What causes premature hair graying in young women?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 23-year-old female suffering from premature graying of hair. Could you kindly elaborate on the common conditions that could cause premature graying? How do diet and nutrition play a role in hair pigmentation? Are there specific dietary recommendations or supplements that can help prevent or slow down premature graying? Can stress, smoking or excessive alcohol consumption accelerate premature graying? What lifestyle changes can mitigate these effects? Are treatments or interventions available to address premature graying of hair, such as topical treatments, supplements, or medical procedures? What hair care practices can individuals adopt to maintain the health and appearance of their hair as they age, including preventing further graying? Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have read the query, and I can understand your concern.

Premature graying of hair or canities occurs in the early 30 years of age. The cause could be nutritional deficiency such as vitamin, iron, iodine, zinc, or protein, genetic, hereditary factors, stressful episodes, certain medications, autoimmune conditions like thyroid, vitiligo, pernicious anemia, toxins or chemicals in water, use of shampoos loaded with chemicals, etc. Yes, smoking or chronic intake of alcohol reduces blood supply to hair follicles and can lead to premature graying of hair. Topical treatments as a home remedy are hibiscus extract, aloe vera extract, and onion juice extract can be tried. Hair nutrient pills like H-Vit Forte (Biotin and L-cysteine) and Calcium Pantothenate are treatment options available. Consult a specialist doctor, talk to them, and then take the medication. Camouflage is another option available. Avoid stress, as stress is a major contributing factor in premature graying of hair. Avoiding known triggers and healthy modification in lifestyle do matter. Routine blood workup every three months is needed to rule out possible risk factors of canities.

I hope this will help you.

Thank you.