The silver fox phenomenon: gray strands in men

Strands of gray hair usually appear as part of the natural aging process. There are various reasons for premature graying: Heredity: Genes play a significant role in whether you get the first gray strands in your hair early. If your father’s temples turned grey at a young age, it is likely that you will too. Mental stress: Stress can affect the pigment cells in the hair, the hair roots and the hair-producing cells. If there is not enough energy available to supply the pigment-producing cells, the production of melanin decreases. The hair turns white. Hormones: If stress hormones accumulate in the body, this can trigger hormone-induced hair loss. This promotes premature greying. This is mainly due to the fact that unpigmented or white hair is more firmly rooted than dark hair. When under constant stress, these are more likely to fall out, resulting in more gray hair. Unhealthy lifestyle: If the body lacks nutrients and vitamins, this leads to an insufficient supply of energy to the melanocytes. If these produce less melanin, the hair discolors over time. Side effects of medication, alcohol and nicotine can also influence melanin formation. Hydrogen peroxide: The body forms hydrogen peroxide as part of the metabolism. It has a bleaching effect. With increasing age, the body can no longer break down the metabolic product as well. It attacks the amino acids necessary for melanin production. This results in a loss of hair pigment and the formation of gray strands in the hair.