Human body is a big mystery even with the latest technological instruments that are able to read our bodies from within. There are still several processes of the body that science does not understand fully. Some exact causes of several diseases are still unknown. Some conditions don’t have a specific solution and at times people have some bizarre conditions that no one can fully explain. Today, we won’t be talking about a mysterious matter but one that’s becoming quite common without an effective cure to it – premature graying of hair. This particular problem is common all around the world.
There are many different type of hair. The commonly known nature hair colors include black, brown, blonde and red. No hair type and color is safe from graying of hair. Everyone gets old with time and their hair becomes gray. The big problem we are discussing today is when you start seeing gray in your head when you are too young to have them. For example, you might be 21 and noticing gray hair in your head. These hairs often increase in number with time. What causes them and how to treat them? Let’s discuss:
Premature Graying Of Hair
Every stand of hair on your head and body is coming out of a little pore in your skin, called the follicle. Follicles are like pots in which the hairs are planted. Your hairs are living and that’s why they grow with time. They don’t grow by a miracle but they are getting all the nourishment from follicles. Follicles produce several substances but the most important for your hairs to remain black is called melanin. This is a pigment that keeps your hairs black for as long as your hairs are getting it in adequate quantities.
However, when you age your melanin producing cells become weak and eventually dead. This makes your hairs become completely gray. In some individuals, the melanin producing cells start to become weak at a very young age. Their hairs start to become gray and when this process starts before it should, it is named as premature graying of hair. Many people believe that stress causes them to become gray but science has not found any connections. In many cultures the graying of hair is used as an idiomatic term of telling others that a person is intelligent because he has seen the world.
The Causes
It is not fully understood by science what’s causing premature graying of hair in people. Many causes have been associated with this phenomenon but the evidence of one particular cause has not emerged yet. The most common culprit in the list is genetics. If your parents had gray hair a little earlier than they should have then it is very much possible that you will also suffer the same consequences. In fact, you will have gray hair in your head at even earlier age than your parents had. Hydrogen peroxide and melanin can also result in graying of hair if your body has them more than needed.
Minerals and vitamins in your body also play a role in keeping your hair the natural color. There are some minerals that play a direct role in the health and color of your hairs. The most prominent ones are copper and zinc. Among the many nutrients, Vitamin B12 is considered one of the most important for hairs and their blackness. When you are deficient on these minerals and vitamins, you can have gray hair before your age. In addition to vitamin B12, you also have to keep your body fully supplied with Vitamin E and C.
Other causes of gray hairs on your head are related to the lifestyle you choose. For example, you will see your hair turning gray very soon if you have started to smoke. Those who start smoking at a very early age will see more gray hairs on their head than those who start later. It is said that smoking becomes the source of free radicals and when they are in abundance in your body, you can expect gray hair even when you have just turned 20. Oxidative stress is also increased when you eat a lot of junk food.
The Remedy
First, there is no problem in accepting the reality and living with gray hair. It is because gray hairs are not related to any serious medical conditions or health related issues. There is no issue in leaving them be. If you are not happy with the way they look, you can try various methods to either get rid of those gray hairs or hide them under a mask. If your hairs are gray because you are deficient on zinc and iodine, you might want to have some foods that are rich in these minerals.
In the same way, if your body has smaller amounts of vitamin C, E and B12, you would want to eat foods that are rich in these vitamins. Walnuts, curries, almonds, sea foods etc. are considered good sources of vitamins and minerals mentioned above. You can also try the many homemade remedies that are great for keeping the natural color of your hair. For example, you could use the gooseberry which is a very popular ingredient for any hair products in that region. It is called Amla in the local language and there are several shampoos and oil products with Amla as the main ingredient available in the market.
There are many other naturally occurring herbs and plants that can be mixed together to create combinations that are great for white hair treatment. For example, you could use henna, a mixture of rosemary and sage or blackstrap molasses to treat your gray hairs. You could also use synthetic products that are used for coloring your hair permanently of temporarily. It is mostly recommended that you use permanent hair colors only when you have close to 50% of your hairs turned gray. Black sesame seeds and black tea are also considered great ways to keep your hairs black – if your natural hair color is black.