Premature greying of hair, or canities, is a phenomenon that many people experience, often leading to concerns about ageing and self-image. While it’s commonly perceived as a natural part of ageing, many individuals notice grey strands well before their time.

Dr Parash Shrestha, a consultant dermatologist at B&B Skin and Aesthetics Clinic, B&B Hospital, Gwarko, explains premature greying of hair and how genetics and lifestyle factors contribute to it.

Why do some people experience premature greying of hair (PMGH) OR canities?

Premature greying of hair, also known as canities, is primarily influenced by genetics inherited from one’s parents. Typically, premature greying is defined as hair turning grey before the age of 20 or, in some ethnic groups, before the age of 30.

In recent generations, there has been an increase in the prevalence of premature greying. While genetics play a major role, various lifestyle and environmental factors can exacerbate the condition.

Stress, emotional strain, pollution, exposure to ultraviolet light, poor nutrition, thyroid disorders, and certain medications, such as chemotherapy, are all potential contributors to premature hair greying.

Can stress directly cause premature greying of hair?

Research indicates that stress can contribute to premature hair greying, although the relationship is complex. Studies on animals have demonstrated that induced stress can lead to greying fur. However, it remains uncertain whether these findings directly translate to humans.

While genetic factors are a primary cause of greying, stress can exacerbate this condition. It is common to attribute grey hair to various stressors, such as work pressures or personal challenges, but this does not apply universally. Some individuals may experience greying due to genetic predisposition and stress, while others may not see a significant link between their stress levels and hair colour changes.

How do genetics and lifestyle factors contribute to premature greying?

Genetics and lifestyle factors play significant roles in the onset of premature hair greying. Medically speaking, oxidative stress—a condition caused by various environmental and internal challenges such as radiation, inflammation, and psychological stress—contributes to ageing, with greying a notable sign of this process.

If these factors are present in our surroundings at an early age, they will produce free radicals in hair follicles. These free radicals damage melanocytes, the cells responsible for producing melanin, resulting in greying and early hair loss.

Are there any effective treatments or remedies to prevent or reverse premature greying?

Despite extensive research into the molecular causes of premature greying of hair, effective treatments remain elusive. While some topical and oral therapies have been explored, they often yield inconsistent results, with either a recurrence of the condition or no noticeable improvement.

As a result, multiple treatment approaches are currently under investigation. Stress is believed to play a significant role in this process, as it can trigger telogen effluvium—a condition that accelerates hair shedding. When hair enters this cycle, it may regrow but often lacks pigment due to oxidative stress, which damages the pigment-producing cells in the hair follicles. This leads to a mix of grey and dark strands in affected individuals.

Currently, the most straightforward remedies for managing premature greying include using hair dye to cover grey strands or implementing stress-reduction techniques. While some studies suggest that reducing stress may help restore hair colour, further research is needed to confirm these findings and understand the underlying mechanisms.

Is premature greying of hair a sign of underlying health problems, such as vitamin deficiencies or autoimmune disorders?

In most cases, no. However, premature hair greying can indicate underlying health issues in a few cases. In some cases, deficiencies in essential vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin B12, vitamin D, iron, zinc, and calcium, can contribute to hair depigmentation. These nutrients are crucial for the activity of tyrosinase, an enzyme necessary for hair pigmentation and growth.

Additionally, autoimmune disorders, particularly those affecting the thyroid, can also trigger premature greying. Certain medications used in the treatment of autoimmune diseases may have similar effects.

Medical professionals often conduct pathological investigations to determine if an underlying health problem is causing premature greying. If a deficiency or disorder is identified, treating that condition may result in hair repigmentation.

Does diet play a role in maintaining natural hair colour? If so, what food or nutrition helps delay greying?

Diet is the source of nutrition for all living beings. So, a change in diet or its deficiency can lead to nutritional insufficiency. In some studies, irregular meal times, fruit consumption, and eating few meals were significantly associated with premature greying.

Fruits have antioxidant properties and lots of vitamins. It will help tackle oxidative stress, which contributes to ageing and greying. Its consumption will certainly help reduce ageing and greying.

Significant low levels of zinc, reduced ferritin, calcium, and vitamin B12 all lead to premature greying. A balanced diet including dairy products, dark leafy greens, fish, oysters, red meat, peanuts, almonds, liver, mushrooms, and citrus fruits provides essential vitamins, minerals, and folic acid to support healthy hair.