Health

Reasons For Early Gray Hairs (Premature Graying)

Published

3 years ago

October 22, 2021

The myth that gray hair makes you old is just that — a myth. If you were young, vibrant, active, healthy pre-gray, you’re still going to be that way. It’s all in the attitude you bring to it.

Gray hair happens to all of us at some point. But why do some people go gray in their 20s while others don’t see the first sign of silver until age 50?

Hair goes gray when color-producing cells stop producing pigment, says Jeffrey Benabio, MD, a dermatologist at Kaiser Permanente in San Diego. Naturally occurring hydrogen peroxide can also build up in the hair, bleaching the color

Normal time for gray hairs

Typically, white people start going gray in their mid-30s, Asians in their late 30s, and African-Americans in their mid-40s. Half of all people have a significant amount of gray hair by the time they turn 50.

A white person is considered to be prematurely gray if their hair turns gray by age 20; gray before 30 is early for African-Americans.

Causes of early gray hairs

White hair is more noticeable in people with a darker hair color. Although white hair is characteristic of aging, colorless hair strands can appear at any age. If you’re a teenager or in your 20s, you might find one or more strands of white hair.

There could be ways to restore pigmentation, but it depends on the cause. Here are common causes of premature white hair.

1. Genetics
Your makeup plays a big role in when (or if) you develop white hair. If you notice white hair at an early age, it’s likely that your parents or grandparents also had graying or white hair at an early age.

You can’t change genetics. But if you don’t like the way your gray hair looks, you can always color your hair.

2. Stress
Everyone deals with stress from time to time. The consequences of chronic stress can include:

Sleep problems
anxiety
change in appetite
high blood pressure

Stress can also affect your hair. A 2013 studyTrusted Source found a connection between stress and a depletion of stem cells in the hair follicles of mice. So if you’ve noticed a rise in your number of white strands, stress might be the culprit. This theory might also explain why some world leaders appear to age or gray faster while in office.

3. Autoimmune disease
An autoimmune disease can also cause premature white hair. This is when the body’s immune system attacks its own cells. In the case of alopecia and vitiligo, the immune system can attack hair and cause loss of pigment.

4. Thyroid disorder
Hormonal changes caused by a thyroid problem — such as hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism — may also be responsible for premature white hair. The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of your neck. It helps control many bodily functions such as metabolism. The health of your thyroid can also influence the color of your hair. An overactive or underactive thyroid can cause your body to produce less melanin.

5. Vitamin B-12 deficiency
White hair at an early age can also indicate a vitamin B-12 deficiency. This vitamin plays an important role in your body. It gives you energy, plus it contributes to healthy hair growth and hair color.

A vitamin B-12 deficiency is associated with a condition called pernicious anemia, which is when your body can’t absorb enough of this vitamin. Your body needs vitamin B-12 for healthy red blood cells, which carry oxygen to cells in your body, including hair cells. A deficiency can weaken hair cells and affect melanin production.

6. Smoking
There’s also a link between premature white hair and smoking. One studyTrusted Source of 107 subjects found a connection between the “onset of gray hair before the age of 30 and cigarette smoking.”

It’s well-known that smoking cigarettes increases the risk for lung cancer and heart disease. The long-term effects, however, can go beyond the heart and lungs and affect hair. Smoking constricts blood vessels, which can reduce blood flow to hair follicles and cause hair loss. Additionally, toxins in cigarettes can damage parts of your body including your hair follicles, causing early white hair.