What causes gray hair, and can I stop it?

Even though everyone’s hair turns gray, you’re not alone if it feels distressing to see the first silvery stands. For many people, gray hair is the first sign of aging they see — and one they’d like to reverse.

On average, hair starts to gray in your 30s-40s. For some people, hair turns gray earlier in life.

The medical term for hair graying is canities.

Why does hair turn gray?

Hair turns gray (or white) when your hair follicles stop creating melanin. Melanin is the substance that gives your skin and hair color.

Your hair is always going through a cycle with distinct stages. At any time, the hairs on your scalp may be growing, resting without getting any longer, or falling out. This is normal and expected. The melanin in your hair is created every time your hair begins this cycle. Each cycle lasts several years. After 7-15 cycles, the melanin stops regrowing, which leads to your hair losing its color.

If your parents' hair turned gray early, your hair might, too.

Does stress cause gray hair?

Yes. Stress has been shown to speed up signs of aging — including gray hair.

When you’re stressed, your body has a fight-or-flight response and releases a hormone called norepinephrine. This causes the melanocytes — the cells that produce melanin — to move out of your hair follicles. Researchers say this helps cause gray hair.

There are a lot of factors that can affect how early your hair turns gray. These factors include a family history of premature gray hair, underlying health conditions, and living an unhealthy lifestyle.

My hair turned gray — can I stop it?

Premature hair graying is difficult to treat. Right now, there are no effective medical treatments to add color back to your hair. However, if you have an underlying condition that may affect your hair color, like a vitamin deficiency, your dermatologist or primary care doctor can help create a treatment plan.

Gray hair is a normal part of aging, and there is nothing wrong with having gray hair. However, if your gray hair affects your self-esteem, you can cover it using hair dye.

There are different types of hair dye:

• Natural hair colors, like henna. These are gentler on your scalp than synthetic dyes. However, they usually fade quickly and need more frequent touch-ups.

• Synthetic hair dyes. Permanent or semi-permanent synthetic hair dyes last the longest and can be easier to apply than temporary synthetic hair dyes. However, some ingredients in longer-lasting hair dyes may irritate your scalp or cause skin allergies.

When choosing a hair dye, consider whether your skin is sensitive and the ingredients in the dye.

Your dermatologist knows how to diagnose and treat medical conditions that might cause your gray hair.

Some people suggest plucking out gray hairs. However, keep in mind that plucking hair can cause hair thinning, and the removed hair will grow back gray.

Some research has suggested that gray hair may grow in color again. However, this depended on specific factors, including reducing emotional stress or undergoing treatment for an underlying health condition. More research is needed to find out whether gray hair can be reversed.

How can I delay gray hair?

Although researchers are still looking for a way to reverse gray hair, you can adopt lifestyle changes to help slow the process of your strands turning silver. Like hair loss, the sooner you begin managing gray hair, the better your results. Keep in mind that these are temporary measures and they won’t altogether prevent your hair from graying.

Dermatologists say following these habits may help delay gray hair:

• Maintain a healthy lifestyle

• Eat a balanced diet containing antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals

• Get a good amount of sleep

• Don’t smoke

• Try to manage stress

• Protect your skin and hair from the sun’s harmful UV rays by following the tips at Practice Safe Sun

A board-certified dermatologist can diagnose and treat an underlying condition causing gray hair and help create a plan to manage it. To find a dermatologist near you, go to Find a Dermatologist.

Images
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References
Bangalore Kumar, A, Shamim, H, Nagaraju, U. Premature Graying of Hair: Review with Updates. Int J Trichology. 2018;10(5):198-203

Kienanh, M,Kazimierska, K, Zaliwska, D, et al. “Hair Graying: Mechanisms, Prevention, and Innovative Treatment Strategies – literature review.” Quality in Sport. (2024);22:54296.

Poonia, K, Bhalla, M. “Premature Graying of Hair: A Comprehensive Review and Recent Insights.” Indian Dermatology Online Journal. 2024:15(5): 721-731

Singh, R, Madke, B, Bansod, S, Yadav, N. “Premature graying of hair: A concise review.” CosmoDerma. 2021;1(65).

Zhang, B, Ma, S, Rachmin, I, et al. “Hyperactivation of sympathetic nerves drives depletion of melanocyte stem cells.” Nature. 2020:577:676-681.

Written by:
Brooke Schleehauf

Reviewed by:
Kesha Buster, MD, FAAD
Laurel Naversen Geraghty, MD, FAAD
Desmond Shipp, MD, FAAD

Last updated: 12/19/24