Sept.18: SPOTLIGHT
- Posted by CERC India
- Posted in September-18
Grey hair: Myths and facts
The first sight of a grey hair on your head may cause you to feel dismayed. But remember going grey is a natural part of life. With a stylish cut, you can flaunt your grey hair with aplomb. Here are some myths and facts about grey hair.
Grey hair is a part of aging: True. Your hair follicles have pigment cells that make melanin, a chemical that gives your hair its colour. As you age, these cells start to die and new hair strands grow in lighter shades.
It is hereditary: True. It is mostly your genes that dictate how early and how quickly you will go grey. Race also plays a role. On average, white people start to grey in their mid-30s, Asians in their late 30s and African-Americans in their mid-40s.
If you pluck a grey hair, three will grow back: False. Still, don’t pluck as it will damage follicles and they will no longer grow hair.
Grey hair is different: True. It is thinner, coarser and less manageable.
A major shock could cause you to go grey overnight: False. Hair, once grown, doesn’t change colour.
Stress makes you go grey: True. A 2011 study discovered that the body’s fight or flight response can damage your DNA and cause premature aging, including greying hair.
Smoking causes greying of hair: True. A 2013 study found that smokers were two and half times more prone to develop premature hair greying than non-smokers.
Grey hair will appear if you stay long in the sun: False. Sunlight can lighten brown or red hair a bit, but there is no scientific evidence that increased exposure to UV rays can result in grey hair or hair whitening.
Lack of vitamin B accelerates grey hair growth: True. If you are under 35 years and you have a lot of grey hair, this is a possible reason.
Change in diet can help: True. Add walnuts and foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids and zinc like fish, leafy greens and seeds to your diet.
Sources: www.webmd.com, mentalfloss.com, steptohealth.com, www.healthline.com
