Gray Hair: The Inside Scoop

Gray hair is everywhere. Most people turn gray when they are older, but some people get it at a young age as well.

Gray hair can be a result of different causes. It can be hereditary, may just be from old age, or may be the result of a disease.

In order to grasp a better understanding of exactly what gray hair is, it is important to know where the color of our hair comes from. We are all born with hair of a certain color. These colors include varying shades of blonde, brown, black, and red. The level of darkness or lightness comes from the amount of pigment called melanin we have in our hair.

As we get older, our hair follicles do not produce as much melanin as they once did. The older we get, the less pigment our hair has. Therefore, the underlying white color of our natural hair becomes visible as we get older and our hair appears gray when it replaces a colored one that has fallen out.

There is also a theory that gray hair can be caused by too much exposure to the sun. Some people believe that ultraviolet rays may cause the pigment cells on your scalp to work harder than they do under normal conditions. This may burn out and damage your hair over time. Some people believe this is one of the causes of gray hair at a young age.

You may wonder why it is referred to as gray hair if our underlying hair is actually white. The reason for this is because when only some hair has turned white, but there are still colored pieces, it simply appears gray to our eyes. Notice the difference by looking at someone with a full head of "gray" hair and a person who only has some gray hair. The person who has completely lost all color appears to have white hair, whereas the other person who is partially lacking color appears gray.

Besides aging, heredity, and sun exposure, gray hair can also be caused by some diseases. Hashimoto's disease is an example. It is an autoimmune disease in which antibodies attack parts of the body, which can include the cells the produce melanin in hair follicles. Consequently, this can result in "gray hair."