The preventative measures that young people take to maintain their beauty are endless. However, there are some things that we can’t use injections, surgeries or physically target with a scalpel before they occur, such as gray hairs. Gray hair is just as natural as wrinkles and sagging skin, but what does it mean if we get one (or a few) as a college student, and what can be done to prevent them?
Health Causes
Gray hair at a young age can be a result of several factors according to the National Library of Medicine. One cause that the average person is familiar with is graying as a result of Vitamin B12 deficiency. Premature graying, alopecia and visible changes in the hair could also occur from decreased thyroid hormones (T3 and T4).
Oxidative stress — excess oxygen being exposed to the hair follicles — can be a result of smoking, ultraviolet rays, pollution, emotional stress or inflammatory issues. Oxidative stress is one of the most heavily studied causes of hair abnormality due to the several common factors that can lead to it.
Preventative Measures
Improving your Vitamin B12 levels is one of the most straightforward options to prevent more gray hair from growing — seafood, meats, milk, cheese and peanuts are just a few items you can integrate into your diet to get more Vitamin B12. Foods that are rich in iodine, selenium, tyrosine and zinc are of great benefit to your thyroid and are found in many of the same foods as Vitamin B12.
Activities that control stress can also be easy to integrate and beneficial not only to your hair health but also to your overall health. Quitting smoking and lessening ultraviolet ray exposure might be difficult to start with but picking up hobbies such as yoga or guided breathing practices is a good way to get into a healthier lifestyle. Engaging in hobbies that bring you joy, such as writing or painting, are effective mood regulator as well. If you feel like you are already a very relaxed person but want to work harder to prevent gray hairs, there is always something new you can try.
Acceptance
The mindset that you have about gray hair that pops up right when you turn 20 can be crucial to how you handle it (and if you see more). As mentioned previously, stress is a big factor in hair health, so try not to freak out if you notice something like this. Dying your hair is always an option, but if you really want to get the hair out of sight, plucking it would be your best option.
However, there’s nothing wrong with accepting that you are someone who has gray hair 10 years earlier than the average person. As long as you are living a healthy lifestyle, this is just another experience that you are granted by being a human, and you shouldn’t be ashamed to admit it. Remembering the beauty and privilege of humanity, living a full life and sometimes getting gray hair because of it can help you have a positive outlook on your situation.
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