Premature Gray Hair - Causes and Signs of Premature Gray Hair

There are three types of pathology:

• physiological (age-related) - occurs as part of the natural aging process;
• premature - occurs early, from the age of 20;
• congenital - genetic pathology, hereditary lack of pigment, leukotrichia.

Either complete or partial graying can be observed.

Causes

The hair shaft consists of a protein, an element of which is melanin, a skin pigment produced in the follicle. It is the coloring substance.

The individual amount of pigment-producing cells determines the color shade and saturation.

If such a pathology is observed in people under 20 years old, it can be caused by a number of:

• genetic abnormalities;
• autoimmune, skin diseases;
• nervous shocks;
• hormonal changes;
• poor conditions of the gastrointestinal tract.

Albinism, vitamin deficiency, shingles, diabetes, herpes, thyroid disease, alopecia areata, syndromes of various origins, iron deficiency anemia, liver dysfunction, stress, erysipelas inflammation, gastritis with low acidity, X-ray irradiation - this is far from a complete list of all possible root causes.

The causes of premature gray hair can also be an individual reaction of the body to taking certain medications, Werner's syndrome and Waardenburg syndrome.

Symptoms

The symptoms of the disease are the presence of an ash-gray color of the hair. Hair deprived of pigment is porous. These air layers give it a gray color.

With the loss of a large number of melanin cells, the hair becomes ashen, with their complete loss - white.

Diagnostics

To diagnose the disease, you need to make an appointment with a trichologist, therapist, gastroenterologist or endocrinologist, neuropsychiatrist.

The patient may be prescribed a spectral analysis of hair for macroelements, as well as computer diagnostics of hair. Thyroid scintigraphy, thyroid ultrasound or other studies may also be prescribed as part of a comprehensive examination of the body. Biochemical blood test for trace elements (iron, potassium, calcium, zinc, phosphorus, and B vitamins)

Treatment

Initially, a course of vitamin and mineral preparations (containing vitamins A, C, E, group B, riboflavin, nicotinic and folic acid) and methionine is prescribed to stop the graying process. The course can be repeated no more than 2 times a year.

Effective methods for eliminating this disease are laser treatment and hair mesotherapy.

A consultation with a trichologist is mandatory, since the absence of a coloring substance affects not only the color of the scalp, but also the condition of the skin. It becomes more vulnerable and requires special care. In this case, prolonged exposure to the sun is contraindicated. Sunbathing should be done using special protective equipment.

If you constantly use cosmetic and chemical color correction, dermatitis, itchy scalp, brittleness and thinning of the hair will develop. If the cause of the pathology is a high level of stress, the consequence of this condition can be severe mental illness.

In case of genetic predisposition, treatment is not required. When gray hair causes aesthetic discomfort, you can use products of the cosmetic industry (dye, tint; in the context of color modeling, this can be bleaching or highlighting).

Prevention

You should avoid exhaustion of the nervous system, mental fatigue, constant psychological experiences (stress hormones provoke accelerated changes in the body that lead to the cessation of the production of melanin derivatives) and excessive consumption of coffee, tea, alcoholic beverages and smoking (under their influence, hormonal balance is disrupted). You should not get carried away with protein-free diets (protein contains the amino acid tyrosine - the main component for the production of melanin).

Spiritual practices (yoga), good sleep, calmness and peace of mind are indispensable for the prevention of undesirable phenomena.