Clinical and Experimental Dermatology

Biography

Biography: B B Mahajan

Abstract

Premature greying is the term used when hair turns grey prematurely. Though greying of hair is a natural process, yet in the modern era of cosmetological revolution, it has assumed a lot of aesthetic relevance, especially premature hair greying. Black, thick and shiny hair is not only sign of youthfulness and good health, but is also cosmetically appealing. Caucasian people will begin to gray in their mid-thirties, African-American people can retain their original hair color until their mid-forties, Asian people begin graying in their late thirties, whereas, as compared to South Indian population, North Indians begin to grey in their early thirties. Countless products are flooding the market everyday like, hair oils, shampoos, conditioners, gels and hair dyes which claim to slow/revert premature hair greying, but all these provide only temporary relief, if any. Before understanding the greying on hair, its etiopathogenesis is very important. There are various known causes of premature hair greying like excessive prolonged stress, thyroid deficiencies, excessive intake of tea, coffee and alcohol, fried foods, spices, sour and acidic foods, deficiency of nutrients, especially, copper reduces melanin production, deficiency of B₁₂ & biotin and hereditary causes. Common hair oils used in India include Coconut oil, Amla oil (Indian Gooseberry), Mustard oil, Olive oil, Almond oil and Mineral oils, out of which Coconut oil is the most commonly used one. Coconut oil massage not only improves the blood circulation of the scalp but also gradually restores hair color & prevents further greying of hair, and thus, delays the greying process and strengthens the hair and promotes growth. Coconut oil additionally, has soothing and cooling properties. Coconut oil is owing to its low molecular weight and high affinity for hair proteins, having the capacity to penetrate the cuticle and displacing the air which has replaced the melanin. It may have a role in not only delaying the premature greying of hair, but also giving cosmetic acceptability to the hair by making them appear less grey.