Grey hair often is associated with age, and rightly so. Although aging is the major factor in grey hair, people at any age can be effected. Heredity does play a part in this process. Article discusses a very interesting aspect about alopecia areata, shock and trauma and the relationship to hair suddenly turning grey.

What Causes Grey Hair

At some stage in our lives, both men and women will experience the on set of Gray Hair. Contrary to popular belief Gray hair is not always related to ones age. Gray hair can occur as young as in our teens and range into our late 50’s and even older.

Everybody is different but the pigment of our hair is generated in the same way. The cells in our hair follicles called “Melanocytes” generate pigments the main one being Melanin. This gives our hair its “Color”. When these Melanocytes stop producing the pigment the result is a transparent hair. The transparent hair against your healthier darker hair gives the appearance of Gray hair. In reality the hair is not Gray but transparent.

The main reason for our hair behaving this way is heredity. If your mom or dad started going Gray at a young age then the chances are you may also suffer from premature Gray hair. This is not always the case. Age does play a large part in the graying process. The pigment in the hair shaft is generated from cells at the base of the root of the hair and as we get older these cells start producing less pigment until there is no pigment at all in the hair and we end up with the transparent hair.

Gray hair can also be the result of a medical condition. If you are deficient in B12 or suffer from a thyroid imbalance it can also cause your hair to go Gray.

The sudden appearance of Gray hair is not due to psychological shock or trauma. Studies have shown that if this does happen then it’s typically due to Alopecia areata. What happens here is that the thicker, darker hairs stop growing before it effects the growth of Gray hairs, giving the impression of Gray hair overnight. Alopecia areata eventually causes round shaped patches of hair loss or complete hair loss.

About the Author

Grant Marwick is the creator of the website www.no-gray-hair.com that provides solutions and advice on the treatment of gray hair.

For more information about hair loss, causes and treatment, see:

Hair Loss in Men - Natural Remedies for Treatment
Menopause and Hair Loss - Just One of Many Causes 
Natural Hair Loss Remedies - Herbs, Hair Loss Recipes
Hair Loss Causes and Treatment - Information and Solutions
Hair Loss Causes - What To Do About It
Hair Loss In Women - Prevention and Treatment
Hair Loss - Hair Loss Help
Grey Hair - Causes and Treatment
Hair Loss Prevention - With Vitamins and Minerals
Hair Loss Solution - Stop Hair Loss With Aromatherapy
Natural Hair Loss Treatment - Prevent Men's Hair Loss
Thinning Hair - How To Disguise Hair Loss
Hair Loss Information - The Many Causes and Treatment
American Hair Loss Council - Information and Solutions
Medline Plus - Resource Hair Loss Information Site