Out of the grey zone

Just as the full scalp hair is regarded as a sign of good health and youth, so does the colour of the hair. Visible grey hair is regarded as a sign of ageing or ‘loss of youth’, in the era when everyone is striving to remain ‘forever young’. High levels of stress and unhealthy lifestyles are proving to be the major inducers of grey hair. The desire to delay grey hair is paramount and so is the search for the means to retain natural hair colour, along with hair health.

Hair ageing comprises of degradation of the hair shaft, which involves progressive degeneration of the hair fibre from the root to tip. The aged hair shows dryness, reduced strength, rough surface texture, loss of colour, decreased luster, stiffness and brittleness.

Hair colour is produced by tiny pigment cells within our hair follicles called melanocytes. As we age, the activity of these melanocytes gradually declines until they stop making pigment. New hairs grown in without pigment, result in grey hair.

When it’s premature

Each one of us has a genetically determined time for having grey hair. In our population and race, white hair ideally should first appear at the age of 37.2. Any greying of hair before this age is premature known as canities. Premature greying of hair makes a person look much older than his/her age. In males the beard and moustache areas commonly become grey before scalp or body hair. On the scalp, the temples usually show greying first.

What causes it

Although nothing can stop hair from turning aged, there are some conditions that can cause hair to age earlier or more quickly than normal. Among the natural aggressors, excessive UV ray exposure plays an important role in hair ageing. A person experiencing a prolonged period of stress and anxiety may notice, over a period of time, the change in hair colour from black to grey. Severe illness too can slow or stop the production of melanin and amino acids. Improper dietary habits, sleep hours, sedentary life style, smoking and excessive alcohol also can lead to premature ageing of hair. It has also been associated with autoimmune disorders.

Other factors associated with premature hair ageing include:

• Use of improper and adulterated hair cosmetics
• Heredity factors
• Hormonal imbalance
• Toxic/heavy metal poisoning
• Folic acid deficiency
• Thyroid disorders
• Chemotherapy and radiation

The treatment is targeted on indentifying and managing the causative and triggering factors.

Groom it up

Nourishment and proper grooming are very important to keep the hair texture, growth, shine and luster in a good condition. Choose products that are gentle, preferably without any harsh agents like sodium laureth sulfate or Cocamidopropyl betaine.

n Para-amino-benzoic- acid, calcium pantothenate and biotin are used for treatment of canities.

n Minerals like zinc, iron and copper promote healthy hair.

n Topical anti-aging compounds of current interest are selenium, copper, phytoestrogens and melatonin. Use of hormonal anti-aging protocols containing recombinant human growth hormone has resulted in improvement of hair growth.

(Dr Sharma is a Chandigarh-based dermatologist)