Written by: Ehsan Siddiqui
22 September 2025
Grey hair is often associated with ageing, but noticing your strands turning silver in your 20s can be alarming. But what's really causing it?
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A lack of certain vitamins and minerals, such as iron, copper, and B vitamins like pantothenic acid, in the body can cause premature greying.
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Genetics is one of the primary reasons why your hair may turn grey earlier than expected. You are genetically susceptible to gray hair at an early age if any members of your family have premature greying.
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Stress triggers the fight-or-flight reaction, which may accelerate the greying process by depleting the stem cells in hair follicles that can be converted into pigment cells when new hair grows.
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Research suggests that people who smoke have been shown to develop grey hair at an early age, as it can cause nicotine to build up in the hair follicles, which affects hair pigmentation.
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Several medical illnesses, such as thyroid disorders, vitiligo, and autoimmune diseases, might impair your body's capacity to generate pigment. As a result, hair prematurely turns gray.
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