Greying of hair at a young age has become a common phenomenon, especially in the metropolitan cities. But is this natural or something to be worried about?

Wellness entrepreneur Tessa Pagel believes that if you’re getting grey hair before the age of 35, you probably have a mineral deficiency. In an Instagram reel, she spoke about an interesting co-relation between stress — which has become synonymous with the fast paced uber lifestyles — mineral deficiency, and greying of hair : “stress drains the minerals your body needs to keep pigment in the hair”.

Is that medically correct or an over simplification? We reached out to Dr Shareefa Chause, Dermatologist, Dr. Shareefa Skin Care Clinic, Mumbai, seeking answers.

A post shared by Tessa Pagel | Women’s Health & Wellness Optimization (@tessapagel) 

As per Dr Chause, while there is a definite link between premature hair greying and mineral deficiency, “genetics and aging” remain the main factors.

“Mineral and nutrient deficiencies can contribute to premature greying by affecting melanin production in hair. Commonly linked deficiencies include vitamin B12, iron, copper, ferritin and sometimes zinc,” she further adds while confirming that there are scientific studies backing this.

She, however, agrees with Pagel’s stress co-relation theory. “Chronic stress can directly accelerate hair greying by affecting melanocyte stem cells that produce pigment. Stress hormones and oxidative stress can damage these cells, leading to earlier loss of hair color.”

So, can you reverse it? Fortunately, yes, if the root cause lies solely in mineral deficiencies. “If premature greying is due to nutritional deficiencies (like vitamin B12), early correction may slow or occasionally partially reverse it. However, in most cases, especially genetic or age-related, the greying is permanent.”

So, if you have been stressing over your grey tassles, it might be time to get tested for vitamin B12, iron profile (ferritin), thyroid function (TSH), and vitamin D levels. ” In some cases, zinc/copper levels and a general health evaluation may also be advised to rule out underlying causes,” Dr Chause concludes.