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Grey hair is often seen as a symbol of ageing gracefully, but sometimes this process occurs early. Although grey hair in the late 40s and 50s is perceived as natural, its progression in the early 20s or even late teen years can be concerning.
While the greying of hair is not a medical emergency, its early advancement can lead to self-consciousness, resulting in low self-esteem. As per a study conducted by the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, the average age of grey hair onset for the caucasian race is mid-thirties, for Asians, being late thirties, and for Africans, being mid-forties.
To know more about why Gen-Z is ageing faster, OnlyMyHealth talked to Dr Sumit Malhotra, Director, Plastic, Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery, Apollo Hospital, Lucknow.
Why Gen-Z is Facing Premature Grey Hair?
Ageing before even hitting your 30s is a sure sign of premature ageing or canities. And Gen-Z is exclusively taking to social media to talk about this problem. But canities are rarely attributed to just one factor. Different factors like stress, lifestyle habits like smoking and excess junk food intake, genetic predisposition and excessive sun exposure are believed to be the cause. And Generation Z (Gen-Z) is the prime example of this trend, as this goes beyond just vanity, underlining deeper health issues and struggling mental health.
According to Dr Malhotra, “Premature greying is no longer a rare occurrence; we are seeing an everyday increase and patients as young as 16 walk in with grey hair. It’s a growing concern linked to both internal health and external stressors.”
ALSO READ: DO Plucking Out Grey Hair Lead More To Grow? We Asked Expert
What are the Factors Contributing to Premature Grey Hair?
- Stress and Mental Health: As Gen-Z is growing up with sharing everything on social media along with academic pressure, climatic uncertainties and career issues, this added pressure is causing stress, leading to ageing early.
According to Dr Malhotra, “In Gen-Z cases, early greying of hair is often the sign of oxidative stress damaging the melanocyte cells in their follicle (melanin-forming cell in the skin responsible for melanin pigment). This gets further worsened by irregular sleep, chronic anxiety, and exposure to digital fatigue.”
- Nutritional Deficiency: As pollution and low sleep take a toll on our health, when combined with nutritional deficiency of vitamin B-12, it can lead to disrupted supply of melanocytes, leading to early grey hair. Moreover, other essential nutritional deficiencies of folic acid, iron, copper, and zinc can exacerbate the low pigment problem.
“Nutritional imbalances, particularly low levels of vitamin B12, iron, and copper, can cause premature greying. Gen Z’s fast-paced lifestyle and unhealthy eating habits of replacing a nutrition-dense diet with fast food are also adding stress, ” shared Dr Malhotra.
- Genetic Factor: Family history is one of the first precursors to developing any condition. If parents or grandparents were prone to early ageing of hair, chances are you will too. Genes influence how long your melanocytes can produce pigment before giving out.
- Smoking and Pollution: Smoking is strongly linked to premature greying. Smokers are up to four times more likely to develop grey hair early compared to non-smokers. Add to that daily exposure to UV radiation and pollution, and you have a recipe for oxidative stress that damages pigment cells.
- Heat and Hair Styling: Frequent use of colouring and chemical hair treatments, combined with bleaching and excessive heat styling, can lead to early follicle damage. Over time, this stress on the scalp may lead to pigment loss.
Is Pre-mature Greying Reversible?
Premature greying induced due to nutritional deficiencies and stress is often reversible,” said Dr Malhotra. However, once the natural meleocytes are depleted, the reversal is unlikely.
To combat early greying, Dr Malhotra recommends:
- Getting tested for vitamin B-12, folate and iron levels.
- Keep your thyroid in check and get tested if sudden and severe premature greying happens.
- Dermatologists often recommend getting tested for vitamin B12, folate, iron levels, and thyroid function in cases of sudden or severe greying in youth.
ALSO READ: How Can You Stop Your Hair from Greying?
Conclusion: Silver Strands is Okay, Too!![grey hair]()
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Premature or early greying of hair can lead to social anxiety and self-consciousness. But a growing movement, especially among Gen Z, is reframing silver strands as a natural part of being human. Social media is full of young creators embracing the “silver hair, don’t care” mantra. Still, if grey hair is bothering you or appearing suddenly, it’s worth seeking professional advice, not just for cosmetic reasons, but to rule out any underlying health issues.