Suggest Treatment For Premature Greying Of Hair

Brief Answer:
Likely to be due to Vitamin B12 deficiency

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.

I have gone carefully through your query and understand your concerns. Hair color is produced by tiny cells called melanocytes that live within the hair follicles. In the course of a lifetime, the activity of the melanocytes in each follicle begins to wane, resulting in gray hairs. Each individual’s melanocyte-clock is different. As in case of your daughter, if gray hairs appear in childhood, this is called premature graying, or canities. Several conditions can alter a child’s preset melanocyte-clock. If these conditions are present for a short time, a few scattered gray hairs may be the result; if they persist, the graying is likely to progress. I do not suppose that your projection is right. A wholesome diet would be essential but the other things are not likely to be effective.

Some common causes could be:
* The most common is vitamin B12 deficiency. Vitamin B12, or cobalamin, is present widely in foods from animal sources and unless on a strictly vegan diet. Since you are primarily on vegetable foods, vitamin B12 deficiency is the likely cause in case of your child. In such a case, megaloblastic anemia can be observed alongside. Giving methylcobalamine supplements should help in resolution.
* Hyperthyroidism can reduce melanocyte activity. Disorders of skin pigmentation, such as vitiligo (which follows the destruction of melanocytes in the skin), can also result in a loss of hair pigmentation.
* Inheritance or genetics can be a factor. A family history of early onset gray hair usually foreshadows its potential for development in offsprings.
* Certain childhood diseases like tuberous sclerosis, Waardenburg syndrome and neurofibromatosis need to be ruled out. A rare entity called Vogt-Koyanagi syndrome occurs in some children following a viral illness. In an attempt to fight the virus, the body makes antibodies that, unfortunately, also attack the melanocytes.

Let me know if I could help further.

Regards

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Brief Answer:
Get his thyroid levels checked

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back.

- You can give Cap. Hicobal (1000) once daily to the child. I do not think that homeopathic medicines will help.
- Although I do not think that thyroid problems are present, it would be a good idea to get his blood TSH level checked. Please upload the report thereafter and I would guide you accordingly.

Regards

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