Grey Hair: What Role does Stress Play
One of the ailments that is on the rise in today’s society is stress. Peer pressure, uneasiness, anxiety, leading an unhealthy lifestyle, and so on are just a few of the many causes of stress. Thus, the human neural system of young people between the ages of 18 and 35 is gradually and steadily becoming especially sensitive to stress, and early grey hair is no exception.
Grey hair was once seen as an inevitable consequence of ageing. Although there has been a meteoric rise in the number of products and treatments purporting to cure grey hair, relatively few actually work because medical professionals and specialists now view premature grey hair as an early symptom of stress. This blog will help you if you’re concerned about advancing greyness and want to know how to stop it.
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Why Do We All Get Grey Hair?
Pigment cells in hair follicles produce melanin, the substance responsible for hair’s natural colour. These cells begin to die off gradually as we age. Without melanin, a person’s new hair will be lighter in colour and may even turn white. However, there are a number of additional potential causes of grey hair. Some of these are,
Inheritance
The onset of grey hair is mostly determined by genetics. It’s possible to get grey hairs at a young age if your parents or ancestors did, too. Many people who have white or prematurely grey hair opt to cover it up with colour since they know they can’t change the underlying causes.
Long-Term Illness
Premature grey hair can also be caused by chronic health problems. When the immune system mistakes healthy tissue for foreign invaders, the result is a chronic disease. Alopecia is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks hair and causes colour changes.
Thyroid
Problems with grey hair can also be caused by hormonal changes like hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. The butterfly-shaped thyroid gland sits near the base of the skull. It aids in the regulation of processes within the body like metabolism. If your thyroid health is off, it may show in your hair colour. Reduced melanin production can be a symptom of an overactive or underactive thyroid.
Unhealthy Habits
An unhealthy lifestyle, including smoking and excessive alcohol use, is a major contributor to grey hair. Grey hair is now thought to be caused in part by smoking. Premature greying of the hair has been linked to cigarette smoking. Because smoking constricts blood arteries, hair follicles receive less blood than they need, resulting in hair loss. The hazardous chemicals in cigarettes can also harm hair follicles and speed up the ageing process, leading to premature greying.
Do You Get Grey Hair From Stress?
Premature greying of the hair is a real side effect of stress. In recent years, researchers have found convincing evidence linking stress to premature greying of the hair. Take a look at the steps involved:
Melanocytes are hair follicle stem cells located at the hair shaft’s base. The pigment melanin is produced by melanocytes, which are crucial cells in determining hair colour. Melanocytes are lost at a slow but steady rate as we age. Because of this, when new hair grows from follicles that have lost these cells, it has permanently less pigment than it had before. There is an influx of norepinephrine into the hair follicle in response to stress. The melanocyte stem cells are influenced by norepinephrine. They rapidly mature into pigment cells and migrate out of the hair follicles as a result of this. When there aren’t enough surviving stem cells to generate new pigment cells, new hair turns grey or white.
