Symptoms
Gray hair is caused by single to many white hairs in the hairstyle. Together with the normally pigmented hair, the hair appears gray to silver. Gray hair has an altered structure, stands crosswise and is less easy to comb. Hair has an important communication function and is important for external appearance and attractiveness. Full and pigmented hair is a sign of youthfulness, fertility and health. Gray hair, on the other hand, is the silent harbinger of age and transience. Therefore, especially premature graying at a young age can have a negative impact on self-confidence and represent a psychosocial problem.
Causes
Melanocytes deposit melanins into epithelial cells (keratinocytes) at the base of the hair and are thus responsible for hair coloration. The cause of gray hair represents a lack of pigmentation by the melanocytes. Age and heredity are the two most important risk factors for graying. Smoking also has a negative influence. Caucasians usually get their first gray hairs in their thirties, Africans in their forties. It is a progressive process that leads to completely white hair over years to decades. However, graying can occur at any age and gray hair has been observed even in infants. Premature graying is referred to in children and adolescents under the age of twenty.
Diagnosis
Premature or unusual graying should be investigated by a doctor because there may be an underlying condition. These include, for example:
- Autoimmune diseases, vitiligo
- Thyroid diseases
- Malnutrition
- Vitamin B12 deficiency
- Medications such as chloroquine
Treatment
Treatment is not strictly necessary because it is a natural and physiological process. An exception are the diseases mentioned, which should be treated as causally as possible. Individual gray hairs can still be removed with tweezers in the beginning. Later, the hair can be colored or tinted at home or at the hairdresser. Various products are available for care, which, for example, improve the appearance or prevent discoloration (a yellow tint) (e.g. Pur Grey, Rausch Sage Shampoo, Chandor Styling Mousse). Dietary supplements may potentially have a positive effect. Repigmentation has been observed with the administration of high doses of p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA). No drugs are currently available for drug therapy. However, it has been reported that certain agents can lead to repigmentation. These include, for example, the kinase inhibitor imatinib (Gleevec). However, such therapy is not conceivable due to the adverse effects. It is not excluded that a pill against gray hair will be launched in the future.
