White hair occurs when your hair follicles lose melanin, the pigment that provides your hair color. If your hair is going white at a younger age, it could be due to genetics or an underlying health condition.
What causes white hair at such a young age?
White hair is more evident in persons with darker hair. Although white hair is associated with aging, colorless hair strands can occur at any age – even while you are still in high school or college. You might see one or more strands of white hair if you are a teenager or in your twenties.
There may be techniques to restore pigmentation; however, it depends on the cause. The following are some of the most common reasons for premature white hair.
· Genes
Genetics is one of the critical causes of premature greying, albeit the underlying causes have yet to be found. Your genes are to blame for either defects in melanin-producing cells or a lack of melanin production at a young age.
Your genes may play a role in hair greying, even at a young age. You could have white hair at the age of 15 by chance.
· Autoimmune disease
An autoimmune condition can also cause premature white hair. When the body’s immune system assaults its cells, this is called autoimmune disease. The immune system can assault hair and induce pigment loss in alopecia and vitiligo.
· Thyroid disorder
Premature white hair may be caused by hormonal changes induced by a thyroid condition, such as hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. The thyroid gland is butterfly-shaped at the base of your neck. It aids in the regulation of various body systems, including metabolism. Your thyroid’s condition might also affect the color of your hair. Your body may create less melanin if your thyroid is hyperactive or underactive.
· Diet
An unbalanced diet might quicken the greying of one’s hair. Those who consume processed meals, cold drinks, and a lot of salt and sugar are more likely to produce free radicals in their bodies, which can cause their hair to grow. Consume a nutritious diet to avoid grey hair and keep your hair healthy.
· Vitamins and Minerals Deficiency
An iron shortage, a folate insufficiency, a vitamin D deficiency, or a vitamin B12 deficiency can also cause follicle whitening. Hair graying has been linked to folic acid deficiency and low biotin levels.
· Stress
You are more prone to premature graying when you are under chronic stress for a long time. Stress will cause your hair to grey faster, regardless of how hectic your family life is or how fatigued and overworked you are. Stress has been linked to the depletion of hair follicle stem cells; in other words, if you constantly stress and resent yourself, you are prone to get white hair.
· Smoking
Not only is smoking detrimental to your health, but it can also damage your hair. When you smoke, your blood vessels constrict, and the blood supply to your hair follicles is reduced. Toxins in cigarette smoke can injure hair follicles, causing grey hair to appear sooner than expected.
