Over time as age grow hair follicles lose pigment cells containing Melanin which is the main reason for the colour of the hairs.
Deficiency of vitamins may also cause premature loss of pigment cells.
Stress also reduces melanocytes stem cell responsible for hair colour due to hormone production during stress.
Unhealthy foods/ junk foods create a deficiency of essential minerals & vitamins which may lead to affect the hair colour.
Pollution also affects the hairs for turning white before age.
Keratin protein in the epidermis layer of skin bounds the cells & form a protective layer on the outer skin & found in healthy hair, deficiency changes hair colour & early hair fall along with skin dullness.
These are the common causes which can be prevented or treated easily by taking vitamins, essential minerals like zinc & copper, living a stress-free lifestyle, taking healthy food & not using chemical cosmetics.
Use of coconut oil as a massage into your scalp at bedtime or before the shower stimulates hair growth getting deep in the follicles & enhance scalp health preventing from lice & dandruff. It also gives shine & smoothness to hairs. Coconut oil boosts Melanin & Keratin hence useful in all age group.
Drinking Amla juice every day decreases the speed of the greying, weekly massage with Amla hair oil is also beneficial.
Triphala, Amla, Bhringraj if taken in diet prevent prematurely greying of hairs.
I have seen my grandmother, mother, my wife & a few other neighbourhood women applying a paste of Amla, Shikakai, Reetha, Heena, Lemon juice, Mustard seeds & coffee powder as a natural dye for hair without chemicals (readymade powder is also available) & then washing hair with Multani Mitti(clay) which soft & conditioned hairs.
Here I would like to discuss white hair patches which should be taken seriously.
Poliosis is a condition that causes white patches on an individual's hair.
An individual can be born with the condition or can develop it during any point of age.
You may have noticed it on some of the famous fictional characters, Bellatrix Lestrange, from Harry Potter or Benjamin Barker in Sweeney Todd. Individuals with poliosis have a decreased level or complete lack of melanin in their hair follicles.
The condition is also called as poliosis circumscripta and affects your eyelashes, head hair, eyebrows and any other areas with hair. When the condition affects the head hair that is right above the forehead, it is called as white forelock. The white patch can be concentrated in one place or can affect several areas of your hair. In accordance with the underlying causes, the condition can be long-term or short-term.
Poliosis is not life-threatening and does not affect your health. However, it can co-occur with some severe medical conditions such as vitiligo, Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease, alopecia areata, sarcoidosis etc.
Symptoms Of Poliosis
It is easy to identify the development of this condition. Signs and symptoms of poliosis include patches of white hair on any part of the body that has hair. Poliosis can appear suddenly at any age, irrespective of gender.
Types Of Poliosis
The condition is categorised into two categories.
Causes Of Poliosis
The reasons for the development of the condition can be pointed out to various reasons. According to common assumptions, poliosis is caused due to psychological trauma, physical shock and stress. Scientifically, it has been proven that the following are the reasons behind the development of poliosis.
Conditions Associated With Poliosis
As mentioned earlier, it is not life-threatening or harmful. However, it can be an early indication or warning sign of critical health issues. The conditions linked with poliosis are as follows:
Diagnosis Of Poliosis
The appearance of the grey or white patch of hair is the only sign required to diagnose the condition.
If the condition is affecting your child it is necessary to go to a doctor immediately. Although children can be born with white patches of hair, it can also be an indication of thyroid disorders, vitamin B12 deficiency etc. For this, the doctor may advise a blood test.
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However, due to the condition's association with several other conditions, a thorough check-up may be required. The doctor will go through the medical history of the individual and inquire about the occurrence of poliosis in the family. The diagnosis may include complete physical inspection, nutritional survey, endocrinal survey, blood test, analysis of a skin sample and neurological causes.
Treatment For Poliosis
Currently, there is a lack of proper treatment to permanently change the white patches caused by poliosis.
However, you can adopt the following measures to limit the onset of the condition.
Some of the other ways in which the condition can be managed are by dyeing your hair, wearing hats, bandanna, headbands, or other types of hair coverings. Or, you can leave it as it is!