Prematurely Gray Hair

When most people's hair turns gray, it is usually a normal sign of aging. As we age, we produce less melanin, the pigment that gives our hair and skin its color. But when your hair turns gray before its time, it can be a harmless, hereditary condition or a warning sign that something is wrong. The definition of premature graying, medically known as CANITIES, varies among doctors. Some define it as having half a head of gray hair by age 40; others say it is the graying of hair before the age of 20 in white people and before 30 in black people.

Some people with prematurely gray hair may unknowingly suffer from Pernicious Anemia, a severe form of anemia in which there is a reduction of red blood cells caused by the body's inability to absorb vitamin B12. Pernicious anemia is commonly found in older adults. Other common signs of pernicious anemia include paleness, weakness, mouth and tongue problems, tingling and numbness in hands and feet, and an unsteady gait. If untreated, it can cause serious gastrointestinal or neurological problems. The good news is that not only it is treated easily, but hair often returns to its natural color.

Early graying can also signal various autoimmune disorders, including Grave's Disease, the most common form of hyperthyroidism. A recent study has identified prematurely gray hair as a sign of low bone mineral density (osteopenia) in women with grave's disease. Another autoimmune disorder signaled by premature graying, as well as by white patches on the skin, is Vitiligo, which is a benign condition. However, 1 in 3 people with vitiligo also suffers from thryoid disease.

Another autoimmune condition, Alopecia Areata, which is characterized by patchy hair loss, is sometimes spotted in young people with gray hair.

There is also some disquieting new evidence that prematurely gray hair can be an early warning sign of diabetes, coronary heart disease, and an increased risk of heart attack (myocardial infarction).

Many people think having prematurely gray hair is a sign of stress, and there is some truth to this. One theory is that stress can precipitate autoimmune diseases or the other conditions mentioned above that can cause graying.

Hair color changes, including prematurely gray hair, are not always permanent. The hair sometimes reverts to its original color when an underlying condition is treated or after finishing a course of chemotherapy or radiation. But it is not the individual hairs that return to their previous color. Rather, the new hair grows in the original color, and sometimes even darker. So the change will take a while to occur.

Smoking appears linked to hair loss and gray hair. The toxic elements in tobacco smoke can damage the DNA in our hair follicles, as well as the tiny blood vessels nourishing our hair and skin. These and other mechanisms speed up the premature aging process.

A combination of gray hair and dark eyebrows can be striking or sexy. But men with this color combo are at high risk for diabetes according to the German study.