Nowadays, it can be frequently seen that many young people already have grey hairs during their age. It is actually not a very rare phenomenon to see and also not something that someone should be so worried about. This particular Malaysian doctor named Dr. Samhan has shared some reasons why young people have grey hairs on his own Twitter social media page. He also elaborates all the reasons that he mentioned in his Tweet so that many people could easily understand with his posting.
Grey hair is formed because the follicles where hair grows have a group of cells called melanocytes. These melanocyte cells function to produce melanin or pigments that give the hair a darker color. The doctor stated as we age, these melanocytes begin to die which causes their melanin production to decrease. Eventually, the hair color will gradually become grey, silvery, until white because the production of melanin stops. This is what then causes grey hair on the hair.
Factors That Caused Young People To Have Grey Hairs:
1) Heredity Factors
Grey hair that grows at a very young age may be due to heredity. If the father or even mother has grey hair at a very young age, the probability for their children to have grey hair also at a very young age is very high.
2) Thyroid Disease
An overactive thyroid can interfere with melanin production and eventually causes grey hair.
3) Vitamin B12 And Iron Deficiency
Having grey hair at a very young age can also be due to low levels of vitamin B12. In addition to these vitamins, iron is also very necessary as a portion of hair food. So it is highly recommended to always take foods rich in vitamin B12 and iron.
4) Stress
Stress is one of the causes of various chronic diseases and this level of stress can also lead to hair loss and greying.
5) Vitiligo
Vitiligo is a condition of the autoimmune system that can damage melanocytes which are the cells that produce the pigment for hair color.
6) Smoking
A study conducted by J.G.Mosley at the British Medical Journey in 1996 found that smokers would experience four times faster grey hair problems.
7) Eat Junk Food Often
Eating junk food is not only not good for health but also for hair. The content of junk food can interfere with the production of melanin in the hair.
8) Use Hair Dryer
You can use it but not too often because it can cause the hair to become weak and brittle quickly. Hot temperatures will cause disruption to melanin production, therefore hair quickly turns grey.
9) Use Hair Dye
Chemicals contained in hair dye can damage melanin cells.
Ways To Avoid Having Grey Hairs At A Young Age:
- Avoid smoking and increase your intake of foods rich in antioxidants such as green tea.
- For those who suffer from premature greying due to a lack of vitamins and minerals, it is recommended to take vitamins (supplements) or through natural food sources such as eggs, seafood, and salmon.
- Eat calcium-rich foods and foods high in copper including beef liver, almonds, dark chocolate, and asparagus.
- If the problem of premature graying is caused by vitiligo or alopecia areata, it can be treated with steroid swabs, injections on the affected part, and phototherapy.
Sources: Twitter Dr. Samhan