Why do we grow gray hair when we are stressed? Is it true that “worrying about hair turns gray overnight”?

Expert of this article: Wang Li, attending physician of the Department of Neurology, Xuangang Hospital, Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province

This article was reviewed by Han Hongyu, Associate Chief Physician, Department of Dermatology, Tangshan Nanhu Hospital

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I want to know about the issue of gray hair

This is not

Arranged it immediately today

White hair

Considered a characteristic of aging

As people get older

Wrinkles on the face

Hair also turns gray

But some people

I also had white hair when I was young

We call it "premature graying"

Some people

When you encounter a major change in your life

Have you ever experienced "white hair overnight"?

What does it take for your hair to turn from black to white?

What is premature graying of hair?

Let’s explore the secret of gray hair today

How does white hair grow?

Our hair medulla and cortex contain a large number of melanin particles. When this substance decreases or the hair is filled with air, it will cause all or part of the hair to turn white.

To be more specific, the hair papilla of normal hair is rich in blood vessels that nourish the hair, which can provide sufficient nutrients to the hair papilla and hair bulb, promoting the smooth synthesis of melanin particles.

When the formation of melanin particles in the hair papilla and hair bulb is hindered, or due to various unfavorable factors, it cannot be smoothly transported to the hair, it will lead to a lack of sufficient melanin particles in the hair medulla, cortex, etc., resulting in the appearance of white hair.

Why does gray hair grow?

The factors that cause gray hair can be divided into congenital and acquired.

Congenital

Albinism: A genetic disorder caused by a lack of melanin in the body

A skin disease characterized by congenital hypopigmentation.

Autosomal recessive phenylketonuria can also cause depigmentation and lead to gray hair

Fanconi syndrome with proximal tubular defects in the kidney

Acquired

Vitiligo caused by acquired depigmentation

Autoimmune pernicious anemia

Hair hypopigmentation caused by some drugs

Early gray hair disease

Caused by various chronic wasting diseases: tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis; diabetes caused by metabolic disorders; hypothyroidism caused by insufficient or absent synthesis, secretion or biological effects of thyroid hormones

Nutritional deficiency hair pigmentation: systemic malnutrition; lack of protein needed by the body; lack of trace elements such as iron and copper

Psychological factors

What does “turning hair white overnight” mean?

There is an old Chinese saying that goes, "A smile makes you ten years younger; a frown makes you ten years older."

After research by many scientific researchers, it was found that excessive stress can indeed cause the occurrence of gray hair. It is possible for some gray hair to appear overnight, and when the stress is relieved, the gray hair may return to its original state.

A research report shows that stress does accelerate the transformation of black hair into white hair, and it is found that when the stress decreases, black hair may regenerate!

Researchers at the University of Bradford in the UK have a different view on the cause of gray hair. They believe that the human body will continue to be damaged over time, causing a large amount of hydrogen peroxide to accumulate at the hair roots, thereby preventing the production of pigment.

What is “premature graying of hair”?

What we often call "premature graying" refers to premature graying of hair, which occurs during adolescence or in the 20s. Normally, the pigment cells in the hair begin to decline after the age of 35, and gray hair appears.

So what causes this situation to occur?

1. Lack of exercise: Reduced exercise can lead to poor blood circulation. All corners of the scalp cannot receive effective blood supply, and melanocytes cannot function normally.

2. An irregular lifestyle or lack of sleep will lead to a decrease in the secretion of growth hormone and a slowdown in blood circulation throughout the body, resulting in gray hair.

3. Young people’s picky eating and unreasonable eating habits lead to serious imbalance in nutritional intake. Melanocytes do not provide enough nutrients when working, and cannot produce melanin to supply hair, so gray hair is easy to occur.

4. Intellectual workers who often use their brains are in a state of overuse and excessive mental stress for a long time. Coupled with the combined effect of the above three conditions, they are prone to premature gray hair.

How to prevent gray hair?

Teenagers should maintain a good attitude, avoid excessive sadness and mental stress; pay attention to a reasonable diet, a balanced diet, not picky eaters and excessive weight loss. Because these adverse factors can cause spasms in the blood vessels supplying hair follicles, affecting the nutrition of the hair roots, so that melanin cannot be transported to our hair.

Gray hair is also related to study pressure and anxiety. Some juvenile gray hair can be improved through nutrition and emotional regulation.

Insufficient daily intake of copper can also lead to the formation of gray hair. Generally speaking, our average daily intake is only about 0.8 mg, while the normal copper requirement is 2 mg. Therefore, nutrition experts recommend eating more copper-rich foods such as animal liver, shellfish, fungi, nuts, apricots, and oats, which are very helpful in maintaining black hair. In addition, using copper utensils in life can help us inhibit the formation of gray hair.

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