Premature Greying of Hair (PGH) - Causes and remedies

Copperpod
16 hours ago
5 min read

Hair is one of the primary things one notices in a person at the first glance. In contrast to other animals, the purpose of human hair is up for debate. However, hair may be a fantastic aesthetic tool and form of nonverbal communication. One of the most distinctive characteristics of people is their hair colour, which can range from red to black, brown, and blonde. Melanin, a pigment made by neural crest-derived melanocytes, is what gives human hair its colour. The two forms of melanin found in human hair follicles are eumelanin and pheomelanin. The amount and ratio of reddish-brown pheomelanin and black-brown eumelanin account for the majority of the variation in hair colour.

Hair colour and style have a big impact on how someone looks physically, which has a significant impact on how they feel about their bodies. One of the problems with the modern lifestyle is premature greying. Premature greying of the hair (PGH) can negatively impact a person's self-esteem because it is considered a symptom of ageing. Some people begin to age prematurely, even in their teens. Genes typically have a role in determining when greying starts, so if a person's mother or father started greying young, they might as well. Even when you are in your 20s, those dreaded silver and white streaks begin to appear.

But what is the source behind the original black colour of hair? Where does the black colour come from?

A follicle, which is a tube- or tunnel-shaped structure in a person's scalp, is the source of every hair strand on their head. Melanocytes, pigment cells found in each follicle, produce melanin, the pigment responsible for the hair's colour. The pigment cells gradually deteriorate as people age, resulting in each hair strand having less melanin and becoming more transparent. Grey hair is transparent but depending on how they contrast with the rest of the hair and how the light hits them, it might appear white, grey, or silver.

The mechanism behind greying of hair

Scientists have invested a lot of time and energy into figuring out what causes grey hair, and they think they have finally found the answer. The pigment melanin, which is created by melanocyte cells in the hair follicles, gives hair its colour. According to research, melanocytes sustain cumulative damage over time, which finally prevents them from producing melanin. Studies have suggested that this disturbance in melanin production may be caused by DNA damage and a buildup of hydrogen peroxide in the follicles. The new hair that grows in lacks pigment without melanin, making it seem grey, white, or silver. Normal ageing also results in hair greying, also known as canities or achromotrichia. However, it develops at different ages in various races. However, the precise etiopathogenesis of greying of hair still needs to be fully discovered. PGH is a primary autosomal dominant condition that can exist. Greying can also be a symptom of diseases that cause rapid ageing, like progeria and pangeria. It has also been linked to autoimmune disorders and atopic dermatitis.

In greying hair follicles, experiments have revealed melanocyte death and oxidative damage. In the hair follicle, melanogenesis is active during the anagen phase, which is the active growth phase. Tyrosine is hydroxylated in this process, and dihydroxyphenylalanine is oxidized to melanin, resulting in a significant oxidative stress buildup. Exogenous oxidative stress also causes hair follicles to grey more quickly. Lack of antioxidant protection could harm melanocytes, resulting in less pigmentation.

Causes of Grey Hair

The reason for greying has yet to be fully discovered. It is a complicated multifactorial process that is primarily thought to include the interaction of dietary, genetic, and environmental factors. Premature hair ageing is frequently linked to nutritional inadequacies such as severe iron shortage, severe vitamin B12 deficiency, chronic protein loss, and copper deficiency. Low serum ferritin levels and low serum calcium and vitamin D3 levels have also been implicated. It is also believed that premature greying may be caused by the exhaustion of the melanocyte's capacity to create hair pigmentation.

Some of the causes of premature hair greying are listed down.

• UV radiation, pollution, mental problems, or inflammatory reasons can potentially induce oxidative stress.

• A lack of vitamin B12 may result in PGH through an unidentified mechanism.

• Approximately 55% of pernicious anaemia patients had greying before the age of 50, compared to 30% in the control group.

• Reduced thyroid hormones result in alopecia, premature greying, and morphological abnormalities in the hair.

• The sympathetic nervous system is overactive under stress, which causes an increase in noradrenaline release in hair follicles. The melanocyte stem cells needed to make melanin, the pigment responsible for hair colour, are depleted as a result of this excessive production.

• Another factor that is thought to contribute to premature hair ageing is smoking. Smoking causes a significant rise in reactive oxygen species, which increases oxidative stress and damages the melanocytes, the cells that produce melanin.

• Specific chemotherapy medications and antimalarials can bring on PGH. These medications are believed to suppress melanogenesis by inhibiting the receptor tyrosine kinase c-kit present in melanocytes. Chloroquine decreases pheomelanin synthesis by an unknown amount.

• Hormonal changes brought on by a thyroid disorder may be one of the causes of early hair ageing. The thyroid gland affects not only your metabolism but also the colour of your hair since it lowers the body's production of melanin.

• Vitiligo causes melanocytes to be lost or destroyed — perhaps because the immune system "misfires" and attacks the scalp rather than an infection.

Solutions for premature greying of hair

The cause of PGH should be the focus of treatment. Even though many people seek outpatient dermatological care for PGH, relatively few available solutions are effective. Some of the most effective remedies for premature greying of the hair are:

• Replacement of vitamins and hormones can restore vitamin B12 deficiency and hypothyroidism, respectively.

• For those whose scalp hair is just 10% impacted, plucking is a simple solution for reducing grey hair.

• The majority of people rely on hair colourants to restore their hair's colour. There are various organic hair colourants that are available which can conceal great hair effectively.

• Recent innovative solutions include the inclusion of antioxidants like Vitamins C and E in shampoos. Due to the little contact period, their effectiveness has been called into question. Phytoestrogens, copper, selenium, phytoestrogens, and melatonin are being researched as promising topically applied anti-aging substances. Recombinant human growth hormone has enhanced hair growth, thickness, and even hair colour.

• In a recent study, it has been demonstrated that a novel class of chemicals (SkQs) containing the antioxidant plastoquinone SkQs can prevent age-related changes such as canities, balding, retinopathy, cataracts, etc. As a result, SkQs appear to have the potential for the treatment of senescence and illnesses associated with ageing.

• Also, diet is crucial for preserving the health of your hair. Green leafy vegetables, green tea, berries, carrots, curry leaves, spinach, beans, walnuts, and sunflower seeds are a few foods that are high in antioxidants and help preserve the health of your hair.

• Meditating for a certain amount of time helps relax your mind and ease out the stress built in the body.

Conclusion

There may be a family propensity for premature greying of hair because it has been seen more frequently in some families. However, everyone's hair ultimately begins to turn white, and each person must choose whether they are content with white hair or if they would rather try to slow down or reverse the natural ageing process of their hair. Nowadays, many people are embracing their natural being. Salt and pepper hair can look incredible. It is nature's gift, and with some know-how, you can make it shine, giving you a fabulous look!