Gray hair
Gray hair occurs when the melanocytes in hair follicles reduce their production of melanin, the pigment responsible for hair color. This process typically begins at different ages depending on ethnic backgrounds: Caucasians often start graying around age thirty-four, Asians in their late thirties, and Black Americans in their mid-forties. The onset of gray hair can be influenced by several factors including genetics, health conditions like hyperthyroidism or anemia, and significant stress. As the hair loses pigment, it may also become drier and coarser. While some individuals embrace gray hair as a sign of maturity, others may feel self-conscious about it and choose to dye their hair to restore its original color. Various chemical and natural hair dyes are available for those looking to cover gray hair, which can be applied at home or professionally. Ultimately, the experience of graying is subjective and varies greatly among individuals.
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Subject Terms
Gray hair
Anatomy or system affected: Hair
Definition: The reduction in hair pigmentation that is a natural by-product of aging
Causes and Symptoms
Hair color is produced by tiny pigment cells in hair follicles called melanocytes. Each melanocyte has long, arm-like extensions that carry the pigment granules known as melanin to the hair cells. Over a lifetime, the production of pigment-forming enzymes drops, and the activity of the melanocytes in each follicle begins to wane, resulting in gray hair. Each individual’s melanocyte clock is different, but in Caucasians, the reduction of melanocyte activity usually occurs earlier than in other ethnic groups. On average, graying starts at age thirty-four in Caucasians, in the late thirties in Asians, and during the mid-forties in Black Americans.
Pigment loss starts at the root, with some strands of hair gradually fading in color while others may grow in gray or white. Initial graying can be accelerated by hyperthyroidism, anemia, autoimmune disease, severe stress, or vitamin B12 deficiency. Disorders of skin pigmentation, such as vitiligo, can also result in the loss of hair pigmentation.
Once gray hair begins to appear, the rate at which it progresses over the rest of the head depends entirely upon each individual. It does not appear to be a function of the original hair color or texture, ethnic background, or the condition of the scalp. By age fifty, 50 percent of all people have significantly gray hair. As hair loses its pigment, it often gets drier, resulting in coarser, wirier hair.
Treatment and Therapy
For some individuals, gray hair is a symbol of maturity, while for others, it is an embarrassing sign associated with the aging process. In most cases, graying can be readily masked if so desired. Effective chemical and vegetable rinses and dyes are available. Gray hair can be dyed both at home and by a professional at a salon for varying amounts of money.
Bibliography
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