Why Hair Turns White: Causes and Prevention

The appearance of the first white hairs is, in general, a completely natural phenomenon and should not cause concern. There are cases more textbook than others, and in this article we will analyze the main aspects that revolve around white hair.

When do the first white hairs appear?

In trichology, the science that studies hair and all pathologies related to the scalp, the phenomenon of white hair is called canice .

 Gray hair is generally associated with advancing age . The truth is that the factors that determine gray hair are varied and, above all, vary from person to person.

If we had to make an estimate, women can have the beginning of white hair between the ages of 35-40, and men around 30-35.

However, this age range can vary based. For example, there are those who notice the first gray hairs at 20 years old and those who maintain their natural color even beyond average age.

White hair: the role of melanin

Many people with gray hair fully accept their new look, even showing off new shades of color without the need to bleach their hair. Others, however, worry and try to understand what causes it.

It's all about melanin , a substance that determines hair color.

In fact, there can be two types of melanin in the hair shaft: eumelanin, which is responsible for darker colors such as black and brown, and pheomelanin , which is responsible for lighter colors such as blonde and red.

These pigments are produced by melanocytes , specialized cells located in the hair follicle, which transfer the pigment to the cells that make up the hair shaft.

But what happens to melanin when there are white hairs?

Some causes of white hair actually reduce the quantity of melanin produced: let's see the most frequent ones.

Genetic factors

Genetic predispositions play a significant role in premature graying. Genes that stimulate cell activation for melanin production may, at some point, no longer be so efficient.

Hormonal factors

The production of melanin by cells can be negatively affected in case of hormonal imbalances, among the most frequent ones being thyroid disorders and anemia .

Lifestyle

Lifestyle also plays a very important role.

The most influential factors may be air pollution and solar rays which directly damage melanin.

Cigarette smoking has also been associated with premature graying, likely due to increased oxidative stress and decreased blood flow to the hair follicle.

Diet plays a central role in this case too, being the main source of nourishment for our entire organism. In fact, the lack of essential vitamins, such as vitamin B12 , iron , copper and zinc , can negatively influence the health of the hair bulb.

There are many studies that state that stress is also a trigger factor. In fact, hair is influenced by stress hormones .

How? The hair bulb will nourish the hair with substances and hormones present in the body, therefore also those of stress.

How to treat white hair?

As for the possibility of preventing its appearance with treatments, at the moment science does not have many answers to give us.

What can be done, however, and what is useful for the entire organism, is to prevent exposure to the environmental factors mentioned above: therefore, avoid stress, smoking, protect yourself from the sun and have a balanced diet.

A possible solution, however, is given by cosmetics. In fact, many people choose to cover gray hair and even out the color of their hair.

We at Ballangi always support it: taking care of yourself is fundamental.