Brief Answer:
Premature graying
Detailed Answer:
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Typical gray hair first develops at age 34 +/- 10 years in Caucasians while for Black people the average age of onset is 44 +/-10 years. The first onset of gray hair and the speed at which people go gray varies from person to person. As a rough guide 50% of the population has 50% gray hair by age 50. This is natural graying due to ageing and it cannot be prevented or reversed, totally. Most people actually start going gray in their late 20's but they don't notice it immediately.
"Premature graying" is defined as gray hair onset before late teens for Caucasians and before age 30 in Africans and Asians. Currently available medicines target this group of people, rather than natural graying due to ageing.
Very occasionally, a few gray hairs can develop in young children and yet it indicates nothing other than an early onset of the gray hair that we all develop with increasing age.
The most common areas on the
scalp in which to first see gray hair development are above the ears OR at the temples. The graying of hairs then spreads to other areas. Gray hair development in the beard and mustache may also start quite early, while gray hair on the chest and pubic region generally only occurs some years after onset of gray hair on the scalp.
A role is postulated for environmental factors such as ultraviolet light,
smoking, deficiency of trace elements and nutritional deficiencies in the causation of premature graying.
Currently treatment options are limited but are worth the indication, in those who develop considerable gray hairs before 30 years of age: Para aminobenzoic acid (PABA) and
Calcium pantothenate are well known and are known to arrest and even reverse premature greying. PABATAB-BZ tablet marketed by shalak's pharmaceuticals in India contains both of these ingredients in adequate concentration (para-aminobenzoic acid 100 mg,
biotin 5 mg, zinc 25 mg, calcium pantothenate 100 mg). Recommendation is to take thrice daily for 6 months.
Topical 1% Melitane is a new molecule that has recently be come available for premature graying of hair. It is available as a gel and needs to be applied once daily (2ml) at night at the roots. It can be use for both scalp as well as beard graying.
Hope this helps you in getting a solution to your problem
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