Prematurely Gray?

We all know that becoming gray prematurely is still a sign of advancing age.  Sounds better than growing old, doesn’t it?  It does vary from person to person and will usually run in the family.  Some people barely notice it and choose to ignore it where others do everything they can to mask it or use other methods to make it all go away.

Just like taxes, gray hair has been and will always be “just the way it is.”  Earning our gray hair is inevitable for most people.  Actually the proverbs say “Gray hair is a glorious crown; it is found in the way of righteousness.”  Since humans lived long enough to experience the privilege, this has always been an observable fact that is linked to aging. The alternative is definitely undesirable to me.  For years it has been said it was purely genetic, but science says it’s something completely different.

There are apparently plausible biological mechanisms that could allow stress to whiten your hair in a short period of time.  Something horrifically hair-raising can be the cause.  The signaling proteins involved, though, are the same ones that create and activate pain signals.  Pigment is produced by the hair follicle to color the hair during the anagen phase while it is growing.  The length of the anagen phase varies according to your genes and certain hormonal levels.  When follicles receive orders to end the anagen phase, it stops producing more hair and begins to prepare for telogen that lasts between six and eighteen months at a time before going back into anagen.    After 10 of these cycles, the hair follicle has no more pigment left, so guess what?  So, we are turning white headed.

Those telltale age-markers that begin to show up before our 20’s are then considered prematurely gray.  Caucasians experience going prematurely gray more often than African-Americans.  If someone turns gray overnight or very quickly, it is called canities subita.  Scientists believe that premature grayness may be related to environmental pollution or lifestyle factors.  Dr. Marie Jhin, director of Premier Dermatology in San Francisco believes this to include stress, medical conditions, vitamin deficiency, nicotine and lack of sun.

It is believed that what you eat might affect your gray-haired status.  A potent, antioxidant enzyme that resides in plant and animal cells is catalase that breaks down hydrogen peroxide.  Scientists say it can also help stop the development of gray hair.

Minerals that contain copper and zinc are essential for the production of melanin, which gives hair its pigmentation.  Walnuts are amazingly rich in copper.  A study has shown that low copper levels in the body can make you go gray quicker, but foods with high amounts of copper like sesame seeds, shitake mushrooms, cashews, asparagus and spinach will help keep the pigmentation.

Just keep in mind that we are all in the same boat and will most likely all be gray at some time or the other. Embrace it and enjoy getting wisdom with each new day.

Dr Fredda Branyon