Gray hair is a natural part of aging, and it happens when the pigment cells in hair follicles die. Without pigment, new hair strands grow in lighter and take on various shades of gray, silver, and eventually white. Here are some factors that can contribute to gray hair:
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Genetics: If either of your parents had a full head of gray hair in their 30s, theres a good chance you will too. On average, white people start to gray in their mid-30s, Asians start in their late 30s, and African Americans usually start in their mid-40s.
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Age: Hair follicles produce less color as they age, so when hair goes through its natural cycle of dying and being regenerated, its more likely to grow in as gray beginning after age 35.
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Stress: While being under stress cant change the color of individual strands of hair, stress can trigger a common condition called telogen effluvium, which can cause hair loss. A new study also shows that stress can cause gray hair by affecting pigment-producing stem cells in hair follicles.
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Nutritional deficiencies: Reversible hypopigmentation of the hair can be seen in nutritional deficiencies such as protein-energy malnutrition and diseases of chronic loss of protein.
In summary, gray hair is a natural part of aging and is mostly determined by genetics and age. Stress and nutritional deficiencies can also contribute to gray hair.
