What Causes Gray Hair?

By Author: Tom Simeo
Total Articles: 14
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Pigment cells in the hair follicles add color to the hair. Build up of hydrogen peroxide in the hair follicles as we get older results in reduction in enzyme catalase which bleaches out the color. Lack of nutritious diet also causes loss of hair color.

Hair color usually changes naturally or prematurely to gray as we get older. So, what causes gray hair? Melanocytes, pigment cells in the hair follicles, are responsible for giving the hair its color. When melanocytes cells start to produce less color and stops eventually, this will result in white or gray hair. Melanocytes will stop producing because of the natural aging process. Read on to find out about some of the other causes of gray hair.

What Causes Gray Hair

There are many reasons why a blazing auburn, deep brunette or any other hair color will change to gray or white. When heredity play a major role, it is inevitable for women and men to have gray hair. If you can, try to remember when your parents started to have gray hair. This will give you a good idea when your natural hair color might start to change.

Scientific reports show that an ...
... excessive amount of hydrogen peroxide can cause gray hair. Generally, hydrogen peroxide builds up in the hair follicles as we get older because of a reduction in enzyme catalase. During your younger years, the enzyme catalase will break down hydrogen peroxide into oxygen and water. But, when you get older the level of enzyme catalase will decrease and this will cause hydrogen peroxide to build up. The high level of peroxide will then bleach out the natural hair color.

You can also have gray hair because of certain health condition. If you are not maintaining a healthy and nutritious diet, this will lead to a deficiency of proteins and vitamins. It could be that you have a busy lifestyle and often buy a lot of junk food while on the go. When you are not getting the recommended dosage of proteins, vitamins, copper, iodine and iron, your hair might start to gray prematurely.

You should know that drinking a lot of tea and coffee can also cause premature graying. This happens because these beverages will increase the level of caffeine in your body. What’s more, too much caffeine will decrease your need for water and this can have a serious impact on your body.

In addition, health conditions like disorders or illness of the autoimmune system can interfere with hair growth and color. Premature graying can be caused by conditions like thyroid disorders; intestinal and abdominal surgical procedures like gastric bypass; early menopause and smoking. A skin condition called Vitiligo, which causes healthy skin to have white patches because of a reduction in melanocytes, can also trigger premature graying.

Some of the other causes of gray hair include lack of sleep, working for long hours without rest, mental stress, jealousy, fear and more. Furthermore, washing your hair daily with chemical shampoos can lead to premature graying. Women who visit the salon regularly for hair treatments such as coloring, blow drying and straightening with chemicals are more likely to have gray hair.

Now that you know what causes gray hair, just remember that premature graying can be prevented if you are maintaining a proper diet, avoiding hair products with harmful chemicals, getting sufficient rest, avoiding stress and so on.

The author of this article is associated with Getawaygrey which is a proven cure for gray hair.

Website: http://www.getawaygrey.com/