UNAIR NEWS – Ageing is usually followed by the appearance of gray hair. This condition is normal considering gray hair is a manifestation of the inevitable ageing process itself. But what if gray hair appears at quite young age? Is it normal?
Basically gray hair, or canities in its medical term, is a natural process of ageing which happens gradually without considering one’s gender or race. Therefore, it is indisputable that while one is ageing, gray hair will appear.
However, it is a different case when gray hair appears at young age. It can be confirmed that there are factors which cause gray hair to appear sooner at the age of twenties or before thirty.
A dermatologist from the Faculty of Medicine Universitas Airlangga Dr. Afif Nurul Hidayati Sp.KK, FINSDV explained that typically gray hair appears when one reaches forties. The appearance of gray hair in white people in average starts in their mid-thirties, Asians in their late thirties, and Africans in their mid-forties.
Black pigment on hair is a result of melanin build up process which is produced by melanocyte. If this melanin production is interrupted or downgrading, the transfer process of melanin from hair follicle to hair shaft will also be disturbed. This condition causes graying hair or hair loss. Besides because of natural process, the downgrade or damage on melanin can also be affected by oxidative damage from the high rate of oxidant in the body.
The cause of premature graying
Afif revealed, a number of researches prove that people who deal with premature graying have higher level of oxidant and lower level of anti-oxidant in their body. Oxidant which tends to harm melanocyte can come from exposure to pollution, ultra violet sunshine, psychological stress, emotional stress, toxin, and cigarette smoke.
Besides the oxidant factor, particular diseases can also cause premature graying, for example inflammation, autoimmune, neurological disorders, cardiovascular sickness like heart disease, anemia, HIV infection, or some rare syndromes like progeria and pangeria (Werner syndrome).
Long term protein loss or deficiency can also be the factor. However, typically hair condition will be better along with health recovery. Among other factors are people on a diet who lack of particular nutrients namely vitamin, mineral, copper, iron, and zinc in their daily dietary intake.
“As long as we don’t have those trigger factors, gray hair is safe; but if it is because of a specific condition, we need to find the factor and treat it immediately,” Afif said.
In order to avoid premature graying, it is better to take preventive measures effectively. Among others are applying a healthy lifestyle, having a healthy and balanced dietary habit, trying not to be under too much stress, as well as minimizing oxidant factors. (*)
Author: Sefya Hayu
Editor: Binti Q. Masruroh
