When you detect the first white hair in the mirror, it’s as if something changes: you realize that you are vulnerable to the passage of time, just like any other person on earth. Although you know that aging is a natural process that everyone goes through, it’s as if you live with the feeling that it can’t happen to you. Well, this illusion is shattered by the white threads that insist on appearing – as if from deep inside, to show you that a significant stage in your life, to which you have become irreparably attached, is just a transition to something else.
But sometimes white hairs appear much earlier than they should: at 25, 28, 30 years. Now we know from the studies carried out on this subject that although the biggest factor is genetic, strong stress can also trigger premature graying of hair. Also, the diet lacking key nutrients that the body needs is a significant factor. “There are many factors that influence the graying of hair, including genetic, environmental, metabolic and nutritional”, Sara Perkins, certified dermatologist, confirms for InStyle.
She adds that eventually the cells that produce the pigment, called melanocytes, no longer produce melanin – the pigment that gives the color of the skin, hair and eyes – this is how the gray hair first appears, then the snow-white hair.
When does hair graying start?
The age at which hair starts to turn gray varies according to race, sex and even lifestyle. Some people may see white hair before the age of 20 for Caucasians and before the age of 30 for the black population, but the demographic average age is somewhere between 30 and 40 years. Like most of the “anti-aging” choices we make, a healthy lifestyle can prevent premature hair aging.
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Both emotional stress, which increases the body’s cortisol level, and oxidative stress, when the body’s antioxidant levels are low due to free radicals, can trigger the hair bleaching process. As Idris Rubin, board-certified dermatologist and founder of SEEN Skin and Hair, explains to InStyle, “Stress can lead to gray hair by affecting the stem cells that create the pigment-producing cells called melanocytes. There is a study that found that the chemical norepinephrine, produced when the body experiences stress, can convert stem cells into pigment cells that then move out of the follicle.” The specialist adds that oxidative stress caused by internal or external free radical damage can also affect pigment production in hair follicles. So whether we’re talking about a stressful life event or the fact that you’ve moved to a place with high levels of pollution, your chances of seeing more white hairs increase.
How to prevent gray hair
Prevention is a much more effective strategy than relying on the possibility of “reversing” hair aging. “A healthy diet and lifestyle, along with stress management, can maintain hair color for as long as possible,” says Dr. Perkins. Changing your lifestyle is one of the few factors you can control (unlike aging and genetics), so make sure you eat a diet rich in essential nutrients, get enough rest, avoid the sun in the middle of the day and to keep stress under control.
Specialists also talk about the use of products that contain antioxidant ingredients to combat the damage caused by free radicals. They can also improve the appearance and density of hair, both of which decrease with age. Many brands are beginning to explore advanced formulas as more research emerges.
Is graying hair reversible?
If your gray hair is bothering you (especially if you are not yet 40 years old), you may have good news. Last year studies found that, yes, theoretically we can reverse graying hair, but not everyone will see this effect.
A 2021 study from Columbia University found that some participants saw a return to their original hair pigment when emotional stress subsided, but this remains a fairly rare phenomenon. In order to stimulate melanin synthesis and therefore reverse white hair, whether through topical agents, photodynamic therapy or microneedling, a person must have enough melanocyte stem cells, which produce the pigment cells for our hair.
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Scientists are already working on a revolutionary treatment to correct white hairs by reactivating these cells, but until then you can do everything you can by correcting the following problems. Some doctors say that sometimes it helps a lot to make these key changes:
Manage stress better. Try to stay away from that continuous agitation, but also from the shock reactions to certain situations in your life. These intense sensations have negative effects in our body, sometimes triggering the appearance of white hairs. It’s not always possible, but educate yourself to react calmly to any situation and do breathing exercises throughout the day.
Solve your thyroid problems. If the thyroid isn’t working properly, your metabolism is messed up. Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid does not produce and does not release enough thyroid hormone in the body. This causes the metabolism to slow down, affecting the entire body.
Corrects iron and vitamin B12 deficiency. Iron and vitamin B12 deficiency means a reduced number of healthy red cells. Symptoms may include fatigue, lethargy, dizziness, shortness of breath. If you don’t eat meat or your body doesn’t absorb enough nutrients, you may suffer from a deficiency. Go to the doctor and ask for a set of tests.
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Tags: Hair graying reversible scientists methods
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