How hairs become gray or white, Is there a treatment and prevention?

A Crown of Glory! That’s what other people called in gray hair and why gray hair, suppose to be white hair, why gray? Naturally grey hair is for old man only but why even the young man or woman got a grey or white hair? The old man accepted it because he or she is old already but the young, they got embarrass when people say, "why you got gray hair? you are still young" Why our hairs become gray or white? Typically, white people start going gray in their mid-30s, Asians in their late 30s, and African-Americans in their mid-40s. And by the age of 50 half of all people have a significant amount of gray hair. If you got gray at 20 it considered premature gray hair.

White Hair or Gray Hair

Why black hair turn to gray or white?

Gray hair is a result from a reduction of pigment, while white hair has no pigment;
hair gets its natural color from a type of pigment called melanin. The formation of melanin begins before birth. The natural color of our hair depends upon the distribution, type and amount of melanin in the middle layer of the hair shaft or cortex. Melanin is made up of specialized pigment cells called melanocytes. They position themselves at the openings on the skin’s surface through which hair grows (follicles). Each hair grows from a single follicle.

As the hair is being formed, melanocytes inject pigment (melanin) into cells containing keratin. Keratin is the protein that makes up our hair, skin, and nails. Throughout the years, melanocyctes continue to inject pigment into the hair’s keratin, giving it a colorful hue.


Three phases of hair to grow.

• Anagen: This is the active growth stage of the hair fiber and can last from 2- 7 years. At any given moment 80-85% of our hair is in the anagen phase.
• Catagen: Sometimes referred to as the transitional phase, which is when hair growth begins to “shut down” and stop activity. It generally lasts 10- 20 days.
• Telogen: This occurs when hair growth is completely at rest and the hair fiber falls out. At any given time, 10-15 % of our hair is in the telogen phase, which generally lasts 100 days for scalp hair. After the telogen phase, the hair growth process starts over again to the anagen phase.

As we grow older and reaches middle age, a lots of these pigment cells die and color is lost, the result is that a person's hair gradually begins to show more and more gray.


Other possible cause of hair turn gray at young age.

Stress could not be a reason but when you are Stress it can trigger a common condition called telogen effluvium, which causes hair to shed at about three times the rate it normally does. It’s possible that the hair that grows in will be gray instead of its original color.


Illnesses that cause gray hair.

• It occurs at a particularly young age. Illnesses that may be heralded by gray hair include:
• Vitamin C, B, Vitamin B12 deficiency Neurofibromatosis (also called Von Recklinghausen's disease). And Tuberous sclerosis. This group of inherited diseases causes tumors to grow along nerves.
• Thyroid disease Vitiligo. This condition causes melanocytes (the cells at the base of hair follicles that produce color) to be lost or destroyed, perhaps because the immune system "misfires" and attacks the scalp rather than an infection.
• Alopecia areata. A disorder in which patches of hair may be suddenly lost, especially the colored (non-gray) hairs.
• Cigarette smoking can also cause premature graying.
• Graying or whitening of hair earlier than expected usually runs in the family.
• Intake of too much of alcohol, tea and coffee can cause graying of hair as well.
• Eating too many oily and fried foods is another reason for graying of hair.
• Using excessive amount of spices in your food. Integrating too many food items that are sour and acidic in your diet.
• Not having essential nutrients like copper in your food can also cause grey hair as melanin’s production gets hit due to the deficiency.

There are lots of Remedies and Treatment for gray hair but takes these 4 tips.

• Take a cup of strong black tea (without milk), and to this add a tablespoon of salt. When cold, strain the tea and massage it on the roots. Leave it on for an hour, and then rinse with cold water. do not shampoo it.
• Almond oil and Alma juice is one of the most tried and tested natural remedies for reducing graying of hair and for aiding in black hair growth. The overall mixture is great for general health of your hair. It works best when it is massaged over the scalp for 15 minutes for a consistent period of time. Equal amount of almond oil and Alma juice is preferred.
• Sesame oil and Carrot juice is mixed with Methi seed powder before being left for drying under the sun. After 21 days, the mixture is deemed ready for application. Gentle massaging of the mixture over the scalp for 15-30 minutes every day for a period of 90 days brings the best results.
• Onion juice is a remedy that was used before hair dyes were introduced to deal with grey and white hair. Simply rubbing onions or onion juice over your scalp can get great results. However, you will have to deal with the smell somehow if you would use this remedy to reverse the process of graying of hair.

How to nourish your hair to avoid premature gray hair?

• Take Vitamin A - vitamin A is necessary for promoting a healthy scalp and gives body and glow to your hair. Include dark green vegetables and orange & yellow fruits & vegetables in your diet.
• Vitamin B - vitamin B regulates the secretion of oil, keeps hair healthy & moisturized. Eat more of fresh green leafy vegetables, tomatoes, cauliflower, cereals, liver kidney, yogurt, bananas and green vegetables.
• Minerals - minerals like zinc, iron & copper promote healthy hair. Food sources: zinc - red meat, chicken & green vegetables; iron - beef, dried apricots, red meat, parsley, eggs, wheat & sunflower seeds; copper - seafood, egg yolk & whole grains.
• Proteins - consuming more of protein gives your hair natural shine and good texture. Include more of sprouted whole grains, cereals, meat and soy in your diet.

Prevention for premature gray hair.

• Quit Smoking, the habit leads not only to grey hair but also to a wide variety of complications in life and therefore, quitting it remains integral.
• Avoid Junk Food, Coffee and Alcohol, Coffee, alcohol and junk food all are devitalizing and excessive usage of these items usually leads to premature aging. So, if you’re serious about preventing grey hair growth then you would have to avoid these.
• Ease Stress, too much stress can cause premature grey hair. Try yoga and other relaxing techniques so as to avoid premature aging and graying of hair.
• Exercise, Exercising regularly can keep you fit and healthy and can improve blood flow to your scalp as well.
• Keep a Healthy Diet, a proper diet prevents grey hair with food rich in minerals and vitamin A and iron. Like Yogurt and cereals, green vegetables and yellow fruits aided with regular water intake.
• Take Supplements, The 8 B complex vitamins. You can either buy a multivitamin that comes with all of the B complex; Vitamin B5 deficiency is one of the major reasons for premature graying of hair.

Going gray does not mean you have a medical problem, except in rare cases. The myth that gray hair makes you old is just, 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, If you think of it as merely another color choice, you won't be afraid of gray. Jewell says. WebMD

So, don't bothered if there is a gray hair starting to come out in your hair. 


Sources: New Health Guide. Seasons India. Healthy Living.