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Home > Skin & Beauty > Hair & Scalp > Premature Graying of Hair: Possible Causes and Treatments

Premature Graying of Hair: Possible Causes and Treatments

December 11, 2020 - Updated on August 13, 2021
5 min read
By Akanksha Shah Sanghvi, MD, Clinical Dermatology

In this article:

  • The Process of Graying Hair
  • Possible Causes of Premature Graying of Hair
  • Medical Treatment for Premature Graying of Hair
  • Diagnosing the Cause of Premature Graying of Hair
  • Risk Factors for Premature Graying of Hair
  • Complications Associated With Premature Graying of Hair
  • When to See a Doctor
  • Final Word

Healthy hair represents general well-being, influences your physical appearance, and is often considered a symbol of youthfulness. But with age, your hair starts turning gray, medically known as canities or achromotrichia.

Causes of premature graying of hair

Graying of hair occurs at varying ages in different races. For some people, their hair may start turning gray at an early age, known as premature graying of hair. For Caucasians, graying of hair before their 20s is considered to be premature graying, while for African-Americans, before 30 years.

Premature graying of hair can occur due to aging disorders, autoimmune diseases, atopy, and various other reasons. (1)

The Process of Graying Hair

The color of human hair is determined by the production of melanin pigment in the melanocyte cells.

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During the active growth phase of the hair (anagen), there is increased production of melanin in the hair follicles, leading to deep pigmentation. During the other stages of the cell cycle (catagen and telogen), melanogenesis decreases or is turned off.

Your hair may turn gray when the number of melanocytes in the hair follicles reduces during anagen. (2)

Possible Causes of Premature Graying of Hair

Causes of premature graying of hair

The cause and development of premature graying of hair are not completely understood. It is thought to occur due to various reasons, including:

  • Increased oxidative stress, (3) which can occur due to excessive sun exposure, environmental pollution, inflammatory diseases, and emotional factors such as stress
  • Progeroid syndromes, wherein aging is accelerated due to the defective repair of DNA, increasing susceptibility to oxidative stress (4)
  • Vitamin B12 deficiency (1)
  • Thyroid hormone deficiency (5)
  • Medications such as chemotherapy drugs and antimalarials (6)
  • Lack of protein due to malnutrition or diseases (5)
  • Copper, zinc, and iron deficiencies (7)(8)
  • Low levels of vitamin D3, calcium, ferritin, or HDL cholesterol
  • Autoimmune disorders, such as Addison’s disease, premature hypogonadism, vitiligo, Grave’s disease, and Werner’s syndrome
  • Neurofibromatosis
  • Tuberous sclerosis

Medical Treatment for Premature Graying of Hair

The treatment for premature graying of hair depends on the underlying cause. While no treatment guarantees complete reversal of hair pigmentation, the following treatments can help improve the condition and prevent further graying.

1. Nutritional supplements

Supplements for premature graying of hair

Premature graying caused by nutritional deficiencies can be corrected with supplements. These include vitamin B12, calcium pantothenate, iron, (9) biotin, and zinc supplements. (1) Make sure to consult your doctor before taking any supplements.

2. Treating the underlying medical condition

Causes such as thyroid problems should be managed using appropriate treatment methods to help control premature graying of hair.

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3. Other therapies

Some therapies that are being studied for treating premature graying of hair include topical prostaglandins, anti-inflammatory medication such as psoralen and cyclosporine, (10) and human growth hormone-based therapy. (11)

Diagnosing the Cause of Premature Graying of Hair

Premature graying of hair may be mild to severe, based on the number and percentage of hair involved. To help determine the cause of premature graying, the following parameters and tests are considered:

  • Family history
  • Serum vitamin B12 level
  • Serum folic acid level
  • Thyroid panel
  • Hemoglobin level
  • Metabolic syndrome test
  • Vitiligo test
  • Waardenburg syndrome test
  • Woolf syndrome test

Risk Factors for Premature Graying of Hair

The following factors can increase the risk of premature graying of hair:

  • Smoking (12)
  • Psychological stress (1)
  • Family history (13)

Complications Associated With Premature Graying of Hair

The following are some important complications of premature graying of hair:

  • The Copenhagen City Heart study found an increased risk of a heart attack in men with gray hair than those without gray hair (1)
  • Cardiovascular diseases, especially among smokers
  • Hearing impairment
  • Alopecia
  • Hindered social life (14)

When to See a Doctor

premature graying of hair

It is normal to develop gray hair with age, generally above 40 years. However, this age may lower according to your ethnicity.

While gray hair is usually not a sign of any health problem, it may cause a lack of self-confidence in social situations. You must consult a doctor if your hair is graying at a rapid pace, especially when accompanied by hair loss, or is causing you social anxiety.

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What you may ask your doctor
  • Does anemia cause premature graying?
  • Do I have a nutrient deficiency that caused my hair to turn gray?
  • Can I dye my hair?
  • Are synthetic dyes harmful to my hair?
  • What lifestyle changes can I make to prevent graying of hair?
What your doctor may ask you
  • Is premature graying of hair common in your family?
  • Have you been diagnosed with any nutritional deficiency?
  • Are you allergic to any foods?
  • When did your hair first start turning gray?

Final Word

Healthy hair is important to a person’s appearance and confidence. While it is normal for hair to turn gray with age, some people may experience premature graying of hair. This can occur due to genes, autoimmune disorders, smoking, and deficiencies.

Premature graying of hair, while cannot be reversed, can be controlled and prevented using various treatments. Consult your doctor for the recommended treatment modalities and lifestyle changes that can help prevent further graying of hair.

Continue Reading Continue ReadingHome Remedies for Premature Graying of Hair
References
  1. Kumar AB, Shamim H, Nagaraju U. Premature Graying of Hair: Review with Updates. International journal of trichology. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6290285/. Published 2018.
  2. Tobin DJ. Aging of the hair follicle pigmentation system. International journal of trichology. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2938584/. Published July 2009.
  3. RM; T. Oxidative stress in ageing of hair. International journal of trichology. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20805969/. Published 2009.
  4. Lessel D, Kubisch C. Hereditary Syndromes with Signs of Premature Aging. Deutsches Arzteblatt international. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6726857/. Published July 22, 2019.
  5. Sonthalia S, Priya A, Tobin DJ. Demographic Characteristics and Association of Serum Vitamin B12, Ferritin and Thyroid Function with Premature Canities in Indian Patients from an Urban Skin Clinic of North India: A Retrospective Analysis of 71 Cases. Indian journal of dermatology. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5448266/. Published 2017.
  6. MM; DGTBVNYN. Chloroquine -induced hair depigmentation. Lupus. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19213866/. Published 2009.
  7. Keshavamurthy Vinay 40.87 Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research Savita Yadav 26.39 Sanjeev Handa. Zinc Deficiency and Canities: An Unusual Manifestation. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/263778859/. Published 2014.
  8. Choi J-W, Lew B-L, Sim W-Y. A Case of Premature Hair Graying Treated with Ferrous Sulfate. Annals of dermatology. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5125965/. Published December 2016.
  9. Premature graying of scalp hairs treated with ferrous sulfate. https://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(12)01725-2/fulltext. Published 2013.
  10. Katerina Yale 2.74George Washington University Margit Juhasz Natasha Atanaskova Mesinkovska. Medication-Induced Repigmentation of Gray Hair: A Systematic Review. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/338000147/. Published 2019.
  11. RM; T. Pharmacologic interventions in aging hair. Clinical interventions in aging. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18044109/. Published 2006.
  12. Zayed AA, Shahait AD, Ayoub MN, Yousef A-M. Smokers’ hair: Does smoking cause premature hair graying? Indian dermatology online journal. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3673399/. Published April 2013.
  13. Thompson KG, Marchitto MC, Ly BCK, Chien AL. Evaluation of Physiological, Psychological, and Lifestyle Factors Associated with Premature Hair Graying. International journal of trichology. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6706993/. Published 2019.
  14. Saad M, Babar NF, Majeed R, et al. Impact of Premature Greying of Hair on Socio-cultural Adjustment and Self-esteem among Medical Undergraduates in Foundation University, Islamabad. Cureus. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6721903/. Published July 4, 2019.
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