Unraveling the Secrets of Gray Hair: Why Plucking Gray Strands Can Damage Your Hair and What to Do Instead

The disruption of the body’s production of melanin is the cause of premature gray hair. Continuously pulling out gray hair can damage hair follicles, making it difficult for them to recover and leading to thinning and hair loss. Dr. Thai Thanh Yen from the Department of Dermatology – Skin Aesthetics at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City explains that hair color is determined by the melanin pigment, which gradually decreases over time, causing hair to turn gray and eventually white.

While the normal process of graying typically begins in the mid-30s for Caucasians, late 30s for Asians, and mid-40s for American women, premature gray hair can occur in some young individuals due to disturbances in melanin production within the hair follicles. Despite the desire to remove white strands by pulling them out, this habit can lead to serious damage such as infections and pustules in the hair follicle area.

Repeatedly plucking hair can increase post-inflammatory pigmentation, resulting in irreversible damage to hair follicles, loss of function, and decreased hair cycles, leading to thinner and sparser hair. Therefore, it is advised not to pull out gray hair. There is currently no complete treatment for premature gray hair, but individuals can take steps to prevent or minimize its occurrence through various methods.