MOST COMMON CAUSES OF GREY HAIR

Did you know that an average hair grows 0.3 mm a day and 1 cm per month? 

Hello and welcome to me simplified. In this video, we will take a look at the most common causes of grey hair. Premature greying of hair, also known as canities, can have negative effects on appearance, confidence, self-esteem, and social acceptance of the affected individual Hair pigmentation is one of the most unique features in humans ranging from black, brown, and blonde to red. The color of human hair is due to the pigment “melanin” produced by melanocytes, the same cells which are responsible for the pigmentation of our skin. There are two main forms of hair pigment. There's eumelanin and pheomelanin. Eumelanin is what we see in brunettes and darker-haired people, and pheomelanin is what we see in blonds and redheads. These Melanocytes are located in the hair follicle which is basically from where the root of the hair originates. Each hair grows from a single Hair follicle. As the strand of the hair grows, melanocytes inject the pigment (melanin) into cells containing keratin. Keratin is the protein that makes up our hair, skin, and nails. Throughout the years, melanocytes continue to inject pigment into the hair’s keratin, giving it a colorful hue. With age comes a reduction of melanin. The hair turns grey and eventually white, and this is a natural process. But the problem arises when this reduction in the production of melanin comes early in age due to some other reasons and there are plenty of reasons due to which this can occur. Let's look at some of the most common reasons for premature greying of hair. NO. 1 VITAMIN & MINERAL DEFICIENCIES Deficiencies of vitamin B-6, B-12, biotin, vitamin D, or vitamin E can contribute to premature greying. Vitamin B-12 deficiency is one of the most common causes of prematurely graying hair. Vitamin B-12 is essential for your metabolism, DNA production, and overall energy levels. Researchers have found that people experiencing premature greying of hair have vitamin B-12 deficiencies along with folic acid and biotin deficiencies. These vitamins are essential for hair growth as hair follicles, from which the hair develops, are one of the most metabolically active regions of our body as they produce millions of cells every day which is incorporated in the growing hair. As hair is not an essential organ for our body whenever any deficiency of these vitamins occurs, the first signs of deficiency usually appear in the hair in the form of greying of hair or thinning and breakage-prone hair. Supplementing these nutrients in patients with premature greying stops hair loss and also restores the color of the hair. Lack of certain minerals has also been found to play a major role in premature graying. Many mineral deficiencies can also lead to greying of hair like zinc, calcium, copper, and iron deficiency.20223 Supplementation with these trace elements might reverse and prevent the progression of greying of hair. NO. 2 GENETICS There are many reasons people experience graying, but a lot of times it simply comes down to natural aging and genetics. This means that it just happens because it is in your family genes. Check when your relatives or parents started having grey hair and see if it matches your timeline. Researchers have found a gene k/a IRF4 on chromosome no 6 that is associated with premature greying of hair. While it is unlikely to be the only gene controlling greying, it provides a new target 

for researchers. Experts believe there are many genetic as well as some environmental 

factors involved in this aging pathway - IRF4 is now an example that we now know about. Genetically driven graying hair can’t be reversed. However, there are numerous hair products and dyes you can choose from, whether you choose to cover your greys or embrace them instead. NO. 3 STRESS Stress is a very important reason why hair turns grey especially prematurely. Stress causes the activation of the sympathetic nervous system and this leads to a release of hormones like cortisol and noradrenaline. The overproduction of noradrenaline depletes the stem cells of melanocytes that are present in the hair follicle. Stem cells are like the parent cells of melanocytes in a hair follicle. When melanocyte number decreases the pigmentation of hair also decreases and this leads to greying of hair. That is why many people report white strands of hair after a stressful event like the death of a close one, relationship issues, etc. Try to manage your stress by including practices like meditation, yoga, and exercise in your daily routine. No. 4 SMOKING 

Smoking has consistently been linked to premature graying of hair. Indian Dermatology Journal 

published a study of more than 200 people in which they concluded that smokers were 

2.5 times more likely to experience premature graying 

than non-smokers. Another study, in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, linked smoking to premature greying in young men. The 

mechanism, similar to one proposed for stress, is that free radicals produced by smoking 

can damage the melanocytes that produce melanin. 

NO. 5 THYROID DISORDERS Thyroid disorders especially hypothyroidism 

is a very common reason for greying of hair in females. 

Hypothyroidism can be associated with telogen effluvium, along with the presentation of 

dry, brittle, and dull hair shafts. Telogen effluvium is a form of hair loss due to Hair shafts of patients with thyroid disorders also showing substantially reduced tensile strength NO. 6 CHEMICAL HAIR DYES and hair products can contribute to premature hair greying. Many 

of these products contain harmful ingredients that 

decrease melanin production and can lead to greying of 

hair. Use henna or herbal dyes(product photo) to 

color your hair. They do not contain harmful chemicals 

that damage the hair. NO. 7 SUN DAMAGE 

Too much sun exposure can turn your hair brittle, dry and can lead to premature greying. The 

sun produces UVA and UVB rays which negatively 

affect your scalp. This damage can result in premature 

greying of hair. The sun has a tendency to lighten hair color. Because our hair is dead 

skin beyond the scalp, the active melanocytes in the hair 

follicle don't defend the hair shaft exposed to the sun. 

So the hair is forced to fend for itself, thereby becoming bleached and damaged. 

So, vitamin & mineral deficiencies, genetics, thyroid disorders, smoking, chemical hair 

dyes and sun damage are among the most common causes that

lead to grey hair.