Causes For Premature Gray Hair

Most people find their first gray hair sometime in their 30s, while some are lucky enough to keep their natural color into their 50s or 60s. Some, however, start to go gray in their 20s. According to the University of Alabama-Birmingham Health System (UABHS), turning gray before age 30 is considered premature graying. No matter how much we try to fight it, gray hair is a natural part of the aging process, and has more to do with genetics than stress, pollution, or lifestyle.

Genetics

Heredity is the main cause of gray hair, Tara Parker-Pope reported for the "New York Times" in 2009. So if a parent or grandparent starting going gray in his or her 20s, it's likely that you will, too. Echoes UABHS, "inheritance determines not only your hair color, but also when graying begins."

Ethnicity

Ethnicity might also play a role in premature graying. Parker-Pope wrote that Caucasians tend to gray sooner, as early as their mid-30s, followed by those of Asian heritage, then those with African roots.

Hydrogen Peroxide

According to Parker-Pope, gray hair results from an absence of melanin, the pigment which gives our hair its color. Every hair cell produces a small amount of hydrogen peroxide; over time, the amount builds up. This buildup blocks the normal synthesis of melanin, so the hair, in effect, bleaches itself. As of 2010, however, researchers did not know why some people begin building up hydrogen peroxide earlier than others.

Smoking

A study in England, reported by "Science News" magazine, found that smokers are four times more likely to begin turning gray at a young age than non-smokers. Smoking might speed the aging process, as it also contributed to premature balding in men, the study added.

Hypothyroidism

According to the University of Michigan Health System (UMHS), hypothyroidism --- a disorder in which the thyroid gland doesn't produce enough of the thyroid hormone --- may also cause premature gray hair. Along with weight loss, fatigue, vitiligo (a disease that causes patches of light skin), and anemia, premature grayness can be a sign of hypothyroidism.

Progeria

According to the "American Medical Association Complete Medical Encyclopedia," progeria, or premature aging, can cause gray hair in children as young as 4. Hutchinson-Gilford syndrome, a very serious disorder, causes young children to age at dramatic rates, and results in death around puberty. Werner's syndrome, or adult progeria, starts in adolescence or early adulthood, and triggers rapid aging from that point.

Other Causes

According to UABHS, other factors have been linked to premature graying, including lack of vitamin B in the diet, anemia, and certain medications. Some medical treatments, such as those for AIDS and cancer, can bring on gray hair at an earlier age.