今日医学：白头发的成因、预防与逆转（双语）

What you should know about white hair

Meidcal News Today, Last medically reviewed on January 10, 2020

今日医学新闻，2020年1月10日

Causes of white hair

白发的成因

Prevention and reversing premature white hair

预防和扭转早发性白发

Takeaway

要点

It is normal for hair color to change, as people age. But white hair can appear at almost any time in life. Even teenagers and people in their 20s may notice strands of white hair.

随着年龄的增长，头发颜色发生变化是正常的。但白发几乎可以在生命中的任何时候出现。甚至青少年和20多岁的人也会一不小心注意到自己长了一缕白发。

The human body has millions of hair follicles or small sacs lining the skin. The follicles generate hair and color or pigment cells that contain melanin. Over time, hair follicles lose pigment cells, resulting in white hair color.

人体皮肤上有数百万个毛囊或小囊。毛囊产生头发和含有黑色素的颜色或色素细胞。随着时间的推移，毛囊失去色素细胞，导致头发颜色变白。

In this article, we look at some common causes of prematurely white hair, along with ways to slow the graying process down or prevent it, in some instances.

在本文中，我们将介绍一些导致早生白发的常见原因，以及在某些情况下减缓或防止头发变灰的方法。

Causes of white hair

白发的成因

There can be many causes besides age that result in a person’s hair turning white.

除了年龄之外，还有很多原因导致一个人的头发变白。

Vitamin deficiencies

维生素缺乏

White and gray hairs may start to grow at any age, and may be caused by a range of different factors.

白发和灰白发可能在任何年龄开始生长，可能由一系列不同的因素引起。

Any deficiencies of vitamin B-6, B-12, biotin, vitamin D, or vitamin E can contribute to premature graying.

任何缺乏维生素B-6、B-12、生物素、维生素D或维生素E的情况都可能导致过早变灰。

One 2015 report in the journal Development notes various deficiency studies on vitamin D-3, vitamin B-12, and copper and their connection to graying hair. It finds nutritional deficiencies affect pigmentation, suggesting color can return with vitamin supplementation.

《发展》杂志2015年的一份报告指出了维生素D-3、维生素B-12和铜的各种缺乏研究及其与头发变白的关系。研究发现，营养缺乏会影响色素沉着，这表明补充维生素可以恢复肤色。

A 2016 study reported in the International Journal of Trichology looked to factors related to premature graying in young Indians under 25 years of age. It found low levels of serum ferritin, which stores iron in the body, vitamin B-12, and the good cholesterol HDL-C were common in participants with premature hair graying.

2016年发表在《国际毛发学杂志》上的一项研究调查了25岁以下印度年轻人过早变灰发的相关因素。研究发现，在头发过早变白的参与者中，血清铁蛋白（在体内储存铁）、维生素B-12和良好的胆固醇HDL-C水平较低。

Genetics

遗传

Premature graying of a person’s hair is largely connected to genetics, according to a 2013 report in the Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology.

根据《印度皮肤病、性病学和麻风病学杂志》2013年的一份报告，一个人的头发过早变灰在很大程度上与遗传有关。

Race and ethnicity play roles, as well. Premature graying in white people can start as early as 20 years old, while a person can be as young as 25 years old among Asians, and 30 years in African-Americans populations, according to the same 2013 study.

种族和民族也起着作用。根据2013年的同一项研究，白人头发的过早变灰最早可能在20岁开始，而亚洲人的过早变灰最早可能在25岁，而非裔美国人的过早变灰最早可能在30岁。

Oxidative stress

氧化应激

While graying is mostly genetic, oxidative stress in the body may play a part when the process happens prematurely.

虽然头发变灰主要是遗传因素造成的，但当这一过程过早发生时，体内的氧化应激可能起到一定作用。

Oxidative stress causes imbalances when antioxidants are not enough to counteract the damaging effects of free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that damage cells, contributing to aging and disease.

当抗氧化剂不足以抵消自由基的破坏作用时，氧化应激会导致失衡。自由基是不稳定的分子，会破坏细胞，导致衰老和疾病。

Too much oxidative stress can promote the development of diseases, including the skin-pigment condition vitiligo. Vitiligo may also turn the hair white due to melanin cell death or the loss of cell function.

过多的氧化应激会促进疾病的发展，包括皮肤色素状况白癜风。白癜风也可能由于黑色素细胞死亡或细胞功能丧失而使头发变白。

Certain medical conditions

某些医疗条件

Some medical conditions, including autoimmune diseases, may increase a person’s risk for graying early. In fact, research published in 2008 showed a connection between hair abnormalities and thyroid dysfunction.

某些疾病，包括自身免疫性疾病，可能会增加一个人早发灰的风险。事实上，2008年发表的研究表明头发异常和甲状腺功能紊乱之间存在联系。

White hair is also common in alopecia areata, an autoimmune skin condition that causes hair loss on the scalp, face and other parts of the body. When the hair grows back, it tends to be white due to melanin deficiency.

白发在斑秃中也很常见，斑秃是一种自身免疫性皮肤病，可导致头皮、面部和身体其他部位脱发。当头发长回来时，由于缺乏黑色素，它往往是白色的。

Real-life stressors

现实生活中的各种压力源

It is commonly thought that stress may lead to hair becoming white prematurely. However, studies have not conclusively proved this.

人们普遍认为压力可能导致头发过早变白。然而，研究并没有最终证明这一点。

There are conflicting research studies on real-life stress, such as that caused by injury, leading to premature graying.

关于现实生活中的压力，例如由伤害引起的压力，导致过早变灰，存在着相互矛盾的研究。

One study from New York University, reported in Nature Medicine, finds that the cells responsible for hair color can be depleted when the body is under stress.

纽约大学发表在《自然医学》上的一项研究发现，当身体处于压力下时，负责头发颜色的细胞可能会耗尽。

Other studies indicate that while stress may play a part, it is only a small part of a bigger picture where disease and other factors contribute.

其他研究表明，虽然压力可能起到一定作用，但相比于疾病和其他因素压力只起到了很小作用。

Smoking

吸烟

A study from 2013 reported in the Italian Dermatology Online Journal, shows that smokers are 2 1/2 times more likely to start graying before age 30 as non-smokers.

《意大利皮肤病在线》杂志2013年的一项研究表明，吸烟者在30岁之前开始变灰的可能性是不吸烟者的2.5倍。

A 2015 study in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology also demonstrated that smoking is linked to premature white hair in young men.

2015年发表在《美国皮肤病学会杂志》上的一项研究也表明，吸烟与年轻男性早生华发有关。

Chemical hair dyes and hair products

化学染发剂和头发制品

Chemical hair dyes and hair products, even shampoos, can contribute to premature hair graying. Many of these products contain harmful ingredients that decrease melanin.

化学染发剂和头发制品，甚至洗发水，都会导致头发过早变灰。这些产品中有许多含有有害成分，可以减少黑色素。

Hydrogen peroxide, which is in many hair dyes, is one such harmful chemical. Excessive use of products that bleach hair will also eventually cause it to turn white.

过氧化氢是许多染发剂中的一种有害化学物质。过度使用漂白头发的产品最终也会导致头发变白。

Prevention and reversing premature white hair

预防和扭转早发性白发

If genetics or aging is the cause, nothing can prevent or reverse the process. However, treating graying hair could allow color pigmentation to return if the loss is due to a medical condition.

如果遗传或衰老是原因，那么没有什么办法可以阻止或逆转这一过程。然而，如果是由于医疗原因造成的，治疗灰白头发可能会使色素沉着恢复。

When diet and vitamin deficiencies are the cause of prematurely white hair, correcting these may reverse the problem or stop it from worsening.

当饮食和维生素缺乏是导致过早白发的原因时，纠正这些问题可能会扭转情况或阻止其恶化。

Eating more antioxidants

多吃抗氧化剂

Eating a diet with lots of antioxidant-rich foods, including vegetables and fruits, may help to prevent hair from graying.

饮食中多吃富含抗氧化剂的食物，包括蔬菜和水果，可能有助于防止头发变白。

A person’s diet plays a part in preventing white hair. A diet rich in antioxidants can reduce oxidative stress.

一个人的饮食在防止白发方面起着一定的作用。富含抗氧化剂的饮食可以减少氧化应激。

Antioxidant-rich foods include:

富含抗氧化剂的食物包括：

·fresh fruits and vegetables

·新鲜水果和蔬菜

·green tea

·绿茶

·olive oil

·橄榄油

·fish

·鱼

Addressing deficiencies

解决营养缺乏问题

Anyone who has white hair resulting from a vitamin deficiency should consume more foods loaded with those vitamins.

任何因缺乏维生素而长出白发的人都应该多吃富含这些维生素的食物。

For example, seafood, eggs, and meats are good sources of vitamin B-12, and milk, salmon, and cheese are excellent sources of vitamin D.

例如，海鲜、鸡蛋和肉类是维生素B-12的良好来源，而牛奶、鲑鱼和奶酪是维生素D的极好来源。

Vitamin supplements that are available over the counter can also correct deficiencies.

非处方维生素补充剂也可以纠正营养不良。

Quitting smoking

戒烟

Smoking has adverse effects on the body and contributes to white hair. And researchers have found a link between the habit and loss of hair pigmentation.

吸烟对身体有不良影响，并导致白发。研究人员发现，这种习惯与头发色素沉着的减少之间存在联系。

Natural remedies

自然疗法

There are plenty of hair dyes on the market that cover white hair, but many of these contribute to premature graying and may cause allergic and adverse reactions.

市场上有很多染发剂用来覆盖白发，但其中许多会导致头发过早变灰，并可能导致过敏和不良反应。

Natural remedies offer an alternative to slow down hair-whitening without harming the body or causing further hair pigment damage.

自然疗法提供了一种替代方法，可以在不损害身体或进一步损害头发色素的情况下减缓头发美白。

Curry leaves. The medicinal use of curry leaves goes back centuries. When combined with hair oil and applied to the scalp, curry leaves can slow premature graying.

咖喱叶。咖喱叶的药用历史可以追溯到几个世纪以前。咖喱叶与发油混合后涂在头皮上，可以减缓头发过早变灰。

One report in the International Journal of PharmTech Research highlights the traditional use of curry leaves to retain black hair color and even prevent premature graying. Curry leaves can be purchased at Indian supermarkets, as well as traditional grocery stores.

《国际制药技术研究杂志》上的一份报告强调了咖喱叶的传统用途，以保持黑色头发的颜色，甚至防止过早变灰。咖喱叶可以在印度超市和传统杂货店买到。

Bhringaraj. The false daisy or bhringaraj will darken hair and keep it from becoming white early, according to some reports. The juice of the leaves is boiled in coconut oil or sesame oil and massaged into the hair.

Bhringaraj leaves are available in oil form.

布林加拉杰。据一些报道，醴肠或布林加拉杰会使头发变黑、防止头发过早变白。把该草叶的汁液在椰子油或芝麻油中煮沸，然后按摩到头发上。布林加拉杰叶以油的形式提供。

Indian gooseberry. Also called amla, this is an herbal supplement recognized for reversing premature graying by promoting pigmentation. Its effectiveness is believed to be because the gooseberry is rich in antioxidants and anti-aging properties.

印度醋栗。也称为amla，这是一种草药补充剂，可通过促进色素沉着来逆转过早变灰。它的功效被认为是因为醋栗富含抗氧化剂和抗衰老特性。

Amla is available as a fruit in Indian grocery stores. It can also be found, as a powder or supplement, available online or in a traditional health food stores. The powder can be mixed with coconut oil and applied directly to the scalp.

Amla作为水果在印度杂货店出售。它也可以在网上或传统的保健食品商店买到，作为粉末或补充剂。这种粉末可以与椰子油混合，直接涂在头皮上。

Black tea. Black tea can make hair darker, shinier and softer. It can be used by steeping 3 to 5 tea bags in 2 cups of boiling water, cooling and adding to clean, wet hair. Tea can also be mixed with conditioner, left in the hair for 1 hour, and then rinsed out.

红茶。红茶可以使头发更黑、更亮、更柔软。用2杯沸水浸泡3到5个茶包，冷却后加入干净湿润的头发即可。茶也可以与护发素混合，放在头发里1小时，然后冲洗干净。

Copper. Low copper levels can lead to premature graying, according to one 2012 study. Good food sources of copper are beef liver, lentils, almonds, dark chocolate, and asparagus.

铜。根据2012年的一项研究，体内的低铜含量可能导致头发过早变灰。铜的良好食物来源是牛肝、扁豆、杏仁、黑巧克力和芦笋。

Ridge gourd. The ridge gourd is known for restoring hair pigment and stimulating the roots of the hair. Regular massaging of ridge gourd oil can prevent hair from turning white. The oil can be purchased online.

脊葫芦。脊葫芦以恢复头发色素和刺激发根而闻名。经常按摩脊葫芦油可以防止头发变白。这种油可以在网上购买。

Takeaway

要点

With the right diagnosis and treatments, white hair progression can be stopped and reversed in some instances. A balanced diet and good hair care can also help. In some cases, however, the process is irreversible.

通过正确的诊断和治疗，在某些情况下可以阻止和逆转白发进展。均衡的饮食和良好的头发护理也有帮助。然而，在某些情况下，这一过程是不可逆转的。

Regular use of natural remedies may slow down and possibly reverse white hair. But everyone’s hair eventually starts to turn white, and the individual has to decide whether they are comfortable with the white or if they prefer to try and hold back what is a natural aging process.

经常使用天然药物可能会减缓并可能逆转白发。但每个人的头发最终都会开始变白，个人必须决定自己是否喜欢白色，或者是否愿意尝试抑制自然衰老过程。

The home remedies listed in this article are available for purchase online.

本文列出的家庭补救措施可在网上购买。