Causes of early grey hair: Genes, stress and poor diet are biggest culprits, here's how to slow down the process

If you are below 30 and already have grey hair, you can blame your parents. Apart from genetics, there are other reasons for premature greying, however, including nutritional deficiencies and stress. There are lots of products in the market that claim to reverse premature greying, but are they really effective?

While reversing grey hair is challenging, there are certain interventions that may help slow down or, in rare cases, partially reverse the process if the root cause is addressed.

Here’s a look at the science behind grey hair and what can potentially reverse or slow it down.

What causes premature greying?

• Genetics:

This is the one time you can actually blame your parents for your premature grey hair as family history plays a significant role. A study in Nature Communications also found a strong genetic influence on hair greying.

• Oxidative stress:

Free radicals or unstable molecules can damage cells that produce melanin which keeps your hair from greying. Research in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology adds that oxidative stress, which occurs when there is an imbalance between free radicals and the body’s ability to neutralise them with antioxidants, can also damage hair follicles.

Also read | Stop premature greying of hair, maintain your hair's youthful colour and health for longer

• Vitamin and mineral deficiencies:

Premature greying can also occur in young adults who are deficient in vitamins B12, D3, copper, and iron, as noted in a study in International Journal of Trichology.

• Stress:

Stress is a major cause as well. With chronic stress, our body produces more and more cortisol, a hormone that is supposed to manage stress, which in turn accelerates the loss of pigment in hair follicles.

• Lifestyle factors:

Smoking, poor diet, and environmental pollution can exacerbate greying. The British Medical Journal notes that smokers are 2.5 times more likely to experience premature greying.

Can grey hair be reversed?

• Addressing nutritional deficiencies

If you address nutritional deficiencies in your body, either naturally or by taking supplements, for example if you start taking more vitamin B12, D3, copper, and iron, your greying can improve if it has been caused by these deficiencies. A study in Dermatology Practical & Conceptual also showed that correcting Vitamin B12 deficiency led to the partial reversal of greying for some.

Also read | Stop premature greying of hair: Avoid hair dyes with ammonia, sulphate-based shampoo

• Stress management

Practicing yoga, meditation, and mindfulness to relax your mind and reduce cortisol levels in your body may lead to the repigmentation of some grey hairs. This was also seen in research done by Nature Medicine.

• Antioxidant-rich diet

Making sure your body is receiving enough antioxidants to fight the free radicals that are destroying your hair follicles can delay hair greying. So load up on foods high in antioxidants such as berries, nuts and spinach.

• Topical treatments

There are several over-the-counter anti-greying hair serums, or some suggested by your dermatologist with catalase or melanin precursors, that claim to restore pigmentation. But there has been limited research as to whether they are effective in the long term.

• Medications and emerging treatments

There has been some research on treatments for greying hair, and Frontiers in Medicine also suggests that experimental therapies are emerging. Check with your dermatologist about them.

When is reversal unlikely?