The day before, Stephen, a good friend of mine was a bit preoccupied. He was not paying attention to what he was eating, so I asked what was wrong. Turns out, his 3-year-old daughter had a strand of gray hair. And that worried Stephen. Graying of hair in children is not common, or so he thought.
Premature gray hair in children
Stephen is not the only parent worried about gray hair in children. There are a lot of myths associated with gray hair in children and Stephen could not decide what to believe in. Thankfully, he decided to consult a doctor instead of believing in everything he heard.
When there is gray hair in children or even in adults, it is termed as canities. There are many types of canities, although broadly speaking, it is a loss of pigmentation in hair. So, the pigment melanin decreases or is absent in hair, causing grey or white hair.
Many different conditions cause graying of hair. However, the manifestations are different. Here are the three main categories/reasons why this happens:
1. Genetics
If you have had a premature graying of hair, chances are that your child will have that. Graying of hair is a hereditary condition that is passed on from the parents to the children. This is not an indicator of health. It just means that the hair is gray, that's it!
It is also seen as a patch in pigment disorder - vitiligo. In addition, it is seen in some less common conditions that run in the family, like tuberous sclerosis, neurofibromatosis and Waardenburg syndrome. In such cases, there are many other symptoms besides greying of hair, so hair is the last thing a parent would be worried about.
2. Deficiencies
A deficiency of Vitamin B12, commonly associated with pernicious anaemia also causes premature graying of hair. This vitamin is found in animal products like fish, meat, milk, but is also fortified in cereal and other foods. A proper intake of this will correct the condition.
3. Endocrine disorders
Under or over functioning of the thyroid gland, causing hypo or hyperthyroidism may cause premature graying of hair. This is easily assessed by a blood test, and your pediatrician would be able to tell you more about it.
Things that do not cause graying of hair
Graying of hair in children is seen in many conditions, however, most of them are rare. That said, there are some common misconceptions about the condition, and here are 3 things that do not cause graying of hair:
- Stress. Though stress in children should be rare, it isn't so. However, this is not the cause of gray hair in children. That said, if you can help your child deal with stress, it will improve his concentration and performance at school and in life.
- Heart conditions. A common myth suggests that graying of hair happens when there is a lack of blood supply to the scalp. And one of the reasons for this happening is an unhealthy heart. This is nothing but a myth, and if you find a gray strand of hair in your child, don't be too stressed about his heart.
- Lice: Lice and nits are common in children, especially in the school-going age. While it requires treatment, it is not a cause of gray hair in children.
- Lack of hair oil. Hair oil is commonly used by South Asians. Not applying it may cause graying of hair according to a myth. This is nothing but a rumor, and dermatologists actually advise against the use of any hair oil.
So moms and dads, if your child is healthy, growing normally but you find a single strand of gray hair on him, don't freak out. It may be nothing. But if you still have your doubt, you should consult a doctor.
This article was originally published on theAsianparent Singapore
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