What causes grey hair?

We all know what causes grey hair, it is due to the reduction of pigment, and when hair turns white, it is due to the absence of pigment. But between the reduction of color pigment in hair and complete loss of color pigment in hair, we don’t know what causes grey hair. So in this article, we will find out what causes grey hair, what causes grey hair in children, and what causes grey hair in early age.

Firstly, the hair is white. It receives its natural color from a pigment known as melanin. Melanin production begins before birth. The location, kind, and quantity of melanin in the central portion of the hair shaft or cortex determine the natural color of our hair.

There are only two different types of color pigment in hair in hair: dark (eumelanin) and light (melanin) (phaeomelanin). They combine to form a vast diversity of hair hues.

Melanin is formed up of melanocytes, which are specialized pigment cells. They reside at the holes on the skin’s surface where hair develops (follicles). Every hair is composed of a single follicle.

Melanocytes release pigment (melanin) into keratin-containing cells as the hair grows. Keratin is a protein found in human hair, skin, and nails. Melanocytes continue to pump pigment into the hair’s keratin over time, providing it a vibrant color.

Hair grays due to aging and heredity, with genes regulating the exhaustion of every individual hair follicle’s pigmentary capacity. This happens at varying speeds in different hair follicles. Some individuals experience it quickly, while others experience it gradually over several decades.

Melanin production decreases with aging. The hair grays and eventually whitens. Now we know what causes grey hair and white hair as we grow old.

Other Factors That Impact The Color Pigment Of Hair:

Genetic defects, hormones, body distribution, and age are an intrinsic factor that impacts the color pigment of hair. Whereas climate, pollutants, toxins, and chemical exposure are extrinsic factors that impact the color pigment of hair.

What Causes Grey Hair in Kids?

If you observe grey or white hair on your child’s head regularly, it is most likely due to a deficiency in the body. While there are numerous causes of white hair in kids, most of them are treatable and curable. Given below are a few reasons of what causes grey hair in kids:

1- Genetics is one of the top reasons for premature grey hair in kids.

2-     Medical conditions can also be detected via some symptoms, which happen to be grey hair in kids.

3-     Deficiency of Vitamin B12 can also be the reason for grey hair in kids.

4-     While it is uncommon, the stress in children can lead to the occurrence of grey hair in kids.

5-     Synthetic soaps and shampoos used nowadays might make the hair rigid and possibly lead to grey hair in kids.

Other reasons include exposure to smoke, eating unhealthy food, and anemia, which can cause grey hair in kids.

What Causes Grey Hair in Early Age?

When speaking of grey hair in early age, it’s about finding grey hair in the 20s. Speaking of the causes of grey hair at an early age or grey hair in 20s, a few of the causes are similar to the cause of grey hair in kids, like genetics, vitamin deficiency, stress, and medical conditions.

Here are a few other reasons that causes grey hair in early age:

1-     An imbalance of free radicals and antioxidants in the body causes oxidative stress, which causes damage to cells and tissues. This includes melanin-producing melanocytes being damaged. Oxidative stress is an imbalance in the body spontaneously throughout time, which leads to grey hair in early age.

2- Smoking leads to the occurrence of grey hair in early age, in addition to causing cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung illnesses, diabetes, and pulmonary disease. According to research, smokers are 2.5 times more susceptible than nonsmokers to begin graying before 30.

3- Chemical hair colors and hair care products, including shampoos, can lead occurrence of grey hair in early age. Many of these cosmetics include toxic chemicals that reduce melanin production. Two examples are hydrogen peroxide and bleach.

We can conclude by saying that the color pigment of hair can be impacted by the kind of hair products you use. Good hair product choice means good hair care. Let us be a part of your hair journey if you look for an eco-friendly, natural, and nifty product. Visit our store.

About Us

At Kireeta, draw inspiration from our traditional but natural, practical, and efficient Ayurvedic scriptures to answer common hair problems such as hair fall, dandruff, greying hair, split ends, and many more. Kireeta is a one-stop-shop for all of your problem-solving needs.