What Are The Causes Of Premature Gray Hair?

Graying of the hair is natural as you get older. What's considered premature graying is often nothing out of the ordinary, with natural graying often beginning in the early 30s, according to the National Institutes of Health. If your hair begins going gray before this or is accompanied by other health problems, you may have premature graying caused by several possible health situations. Your doctor can best evaluate your health conditions and provide you with the best treatment of the underlying cause.

Smoking

Don't just worry about increased cancer risks if you smoke. Smoking may also cause premature graying, increasing your risks of early graying by four compared to non-smokers, according to a study of 606 smokers and non-smokers published in the British Medical Journal. Not only may smoking cause hair to gray earlier, but it may also increase the rate of balding in men.

Waardenburg Syndrome

Genetic diseases like Waardenburg syndrome may lead to changes in your hair pigmentation and skin color, reports the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Those afflicted with the syndrome may notice graying hair at as young an age as 12.

Thyroid Problems

Hormone changes due to less than optimal thyroid gland functioning, technically known as hypothyroidism, often results in premature graying of the hair, according to the University of Michigan Health System. Additional problems include cardiovascular disease and poor mental functioning exhibited as confusion or psychosis.

Poor Nutrition

Poor nutrition, specifically a deficiency in the B family of vitamins like B12 and B6, can accelerate the aging of the human body and lead to earlier appearances of gray hair, warns the University of Alabama Medicine. Proper diet and nutrition can help stave off the problem, though no amount of vitamin supplementation can reverse hair color that has already become gray.