The 1997 movie “The Devil’s Advocate,” starring Al Pacino and Keanu Reeves, has a very applicable line in it spoken by Pacino’s character: “Vanity. My favorite sin.” The depths of this statement in the movie are incredible, as vanity is a lot more than being concerned about how we look. But being concerned about how we look is something we all do.
That bizarre segway was to introduce a discussion on early graying of hair, especially in young women, as it is becoming more common. Graying hair could be considered a vain topic, but it can also signal underlying health concerns. A simple answer for why it is increasing would be that fewer women are coloring their hair. But more importantly, I think, it is a sign of some concerning issues. Some potential reasons include nutrient deficiencies due to diet crazes, diet medication and non-nutritive food. Missing in most people’s diets are zinc, vitamin B-12, copper, iron and folate.
Thyroid disorders are at an all-time high, especially when diagnosed correctly. A poorly functioning thyroid can disrupt pigment cells and turn your hair gray. High oxidative stress from environmental toxins, alcohol and others increases damage to melanocytes. And of course, we cannot have an article about any health (or vanity) related topic without discussing the role of stress.
Many studies show that stress hormones can burden the stem cells responsible for producing melanin, the pigment that gives hair its color. When these cells are depleted, hair can grow gray or white. Modifying life stress has been shown to reverse early graying. If you are or know someone who has prematurely graying hair, don’t just hide it. See a doctor and get some nutrient and thyroid studies done. Your doctor can also prescribe medication to increase blood flow to the hair follicle or suggest scalp-related procedures to the hair for growth and to minimize graying.
Eat or supplement plenty of antioxidants and use modalities like inhaled hydrogen or hydrogen water to limit oxidative stress. Use essential oils like rosemary, black seed and pumpkin seed oil, as these can help limit inflammation in the scalp as well.
It is not all vanity if you’re concerned about the early graying of your hair, especially if it comes early and quickly.
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