the appearance of gray hair? You can apply the latest methods found by genetic scientists in last years... For example, Russian scientists of the St. Petersburg Institute of Gerontology and Bioregulation, who have received world recognition, have successfully tested their nanotechnologies on rodents and mammals during 40 years of research in the field of rejuvenation and longevity, proving that signal peptides (proteins) isolated by them can not only stop the graying process , aging, but can restore organs without surgery, hair color, reduce biological age person and much more.

Japanese scientists are in the same direction, arguing that the manipulation of Wnt signaling proteins by geneticists will help prevent the process of graying hair, as well as overcome other problems associated with melanocytes, in particular melanoma.