Four common diseases that cause gray hair. Maybe me too?

Do you have gray hair?  it's okay.  Gray hair is a natural aging phenomenon.  As you get older, your gray hair naturally increases.  However, in some cases, gray hair may increase rapidly over a short period of time.  At times like this, I worry a lot.  In this case, several diseases need to be suspected depending on the accompanying symptoms.  What is possible?  Please note that we will introduce various diseases that cause gray hair.

Four common diseases that cause gray hair. Maybe me too?

References

• March 13, 2024 Health Chosun
• January 27, 2024 Hidoc
• Daily An, January 21, 2024
• January 3, 2024 Health Chosun

 

Why do people have gray hair?

• Hair root melanocyte number and function continue to decrease during the aging process.
• The timing of gray hair growth varies from person to person (most people start graying hair in their 30s/40s).
• Gray hair may appear in adolescence due to genetic factors or excessive stress.

The most common cause of gray hair: 1. Vitiligo

• Vitiligo is a disease in which white spots appear in areas where melanin pigment has disappeared.  Symptoms occur not only on the face, but also on the backs of the hands, feet, and lips.  Hair can also occur
• Basically, a person's skin color is determined by melanin pigment.
• If vitiligo occurs in the hair root area, melanin cells in the hair follicles disappear and gray hair occurs.
• Eyebrows and eyelashes may also turn white.
• If gray hairs suddenly increase in number and are concentrated in one area, it is highly likely that you have vitiligo.

Four common diseases that cause gray hair. Maybe me too?

The most common cause of gray hair: 2. Thyroid disease

• Hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, etc. are typical.
• The thyroid gland is an organ that regulates our body's metabolism and maintains temperature.  When there is a problem with the thyroid gland, melanocyte cell function decreases.  As a result, the secretion of melanin pigment decreases.
• If you have a thyroid disease, you may suddenly have more gray hair.
• If gray hair occurs due to thyroid abnormalities, dry scalp and hair loss symptoms also occur.

Four common diseases that cause gray hair. Maybe me too?

The most common cause of gray hair: 3. Diabetes

• Diabetes occurs when there is a problem with the pituitary gland and insulin is not regulated normally.
• The hormone that produces melanin also affects the pituitary gland.
• When diabetes occurs due to impaired pituitary function, melanin pigment synthesis slows down.
• For this reason, diabetic patients rarely experience a sudden increase in gray hair.

Four common diseases that cause gray hair. Maybe me too?

The most common cause of gray hair: 4. Kidney disease

• Protein is an essential ingredient that creates melanin pigment.
• When the amount of protein in the body is insufficient, melanin synthesis does not occur normally.
• Therefore, when kidney function weakens and the amount of protein excreted in urine increases, gray hair occurs.
• In this case too, there is a sudden increase in gray hair.

Four common diseases that cause gray hair. Maybe me too?

In this post, we looked at four of the most common diseases that cause gray hair and their characteristics.  Is it possible to observe this characteristic?  

If observed, it is recommended that you receive appropriate treatment.  I hope this information will be helpful to anyone struggling with gray hair.