Grey hair can make anyone conscious about their looks. To some, it's a sign of wisdom and to younger people, especially those in their early 20s, who have this seemingly embarrassing secret, it could present as a huge problem. What could be causing your grey hair, aside from the natural aging process? Studies reveal eight truths about your greying crowning glory, as reported by Kylie Singh for Huffington Post.
Grey hair is primarily linked to genetics
Genes play a critical role in the uncontrollable changing of hair color. Those who have relatives and ancestors with grey hair would more likely to have one. Dr. Michael Eidelman, Medical Director of Chelsea Skin & Laser and Assistant Professor of Dermatology at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai stated, "When we are born our bodies are already programmed with the information to begin the process."
Seldom is it associated to a medical condition
Having grey hair can be connected to a medical condition such as vitamin B-12 deficiency, anemia, vitiligo or problems with the pituitary or thyroid gland. However it should not create a panic as it only happens in rare cases.
Smoking can cause grey hair
The National Center for Biotechnology Information concluded from a 2010 study that smoking could cause grey hair. The study proves that a person who smokes has more than two percent chance of having grey hair than a person who doesn't smoke.
Gender and race have effects on hair color
Dr. Eidelman stated, "On average, 50 percent of the population will have 50 percent gray hair by the age of 50," Schweiger explained how men start growing grey hair at 30 and women at 35. Ethnicity also plays a role in explaining why people have grey hair. A 2011 study shows Caucasians begin to gray in their mid-30's, Asians in their late 30's and African Americans in their 40's,
Stress could be a reason why hair turns grey
There is no proven evidence on the stated opinion; however Dr. Schweiger notes that stress hormones could influence melanin-producing cells in the hair leading to grey hair.
Hair turns gray when color-producing cells cease to produce pigment
Dr. Eric Schweiger, New York dermatologist and creator of Schweiger Dermatology Group interpreted that one main cause of grey hair is when the body stops supplying melanin. Melanin is a composition of specific pigment cells known as melanocytes. The Library of Congress explained how the hair obtains its natural color from melanin pigment. The natural color of hair is dependent on the distribution, type and amount of melanin. Dr. Schweiger added that another reason why hair turns gray is the formation of hydrogen peroxide in the hair. When a person ages, the enzyme catalase that crimps lessens. Hydrogen peroxide then colors the hair.
Grey hair on scalp grows earlier than on the body
According to Dr. Eidelman, scalp hair turns grey faster and earlier than hair on other parts of the body.
A shorter life span is not caused by grey hair
The Journals of Gerontology released a Danish study on 1998 which explains that mortality is not connected to grey hair or baldness, regardless of a person's age.