Gray hair in your head of hair is not a reason for frustration. Why hair turns gray in young people and even in adolescents

Gray hair is one of the signs of aging in the body. This is the opinion of the majority of ordinary people. Naturally, there is some truth here, but still I want to note that gray hair can appear not only in old age, but also in mature, and even at a young age. In this article, we have to figure out why the hair on the head turns gray at the age of 30 and how you can avoid it.

Why does hair turn gray at an early age?

There are many reasons for early graying, but here are just the main ones.

Genetic predisposition

The heredity factor is one of the main causes of graying hair before the age of 30. Note that it most often manifests itself in dark-haired girls. In this case, unfortunately, nothing can be done. You will have to come to terms with the situation or mask the gray hair by dyeing your hair.

Improper nutrition

First of all, those girls who are addicted to various diets are at risk. In this case, the hair does not receive enough nutrients necessary for its normal growth and development, and it is from this that gray hair appears. Also, hair can turn gray early in girls whose diet lacks vitamins and minerals.

Unstable emotional background

During times of stress, our bodies start producing substances called neuropeptides. If they penetrate the hair follicle, they destroy the interaction of the protein with the natural hair pigment. It is because of this that a reaction occurs inside the hair structure, similar to the action of hydrogen peroxide externally, and the hair turns gray.

Various diseases

Diseases of internal organs, blood, and even a simple cold can negatively affect the condition of the hair. Of course, this does not mean that the curls will immediately turn gray, but if you start the disease, do not fully heal, or if it constantly returns, then there is a possibility that this will happen.

Lack of protection against aggressive environmental influences

Considering the question of why the hair of young people turns gray, one cannot but touch upon the topic of the harmful effects of the environment and the lack of protection of curls from this effect. In other words, the sun's rays and severe frost or wind can destroy the hair structure. It is because of this that gray hair can appear. To prevent this from happening, you must always wear a hat on the street that is appropriate for the season.

Lifestyle

Lack of a daily routine, constant lack of sleep, snacks on the go - all this negatively affects the condition of the hair. You will not be able to notice this immediately, but gradually it will manifest itself. You should be aware that not only hair suffers from this, but also skin and nails. You will be able to notice this when the nail plates begin to exfoliate, various rashes will appear on the epidermis, and the strands will begin to fall out. If these warning signs do not force you to change your lifestyle, then gray hair may soon appear.

Early gray hair: is most often hereditary, but other factors may play a role in this

Ways to prevent gray hair

Knowing why the hair on your head turns gray at the age of 30, you can avoid this trouble. To do this, you need to adhere to the following recommendations.

1. Provide your body with protein. To do this, include in your menu meat, fish of different varieties, legumes, cereals, eggs, milk and dairy products, etc.
2. Get enough vitamins and minerals that your body needs. To do this, you can use vitamin complexes 2 times a year. In addition, it is recommended to provide the body with non-synthesized vitamins and minerals. To do this, it is recommended to consume as much fresh vegetables and fruits as possible, meat, including poultry, fish, seafood, legumes, raisins and prunes.
3. Try to be as nervous as possible. Since it is stress that is one of the causes of gray hair. If you avoid them, then this trouble can pass you. If you can't deal with them on your own, take a natural sedative. These include valerian and motherwort. Their use will bring an unstable emotional background back to normal.
4. Try to dye your hair with chemical dyes as little as possible. They themselves do not cause gray hair, but if the structure of the hair is already destroyed, then they can speed up this process, causing considerable harm to the curls. For the same reason, it is recommended to use less hair styling products.
5. Try not to heat your hair. This means that you should use a hairdryer as little as possible to dry your hair. Try to let your curls dry naturally if possible. In addition, use an iron for straightening or curling your hair, as well as a curling iron or hot curlers as little as possible. All of these devices can destroy the structure of the hair, thereby accelerating the appearance of gray hair.
6. Observe the daily routine. Go to bed and wake up at the same time, follow the diet, and this will help to avoid not only early gray hair, but also the occurrence of many health problems.

We found out not only why the hair on the head turns gray at the age of 30, but also learned how to avoid this trouble. We hope that our tips will help preserve the beauty of your hair for years to come.

The question of why hair turns gray worries many people, especially those who discovered gray hair at an early age.

Graying - discoloration of hair as a result of loss of pigment and filling of the hair with air bubbles. Graying can be partial or complete, acquired or congenital, and age-related.

The graying process in men covers almost the entire surface of the body. Usually, the first gray hairs appear in the area of ​​the temples, gradually moving to the rest of the hairy areas of the body.

In women, graying occurs somewhat differently in terms of the scale of distribution, in comparison with men, since the hair is discolored only on the head and eyebrows.

The main reasons for graying:

• age-related changes - the aging process;
• heredity;
• a consequence of past or congenital diseases;
• frequent stress.

At what age does gray hair appear?

As a rule, people notice the appearance of gray hair in old age. This is a natural physiological process. Under the influence of the aging process, the body stops producing the pigment melanin, and air bubbles take its place. The hair loses its color and becomes discolored (gray).

Physiological graying of hair usually begins after 40 years, and in some people it may not occur at all. It also happens that people turn gray quite early. It is impossible to stop the graying process, as well as slow down the aging process.

Causes of early graying of hair

It often happens that hair turns gray as early as 35 years old and, in some cases, even earlier. This condition is called premature graying. The reasons for early graying in young people can be: hereditary predisposition, a consequence of functional disorders of the nervous and endocrine systems, long-term debilitating diseases, severe stress.

It should be noted that the appearance of gray hair at the age of 20 and earlier is a pathological (unnatural) condition. In this case, it is recommended to undergo a comprehensive examination to find out the reasons.

Most often, this condition can be caused by a lack of vitamins of group B, vitamins A, C and folic acid, illness, stress, or long-term adherence to a protein-free diet.

Stress as a Cause of Sudden Graying

It is not uncommon for people to turn gray almost instantly or within a day, having endured a strong shock. Previously, this was considered a myth, but American scientists have scientifically proven this fact. And it doesn't matter at what age it can happen - at 30 years old or at 10 years old.

The result of a quick graying is a huge release of adrenaline into the blood, which not only activates the entire body as a whole, but can also harm DNA. Not every organism can cope with such a load, which is why instant gray hair appears.

Constant stress can lead not only to early graying, but also cause cell mutations - a cancer.

How not to turn gray at an early age

The age at which people begin to turn gray depends entirely on the genetic information embedded in them. It is impossible to prevent the graying process, but it is in our power to slow it down or postpone it to a later date.

Therefore, in order not to turn gray early, it is worth following a number of simple rules:

1. Balanced diet. Food should be rich in vitamins A, C and group B, animal and vegetable proteins. The diet should contain vegetables, fruits, meat, legumes, fish and nuts.
2. Don't overdo your diet. If the desire to lose weight is weighty, follow a vegetable and protein diet.
3. A measured lifestyle. Try to worry less: it is recommended that you master a special training that will help you calm down in a stressful situation.
4. Disease prevention. Do not ignore the annual examinations of doctors, in particular a gastroenterologist, endocrinologist, and neurologist. At the slightest suspicion of a serious illness, do not self-medicate, but see a doctor.
5. You can hide gray hair by dyeing your hair. Both natural and chemical dyes are suitable.

Gray hair is a sign of wisdom, so they said in old age, and this is not surprising, because earlier those who were over 35 were considered old people. But in the modern world, gray hair in hair is something alarming, and many ask the question: why does hair turn gray early? In this article we will try to give the most detailed answer.

Where does gray hair come from?

As a rule, the appearance of gray hair in a man from 30-35 years old is considered normal. In women, this threshold is higher and ranges from 40-45 years.

But practice dictates other indicators to us, since we can see gray hair in girls of 25, 20 years old, in young guys, and even in adolescents of 17 years old. What's the problem? Why does hair turn silvery like that of older people?

Scientifically, this is based on a genetic predisposition. After all, a pigment such as melanin affects hair color, and it, in turn, is produced by cells called melanocytes. Melanin is located in the hair follicles and synthesizes a dark color under the influence of the enzyme tyrosinase, which contains copper particles.

Hair discoloration occurs at a time when the enzyme is not enough, and the bulbs are filled with hydrogen peroxide.

But besides the genetic predisposition, there is also an external cause.

Causes of early gray hair

Why does early graying occur? What is the reason why hair turns gray at an early age? There are many answers to these questions. We list only the most important causes of hair discoloration.

1. Stress impact

From stress due to school, relationships, first love, negative attitudes of adults towards children, and many other reasons that seem trifling to an adult, can provoke the appearance of gray hair in children.

This point also applies to older people who experience constant stress at work, nervousness, anxiety.

It is worth noting that the pursuit of money and sleepless nights all this also contributes to active "enlightenment".

2. Diseases

Unfortunately, various types of liver diseases, dysfunction of the thyroid gland, etc. can also affect hair color.

Despite the fact that a young body is able to recover faster and replenish the reserves of necessary substances, there are times when the consequences of the disease remain on the hair. Therefore, do not postpone a visit to the doctor.

3. Feelings of fear

You understood everything correctly, a typical fear of something. It is fear that pushes people to do the impossible. But fear also exhausts the body, because the feeling of fear consumes all the main resources.

And with the consumption of resources, there is an outflow of necessary substances from the scalp, therefore, the hair does not receive the necessary components.

As people say, knowing what the problem is, it can be quickly and efficiently fixed. Now we are going to talk about how to stop the graying of the scalp.

Early gray hair treatment

Now the moment has come, in your "-teen" years, you have discovered a whole lock of gray hair! What to do, how to deal with it? After all, painting with paint is a temporary solution, and you need to achieve a longer effect.

Of course, the examples below will not be a panacea, but they can stop the clarification process for a long time.

Take a course of mesotherapy

This course includes extremely necessary vitamins and elements that will be able to restore the correct functioning of the bulbs and saturate the scalp with the necessary substances.

Injections

Only a trichologist can say about the need for injections of 25% magnesia. Self-conduct of procedures is strictly prohibited.

Physiotherapy

You can go through a variety of procedures using a variety of devices and devices that help stimulate the improvement of metabolic processes in the scalp.

Anti-gray hair products

You can use ready-made medications against gray hair. Or you can approach this issue comprehensively and use hair masks.

Such masks will help not only strengthen the hair, but also improve the condition of the scalp, metabolic processes, and save you from various fungal type diseases.

Finally

As you can see, there are a lot of reasons why hair turns gray early. And this is not necessarily a genetic predisposition. It may also be external factors that need to be eliminated as much as possible.

Thus, if you do not want to get gray hair at an early age, it is better to take a closer look at your health, environment, irritable factors. Do various preventive procedures as often as possible to stimulate and active metabolism.

Gray hair is like a sign of old age. While the rest of the aging features of the human body may remain invisible to a certain point, gray hair indicates the inevitable immediately and uncompromisingly.

Therefore, many literally start to panic when gray hair appears: “How? Is the beginning of the sunset of life already? ”, Women think, and make every effort to delay the spread of gray hair. Various dietary supplements, ointments and creams, the manufacturers of which guarantee a miraculous effect on returning the pigment to the hair, as a rule, do not work even on the basis of self-hypnosis.

So what actually triggers gray hair? Is it possible to postpone its appearance? And what if gray hair has already started to appear?

Nerves and hair color

It is known that gray hair can be caused by four reasons: heredity, stress, age and chronic diseases.

However, all these reasons are based on one mechanism - the loss of the melanin pigment produced by the hair follicles.

At one of the stages of hair growth under the influence of the tyrosinase enzyme, melanin and structural hair protein are combined, which forms the natural hair color.

When production of this enzyme stops, gray hair begins to form. The moment of the beginning of this process is laid down at the genetic level and is considered a direct consequence and sign of aging of the body.

As for the effect of stress on graying (remember the well-known expression “turned gray over night”), this mechanism has long been scientifically explained. In each hair there is a very thin duct through which the fluid circulates and thanks to which the necessary nutrition of the hair is provided. And when an excessive amount of adrenaline is produced in the body, this stress hormone penetrates into the "heart of the hair" and breaks the connection between melanin and hair protein. This is how gray hair appears in youth.

Gray hair from worms?

The formation of gray hair can be accelerated by some diseases. As a rule, these are problems with the gastrointestinal tract (in particular a stomach ulcer), disorders of the thyroid gland and adrenal glands, bronchial asthma, anemia and other ailments. Congenital genetic diseases associated with abnormal melanin secretion, such as vitiligo, can also lead to gray hair. Hair can turn gray as a result of severe infectious diseases. Some of the scientists are sure that early gray hair can be provoked even by worms. This is due to a violation of pigmentation under the influence of a foreign protein "intruders".

Another reason for the appearance of early gray hair, undoubtedly, is heredity. A person whose close relatives turn gray early enough is more likely than others to notice the first gray hair on his head at 25-30, and sometimes at 20 years old. This, of course, does not indicate the approach of old age, but changing this phenomenon, unfortunately, is very difficult.

The age at which gray hair will appear also depends on race.

It is known that Europeans notice their first gray hair on their heads at about 34 years old (± 10 years), Asians at about 30-34 years old, and representatives of the Negroid race at about 43 years old. And although in a dark-haired person, graying is more noticeable, in blondes it usually begins earlier. It is also known that the mustache and beard begin to turn gray before the hair on the body and head. In the fair sex, white strands usually begin to appear on the bangs and temples, and then on the back of the head and crown.

How to prevent graying hair?

Many are convinced that it is impossible to delay graying. They say, when it starts, then it starts - nothing can be changed. But many scientists are convinced that this is not the case. The appearance of gray hair is accelerated by leading an unhealthy lifestyle, or rather to everything that provokes aging: alcohol, smoking, stress, poor nutrition, lack of sleep and physical inactivity. Accordingly, a healthy lifestyle can delay the formation of "timestamps".

Consider also that hair color depends on zinc, copper, as well as manganese and iron. So, the diet must contain foods containing these microelements. These are mussels, oysters, whole grain bread, hard cheese, various legumes, dairy and sour milk products, canned fish, oatmeal, eggs, corn, hazelnuts and walnuts, seaweed, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and sesame seeds, wheat bran, bell pepper, apples, rose hips, cocoa and citrus fruits. Also, you can not neglect the "forbidden" fruits, such as coffee (a source of copper), champagne (rich in zinc), chocolate (contains zinc, copper, iron and manganese).

Folic acid also maintains color. It is rich in sprouted wheat grains, spinach, soy, egg yolk, asparagus, chicory and lentils. However, fish is perhaps the most important remedy against graying. It is rich in all the macro- and microelements that hair needs.

Can the problem of gray hair be solved?

More than one generation of people who do not want to put up with old age have tried to find the answer to this intimate question.

Today, manufacturers of pharmaceutical and pseudopharmaceutical products offer gullible citizens various dietary supplements, most of which are made on the basis of zinc and copper. Although they suspend the terrifying rates of graying, they cannot completely get rid of the misfortune. Others, supposedly made from Chinese herbs, have no effect at all.

But genetics also got down to business, who found a protein, acting on which, it is possible to solve the problem of loss of special cells by hair follicles - melanocytes that produce melanin (coloring pigment). Laboratory tests on rodents have yielded positive results, and now specialists need to try to cure such a person from gray hair.

There is also a less complicated option. Scientists from the UK have recently created a shampoo that stimulates the production of coloring pigments. It is not yet sold in stores, but the creators are confident of commercial success. Still, the new product can return the natural color to the hair, and not paint over the gray hair!

Do not be afraid of graying!

And finally, I would like to touch upon the psychological aspect of gray hair. Often, the formation of gray hair becomes a kind of indicator, indicating a person's psychological problems. You can endlessly seem invincible and strong, constantly demonstrate your invulnerability, but a couple of gray hair can literally knock you out of a rut.

On a subconscious level, we all perceive this "indicator of wisdom" as a threat to our image, as a sign that we are weakening (after all, old age causes everyone to associate with weakness). Therefore, men are usually very afraid of the appearance of gray hair. In a panic attack, they begin to paint over their hair black, making everyone around them laugh. A gray-haired woman today is generally perceived by society as nonsense. One US company even fired a 50-year-old employee because she stopped painting over her gray hair.

What is the answer to all this? Perhaps one can only recall one simple truth that you need to love yourself and accept, regardless of the age in your passport or hair color. If your appearance is not discordant with your inner world, you are unlikely to become a reason for ridicule, insults and harassment from the people around you. But if to get rid of dissonance you just need to apply a tint shampoo, then why not?

The main question is to accept yourself as you are. And gray hair should not hinder this.

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

The hair follicle is a complex structure, the condition of which determines the growth and natural coloring of hair. 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 proportions of these pigments provide brightness and a whole spectrum of all existing hair shades, 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 chemicals, 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 of the external environment, inflammatory processes of the skin and general diseases of the body, leading to disruption 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 of the 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 the delivery of melanin.
3. Deficiency of vitamins and minerals, in particular, copper, zinc, iron, magnesium, sulfur, selenium, calcium.
4. Endocrine diseases - hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus. 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. However, a universal remedy for 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 trace elements and irritants to improve microcirculation in the hair follicles.

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

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