Premature graying of hair is characterized by circumscribed or general lack or loss of normal pigment. It is also called as canities, blanching of hair, gray hair, poliosis and whiteness of the hair
'Graying' of hair is due to the gradual loss of the melanocytes' pigment - melanin. In white hairs the melanocytes are absent. This is largely determined by heredity factors, hyperthyroidism and some autoimmune diseases.
Hair originates in the hair follicles. These follicles are located in the dermis, the skin layer just below the surface layer and above the subcutaneous fat. Hair follicles are present everywhere on the surface of the body except the lips, palms of the hands, and soles of the feet. New hair is made in the hair matrix at the base of the hair follicle. Living cells in the hair matrix multiply and push upward. These cells rapidly dehydrate, die, and compact into a dense, hard mass that forms the hair shaft. The hair shaft, which is made up of dead protein, is covered by a delicate covering (cuticle) composed of platelike scales.
Hair is colored by the pigment melanin, which is also responsible for skin color. Human hair colors come from two types of melanin: eumelanin in black or brown hair and pheomelanin in auburn or blond hair.
Hair grows in cycles. Each cycle consists of a long growing phase followed by a brief transitional phase and then a short resting phase. At the end of the resting phase, the hair falls out and a new hair starts growing in the follicle, beginning the cycle again. Eyebrows and eyelashes have a growing phase of 1 to 6 months. Scalp hairs have a growing phase of 2 to 6 years. Normally, about 100 scalp hairs reach the end of the resting phase each day and fall out.
Hair growth is regulated by male hormones (androgens, such as testosterone and dihydrotestosterone), which are present in both men and women, although in different amounts. Testosterone stimulates hair growth in the pubic area and underarms. Dihydrotestosterone stimulates hair growth in the beard area and hair loss at the scalp.
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“Hair brings one's self-image into focus; it is vanity's proving ground. Hair is terribly personal, a tangle of mysterious prejudices.”
~Shana Alexander
Hair is almost like a social status for both men and women, and also children. It is society’s expectation that you will have a head of hair! Hair states ones personality and adds additional beauty t is a statement about yourself, how you have your hair. Women who desire to be beautiful almost always start with their hair. There's nothing more stunning than long, shiny, healthy hair! Elegant and versatile, long hair gives women many options when it comes to styling and creating new looks. Even though the hair is a dead tissue, it suffers from numerous hazards mirroring hair problems. Everyone who desire to be beautiful and takes hair care should understand the basics of hair.
Hair is composed of a protein substance called keratin. The average adult human being has about 10000 to 150,000 hairs on the scalp. The colour, type, and sizes varies from person to person and race to race.
Hair colour
Hair colour is the pigmentation of hair follicles due to two types of melanin:
1- Eumelanin
2- Pheomelanin
Generally, if more melanin is present, the colour of the hair is darker; if less melanin is present, the hair is lighter. Levels of melanin can vary over time causing a person's hair colour to change, and it is possible to have hair follicles of more than one colour.
PREMATURE HAIR GRAYING
It is an atrophic affection of hair, characterized by circumscribed or general lack or loss of normal pigment.
Premature hair graying refers to the graying of the hair in young or before age of 35 yrs
Grey hair caused by gradual reduction of melanin production over time in your hair follicle. Melanin is pigment that gives colour and smoothness to your hair. The degree of darkness of your hair depends on how much melanin each hair contains.
Eventually the hair begins to lose its colour and strength. When there is less melanin in the hair follicle.
What cause premature graying??
· Nutrition deficiency - Vit B, Iron, Copper and Iodine.
· Stress
· Heredity
· Medical conditions – Thyroid imbalance, Vitiligo, Vit B12 deficiency anaemia… etc
· Excessive heating of hair
· Unclean scalp
· Thyroid deficiencies, Warrdenburg syndrome
· Albinism
· Pernicious Anaemia
· Artificial factor-: Tobacco smoking.
· Carelessness in maintaining of hair
· Use of certain hair oils and Shampoos
What are the symptoms?
Graying of hair before the age of 35 is generally referred as premature graying.
Lack of regular thick hair being allowed to grow is one of the common symptoms of premature hair graying
Hair becomes dry, brittle, and thinner
At same time, you may experience hair loss too
Grey hair when they first come in, darker hairs may hide the graying stands.
Eventually, gray hair will grow more rapidly than the normal hair and becomes more noticeable with time.
TREATMENT FOR PREMATURE GRAYING OF HAIR
Home remedies for treating grey hair:
· Eat foods rich in iodine such as banana, carrots and fish.
· Drink butter milk with 2 teaspoons each of yeast and wheat germ will prevent and cure premature graying of hair.
· Grate some fresh ginger. Mix with honey and place it in a jar. Eat 1 tea spoon every day.
· Rub oil made with Indian gooseberry (Amla) into the scalp regularly. It can show wonderful results, your gray hair will turn black.
· Every morning take palak juice and eat 10 curry leaves which works excellently, even the existing grey hair turn black from the roots.
· Eat foods rich in iron, minerals and vitamin A and B.
a) Vitamin A - vitamin A is necessary for promoting a healthy scalp and gives body and glow to your hair. Include dark green vegetables and orange & yellow fruits & vegetables in your diet.
b) Vitamin B - vitamin B regulates the secretion of oil, keeps hair healthy & moisturized. Eat more of fresh green leafy vegetables, tomatoes, cauliflower, cereals, liver kidney, yogurt, bananas and green vegetables.
c) Minerals - minerals like zinc, iron & copper promote healthy hair. Food sources: zinc - red meat, chicken & green vegetables; iron - beef, dried apricots, red meat, parsley, eggs, wheat & sunflower seeds; copper - seafood, egg yolk & whole grains.
d) Proteins - consuming more of protein gives your hair natural shine and good texture. Include more of sprouted whole grains, cereals, meat and soy in your diet.
Some facts about hair
v The average daily loss of hair on the scalp is between fifty to hundred hairs. If the loss is over hundred daily, hair loss will exceed replacement, and eventually you become bald.
v Hair growth is fastest from the age of sixteen to the late twenties. New hairs grow faster and the growth rate slows down with the increasing length
v The average number of hairs on the scalp of an adult is 100,000. to 140,000.
v The hair is affected by the state of the nervous system and by the condition of the circulatory system. As such it is very much interrelated to the functioning of the entire human organism: body, mind and emotions. When you ponder on the opulence of the nerve and blood supply to the head, you will have no difficulty appreciating that whatever adversely affects them, will in the long term, be to the detriment of the hair.
Homeopathy in treating premature hair graying
Homeopathic treatment for those who suffer from the premature hair graying can be a big boon.
Homeopathy is a holistic system of medicine. This means that homeopathy treats the body as a whole. Detailed mental and physical symptoms of the whole being are taken into consideration while prescribing. This form of homeopathic treatment is called as constitutional treatment.
There are several homoeopathic remedies which give great result in premature gray hair. However, the correct choice and the resulting relief is a matter of experience and right judgment on the part of the homeopathic doctor. The treatment is decided after thorough case taking of the patient.
Types of hair in different miasam
PSORIC HAIR
1. It is dry tangles easily, has to comb by wetting the comb each time while combing
2. Dry scalp with itching
3. Lusterless, matted hair, angles easily
4. Scalp--dry, rarely perspires
5. Hair fall mostly in front, crown & on the top of head
6. Hair fall after a/c illness
7. Premature graying of hair--esp midline
SYCOTIC HAIR
1. It is greasy but non tangling
2. Fishy odor of scalp, excess perspiration
3. Moist scalp with fishy odor
4. Premature graying
5. Hair fall in circular patches
SYPHILITIC HAIR
1. It is greasy but tangles easily
2. Greasy hair+++
3. Hair fall in bunches
4. Fetid, oily & sour smelling
5. Hair matters together
Reportorial approach
J.T.KENT:-Pg No:120
Chapter HEAD- HAIR-grey, becomes: Ars, graph, hipp, kali-i, kali-n, Lyc, op, ph-ac, sec, sil, sul-ac,
In spot: Psor
Repertory by Oscar E. BOERICKE, M.D.
Hair
Gray, premature -- Lyc., Phos. ac., Sec., Sul. ac.
SYNTHESIS-:
HAIR
Grey- Ars, Graph, Hipp, kali-iod, kali-nit, Kreos, Lyco, Nat-m, Op, Phos-ac, Sec, Sil, Staph, Sulph, Sulph-ac, Thuj.
Homeopathic medicines for premature graying
GRAPHITES
-Single hairs turn gray.
-Itching on the hairy scalp.
-Much dandruff on the head, causing a very troublesome itching, and causing scabs, which go off when the head is washed, and leaved the parts humid.
-Eruption on the crown, which pains and becomes moist when touched.
-Humid eruption on the head, which does not itch, but only aches when touched, as if festering underneath.
-Scurfy spot on the crown, with violent pain as from excoriation, when touched.
-Painfulness and moistness under the scurfy spots on the head.
-The old scurfs on the hairy scalp become detached and begin to emit a fetid smell.
LYCOPODIUM
-Premature baldness and gray hair
- Many grey hairs are coming on her head.
- Beginning on temples and vertex the hair turns gray early and falls out profusely, even to baldness, while it grows and increases
- The hair of the head is falling out excessively.
- The hair comes out while combing.
- Rapid falling out of the hair of the head, while hair grows anew in many parts of the body.
- The head is very much disposed to take cold ; a slight cold breeze causes a cutting sensation in the scalp.
- Itching of the hairy scalp.
- Gnawing on the scalp, he has to scratch.
- Eruption on the head, with swollen glands of the neck ; on the occiput a large boil, and over the whole hairy scalp a scurf, which the child scratches open and which then bleeds.
PHOSPHORIC ACID
-Hair gray early in life; falls out.
- Hair thins out, turns gray early.
-Very oily, soft, flaxen hair, which turns gray early and falls from head and beard, especially after grief and care
- Itching on the hairy scalp
SULPHUR
-Hair grey, offensive,dry,cold &hard
-Tinea capitis, dry form.
-Scalp dry, falling of hair; worse, washing.
-The hair of the head aches, when scratching the head.
- Pain of the roots of the hair, especially when touched.
- Falling out of the hair.
- Sensation of coldness on the head.
- Itching on the head, with impatience.
- Itching pimples on the hairy scalp.
SULPHURICUM ACIDUM
- The Hair turns gray early and falls out, with an eruption and erosive sore pain on scalp, which changes place when scratched.
- Intense itching on the hairy scalp.
- Severe itching on the head.
- Severe eruption on the head, in the face and neck.
SECALE CORNUTUM
. Falling of hair; dry and gray.
. Profuse falling of hair.
. Dull pain in occiput
THUJA OCCIDENTALIS
. White, scaly dandruff; hair dry and falling out
He always desire to have the head closely wrapped up.
Dry and white hairs
Itching of occiput
Hair fall after headache, from vertex
Lustreless & split
PSORINUM
. Gray hair in spot
Humid eruption on scalp; hair matted. Hair dry.
. Hair feels pulled.
VINCA MINOR
Hair falls out in single spots and white hair grows there
Spots on head oozing moisture, the hair matting together
Bald patches covered
Itching on scalp with short wooly hair
PHOSPHORUS
-Roots of the hair turn Dry & Grey
-Pressure on the hairy scalp, in the face and on the neck.
- Severe itching on the hairy scalp.
- Much dandruff on the hairy scalp which at times itches (aft. 8 d.).
- Itching little lumps on the hairy scalp ; when touched they are painful like a furuncle.
- The hair falls out frequently
THYROIDINUM
Premature graying of hair
“Grey hair is a blessing - ask any bald man.”
Sources:-
Disease of the skin – Frederick.M.Dearborn,A.B.,M.D,
Hair loss-explained and analysed- Dr. FAROKH JAMSHED MASTER
Gray’s Anatomy
Concise Medical Physiology- Sujith K. Chawdhari
Text Book of Pathology – Harsh Mohan
Illustrated guide to the homoeopathic Treatment- Dr. H.S.Khaneja
Directory of Diseases & Care in Homoeopathy- Ram Lal Gupta M.A. M.H.M
A Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica- J.H. CLARKE M.D
Boericke Materia medica
The Chronic Disease- Dr SAMUAL HAHEMANN
Reportory of the Homoeopathic Materia Medica- J.T.Kent
Synthesis- Repertorium Homoeopathicum Syntheticum- Dr.Frederic Schroyens
www.wikipedia.com
Article prepared by:
Dr. Azher karuvattil BHMS
