By Anagha Rao
We often associate grey hair with older people, but why is this? Approximately 50 percent of adults over the age of 50 had at least half of their hair appear white or grey. This blog explores the science behind the crazy process of greying hair.
In order to understand why our hair changes color, we need to understand the phases of hair growth. At any given time, all of our hair will be in one of these three phases of growth: anagen, catagen, and telogen. Anagen is the active stage of hair growth that lasts approximately 2-7 years, and approximately 85% of the hair will be in this phase. Catagen is referred to as the transitional phase, and this phase is when hair growth begins to slow down and stop its activity. This phase approximately lasts 10-20 days, and only 5% of the hair on your head is in this phase. The last phase is telogen, which occurs when the hair growth is completely at rest. The telogen phase approximately lasts 100 days, and 10-15% of our hair is in this phase. In this phase, the hair stops growing and the hair fiber falls off. The root of the hair has a hair follicle surrounding it that contains melanocytes, or cells that contain melanin, the pigment responsible for coloring the hair as a specific color. Dr. Desmond Tobin, professor of cell biology from the University of Bradford in England, suggests that the hair follicle slows down activity before the cell enters the telogen phase. Moreover, as the human body ages, the production of melanocytes stops, causing the hair to turn white.
Besides age, there are many different causes of white hair in adults. One major cause of white hair would be any vitamin deficiencies. If an adult is deficient in a vitamin such as vitamin B-6, B-12, E, or D, it can lead to premature white hair and decreased hair growth. For example, vitamin B-12 is responsible for transporting oxygen to the blood, and a deficiency can lead to inadequate oxygen. This can weaken hair cells and lead to a depletion of melatonin in the hair cells. Studies have found that white hair is also caused by stress. When the body is exposed to high amounts of stress for a long period of time, the cells responsible for hair color may die out and cause increased white hairs. Scientists have found that another major factor that contributes to premature greying of hairs would be smoking. Smoking increases grey hairs because it constricts the blood vessels and decreases the blood flow to hair follicles, resulting in hair loss and discoloration. Additionally, the toxins ingested when we smoke a cigarette can damage the hair follicles and result in premature hair discoloration.
Although white hair is normal in adults, kid’s hair turning white or grey can be a warning sign for physical or psychological conditions. Genetics is one major contributor of greying in children, and if parents develop white hairs at a young age, there is a high chance that their children will also have grey or white hairs at a young age. Children who use synthetic shampoos and conditioners are much more likely to make hair rough and cause greying of the hair. Specifically, using shampoos with sulfates, parabens, or any other harsh chemicals is associated with the growth of white or grey hair at a young age.
Over time, scientists have discovered many solutions to prevent the greying of hairs. According to a study from the research journal Development, white hairs caused by vitamin D deficiency can be restored with vitamin supplementation. Taking supplements or ensuring that there is enough vitamin D in your diet can be a great way to prevent white hairs. Another great way to keep those pesky white hairs away would be to eat fruits and vegetables, preferably those high in antioxidants. Eating these fruits and vegetables can reverse damage and aging caused by free radicals, which are unstable molecules that damage the cells in the body. As far as a hair treatment goes, coconut oil has been proven to have numerous benefits to preventing grey hairs. Coconut oil acts as a moisturizer and conditions hair better than traditional conditioners on the market. Engaging in activities such as exercise or mindfulness is also beneficial because these activities can reduce stress levels and prevent chronic stress.
Educational Content
What are some of the main causes of white hairs in adults?
One major cause of white hair would be any vitamin deficiencies. If an adult is deficient in a vitamin such as vitamin B-6, B-12, E, or D, it can lead to premature white hair and decreased hair growth. Studies have found that white hair is also caused by stress. When the body is exposed to high amounts of stress for a long period of time, the cells responsible for hair color may die out and cause increased white hairs. Smoking increases grey hairs because it constricts the blood vessels and decreases the blood flow to hair follicles, resulting in hair loss and discoloration.
What can I do to prevent white hairs?
Get enough vitamin D, B-12, and E in your diet
Eat fruits and vegetables that are high in antioxidants
Quitting smoking or abstaining from smoking
Use coconut oil as a hair treatment
Manage stress levels using healthy coping mechanisms to prevent chronic stress
Sources
Image Credit:
flickr @ jennalex
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