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Navigate: FAQ Home Page > Hair & Shaving > White hairs in teens
Posted on: 12/15/2005
Question
I am 16 years old and I already have a bunch of white hairs. My hair dresser says that I have a clump of white hair on the back of my head. Is this normal? Can I do anything to reverse it?
Answer
A pigment called melanin is responsible for the color of your hair. As people age, it is normal for the hairs to lose this pigment, becoming gray or white. The time at which this occurs is genetically determined, meaning that you will likely develop gray hairs at the same age as other members of your family. While this usually begins to occur during your 20's and 30's, it can occur much younger and still be normal. If members of your family also have had patches of gray hair develop at an early age, chances are that this is just normal for you. Unfortunately, there is no way to reverse the process in the hairs that have already grayed once it has occurred. However, just because you have a small patch of gray hair does not mean you will turn entirely gray; it may just be an isolated patch. See your doctor if the graying process continues, or if you have any other symptoms such as fatigue, weight loss or weight gain.