Premature Graying of Hair
Premature graying of hair, also known as canities, is a condition where hair starts turning gray or white at an earlier age than the average onset of graying, which is typically in one’s 30s or 40s. This condition can occur due to aging disorders, autoimmune diseases, atopy, and various other reasons.
Impact of Gene Variants
Genes play a significant role in premature graying of hair. The IRF4 gene affects how old a person is when their hair turns gray, and one variant is a marker for graying hair that starts too early. Genes that affect the production and distribution of melanin can impact the onset of gray hair.
Ways to Recognize Problems
The most evident symptom of premature graying is white hair appearing anywhere on your scalp. In rare cases, premature graying can be a sign of a medical issue, such as vitiligo (a condition that causes the skin to lose its pigmentation), pernicious anemia (in which the body has difficulty absorbing vitamin B12), or problems involving your pituitary or thyroid glands.
Ways to Improve
To prevent premature graying of hair, protect your hair from the sun, avoid stress, quit smoking, and turn to antioxidants. Nutritional supplements can help improve the condition and prevent further graying. A balanced diet is key to healthy hair. Foods like mustard, linseed, fish, mutton, lamb, and curds are rich in nutrients.
Did you know
By the time they reach 30, approximately 10% of men exhibit signs of gray hair, while this figure rises to around 25% by the age of 35. Conversely, women tend to undergo the graying process later in life, with roughly 10% displaying some gray hair at the age of 30, and about 50% having substantial gray hair by the age of 50.
