Can Diet Supplements Reverse Prematurely Grey Hair?'

Name: Alfred

Question: can premature graying of hair be reversed with diet supplements?

Answer: Hi, Alfred. Hair turning grey mainly happens due to a genetic predisposition and, unfortunately, there is not much you can do about this - with the obvious exception of using an appropriate hair dye to cover grey hairs.

It is unlikely that diet will reverse grey hair as there are genes responsible for the reduced melanin production - the pigmentation which dictates natural hair colour - in the follicles.

Many people associate grey hair with old age, but in fact, greying of the hair can often start at young age, depending on genetic factors.

There are rare cases where severe dietary deficiencies can contribute to premature greying, in which case diet and treatments can help.

For example, there are reports of severe vitamin B12 deficiencies which may result in hair going grey prematurely as well as skin pigmentation problems developing. These can generally be reversed with prescription-based treatment focusing on correcting the dietary deficiency.

Foods rich in vitamin B12 include mackerel, crab, tuna, eggs, milk, and most animal-based products. However, the absorption of vitamin B12 can be reduced with certain medical conditions, such as coeliac disease, so if you have any concerns about your B12 levels, it is best to discuss this with your doctor and have a blood test.

Copper deficiency is another rare dietary deficiency that can reduce the hair pigment. Foods rich in copper include shellfish, avocado and figs; this is also one of the nutrients included in Hair Vitalics for Men food supplements, which have been designed by Belgravia hair specialists to support the maintenance of normal healthy hair growth. However, it is very rare to be deficient in copper.

White hair can be seen following Alopecia Areata, too. This is an autoimmune condition which causes patchy hair loss and which can result in hair regrowth that is lacking any pigment. In many cases, however, the hair generally returns to its normal colour as it keeps growing in length.

There are also associations that suggest smoking may contribute to hair turning grey prematurely so, if you smoke, quitting may be beneficial to your hair as well as your overall health.

We hope this information is useful and, should you require further assistance from a hair loss specialist, we'd be happy to help.