Grey hair in 10-20 years’ olds alarming
31 Aug 2023 07:44:20
Staff Reporter
When one attains the age of 50 years, one starts experiencing hair turning grey. Typically, White people witness their hair becoming grey while in their mid 30s, Asians in late 30s, and those with dark complexion see their hair turning grey when they reach 40. Most people have a significant amount of grey hair when they turn 50. This is very common, but if an individual of age 8 years experiences grey hair, then it is a serious health issue. Dr Jayesh Mukhi, Professor of Department of Skin with Government Medical College, while talking to ‘The Hitavada’, admitted that a lot of children are facing the issue of grey hair. “We don’t have the data. But average 5 children in a less than a week, we check, have grey hair. Grey hair do not cause any problem other than damaging the looks, but it should not happen at such a tender age.”
According to Dr Mukhi, lifestyle change is one of the factors responsible for grey hair in children. “People draw their own inferences about grey hair. Some say, it is due to stress. It may be due to stress. Under stress, children don’t take their own care. They eat junk food, the teenagers become habitual smokers. It also helps in getting hair grey,” pointed out Dr Mukhi. Doctors don’t say openly, but too much use of cellphone is also one of the factors of greying of hair. Cellphone addition is making children spend sleepless nights, stay in lot of stress. During the tenure of Dr Dilip Mhaisekar as Vice-Chancellor of Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) a study was conducted. The study revealed that most students use cellphone between 10 pm and 6 am. It does not happen only with medical students but other students also are addicted to cellphone.
Dr Ashish Pimple, President of Skin Society of India, Nagpur Chapter, explained, “It is a multifactorial problem. Premature greying takes place because of genetic issue also. The nutritional deficiencies, multiple vitamins deficiencies play vital role. Apart from lifestyle changes, the pollution, changes in environment, contaminated food, oxidation process also lead to hair greying. The rate of children becoming grey is increasing. The peer pressure, late sleeping, nutrition correction, are also add to the woes.” Despite the claims made on-line and by product marketers, it is not possible to reverse white hair if the cause is genetic. Once hair follicles lose melanin, it becomes difficult. Slowing of melanin production makes hair turn grey, said a doctor.
Dr Bushra Khan, a young Skin Specialist, elaborated, “The gerying has become common in children having 10 to 15 years of age. The reasons mostly are genetic plus thyroid, fats, vitamin deficiency, mineral deficiencies. The problem is reversible and irreversible too. If there is a deficiency of B12, calcium, zink and if doctor increases those component then the patient experiences hair becoming black. Certain drugs also cause greying. Smoking in all forms active or passive, results in greying of hair.” “When there are fewer pigment cells in a hair follicle, the strand of hair will no longer contain as much melanin and will become a more transparent color — like grey, silver, or white — as it grows. As people continue to get older, fewer pigment cells will be around to produce melanin,” added Dr Bushra Khan.