UNAIR NEWS – Most of the time people believe that graying hair is the effect of washing their hair too often or using the wrong shampoo. Some also believe that graying hair happens because of too much thinking about something. Is it true?

To UNAIR NEWS, a dermatologist from Faculty of Medicine Universitas Airlangga Dr. Afif Nurul Hidayati Sp.KK, FINSDV explained about myths and facts of graying hair.

Every day everyone will face some issues to think about. As long as the thinking process is not too hard, it will not affect one’s health. But when one thinks so hard that it causes psychological stress, it has to be brought to an end. Too much stress will increase oxidant level in the body which will harm the body, including hair.

Meanwhile, shampoo usage basically will not trigger premature graying hair. This is because shampoo does not have melanin removal effect on hair, except shampoo which contains bleaching agents.

Is it safe to revoke gray hair?

Graying hair is a progressive and steady process, even though re-pigmentation is still possible to happen. Revoking gray hair is considered effective if there is only less than 10% gray hair. Revoking too much hair is not recommended to do since it induces inflammation on scalp.

Due to the absence of effective therapy for graying hair, the only effective way to do is camouflage. How? Dyeing hair using colorants which are temporary (textile colorants), natural (henna), semi-permanent, or permanent is the way. However, if graying hair is caused by particular illness or condition, then hair condition will be better along with health recovery. (*)

Author: Sefya Hayu
Editor: Binti Q. Masruroh