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The appearance of the first gray hairs is on average around thirty-five years old and can differ by approximately ten years. Here we give you an average, the reality for each individual is quite different. The appearance of white or gray hair changes from one person to another and will depend on heredity, and even on internal or external factors. We will see first, why your child has white hair at 11 years old , subsequently we will see, how to prevent and slow down the appearance of gray hair at 11 years old.

Why does your child have white hair at 11?

White or gray hair, everyone ends up having it, it's inevitable. This phenomenon is called canities. It is a 100% natural phenomenon that occurs when melanocytes, the cells that give color to hair, decrease or stop the production of melanin. To explain it another way, the hair still grows, but without pigmentation and therefore without coloring. The hair then becomes graying or white. At a certain age it is common for this mechanism to appear, however at the age of your child it is highly possible that it involves other concerns.

ONE or MORE gray hair at 11?

First, analyze the appearance of white hair and ask yourself the question: are they a lot, sparse or is there only one hair that has turned gray or white? Indeed, 1 or 2 gray hairs in no way reveal any concern : it could simply be a malfunction of melanin in one specific location. From time to time the hair is even depigmented on some parts, and on others it keeps its color. In the situation where there is only a single white hair, there is no reason to worry. He just didn't have time to load up with melanin. As a result, the next ones will grow back normal.

If your child has a whole wick of salt and pepper or several gray hairs that are spread over your head, this could be the cause of a number of factors. Here is the possible reasons for the appearance of gray hair at the age of your child.

The different possible origins of the appearance of gray hair at 11 years old

1 -Melanocyte dysfunction can cause gray hair at age 11

There can come a point in life when the melanocytes do not properly produce hair pigmentation. There is nothing serious or abnormal about this problem and this problem should go away over time if it only concerns a few hairs. However, if gray hair is growing in number, growing massively and / or coming back even after removing it, we recommend that you consult your GP to determine the exact reason for the problem.

2 - A disease can cause gray hair at 11 years old

Usually rare, a autoimmune disease, physiological disturbance or an particular pathology are likely to lead to the appearance of white or gray hair at 11 years. If this is the case, the arrival of white hair may be reversible if the disease can be treated. It is advisable to call your doctor if the arrival of white hair is abundant and if the phenomenon is worsening. These concerns can be: A thyroid disorder, vitiligo, Vogt-Koyanagi syndrome or Waardenburg syndrome. These diseases have the effect of causing depigmentation of the skin or hair, and may occur gradually or all at once.

However, don't panic, don't fall into paranoia. These diseases are extremely rare. In addition, in these extreme cases, the appearance of white hair is accompanied by multiple more important symptoms.

Finally, an American experiment connects the immune system and hair bleaching. It could therefore be that after a prolonged illness some people see gray hair.

3 - A lack of certain foods may develop gray hair at 11

• Modern food consumption has not only brought goodness to our plates. Industrial food and the culture of "fast food" risk causing pathologies which are likely to interfere with the correct production of melanin. In addition, it contains too much fat, sugar and salt, and it is not rich enough in vitamins and minerals which may lead to deficiencies.

Gray hair that appears prematurely and therefore at 11 years old can therefore be a symptom of lack of certain nutrients and vitamin deficiencies.

To avoid this, we advise you to respect a balanced diet and correctly dosed in minerals and nutrients. The vitamins that can be responsible for the appearance of gray or white hair are vitamin B. The latter have the function of producing energy for the body and ensuring the normal functioning of the nervous system. Vitamin B12 can be found in excellent amounts in foods of animal origin.

In general, follow a varied diet to reduce the risk of the early appearance of gray hair and follow the recommendations of WHO (World Health Organization).

4 - Emotional shock can lead to the development of gray hair at age 11

A brutal emotional shock such as death or an accident can lead to the premature arrival of gray hair at 11 years old. Indeed, in reaction to a traumatic psychological shock and following a significant stress, the immune defense mechanism of the organism would react, and would change the functioning of a certain number of cells. This would be likely to cause the appearance of gray hair.

How to avoid having gray hair at 11?

In view of what we have seen previously, the premature graying of hair and the stopping of certain melanocytes are in many cases, and at the age of your child, factors which may be reversible. A lot of times you don't have to worry, it is just something benign.

Make a diagnosis to understand the development of gray hair

To begin with, if your child has symptoms other than bleaching some of their hair, see a doctor to make sure it isn't a pathological or hormonal problem.

Then a general diagnosis made by a doctor or a nutritionist can also be made to detect possible deficiencies. The blood test can reveal, for example, iron deficiencies or a dysfunction of the thyroid. Taking into account the result obtained, the doctor or nutritionist will inform you of what to modify or not in his diet.

Solutions to curb the appearance of gray hair at 11

1 - Eat a balanced diet to curb the onset of canities

Let your child eat everything while respecting the slogan "Avoid foods that are too fatty, too sweet, too salty". The latter is also valid for preventing the development of gray hair! He must eat foods rich in vitamins, minerals and trace elements.

Minerals like copper, zinc and iron are said to have a positive effect on the hair. These would be able to keep the hair follicles healthy and therefore prevent the premature development of gray hair at age 11.

Copper is essential in creating pigmentation in hair. Note that melanin is generated by melanocytes thanks to the enzyme tyrosinase. And it is the copper that catalyzes this enzymatic reaction. Therefore, a good diet providing the right daily dose of copper allowsprevent the appearance of gray hair prematurely. However, be careful, copper is toxic if you consume more than necessary! Have your child a blood test to check their copper levels before making any changes to their diet.

In any case, we suggest that you consult your doctor before changing your diet or taking food supplements.

Finally, B vitamins are essential to prevent premature aging of the body and to give energy to the body. Thereby, your child needs to eat foods rich in B vitamins to prevent gray hair at 11.

2 - Adopt a healthy lifestyle to fight against gray hair at 11 years old

1 - As we saw earlier, avoid junk food and fast food. Choose fresh, unprepared foods such as fruits, vegetables, quality fresh meat, whole grains, etc. Know that industrial products are full of toxins. Once the liver is saturated, the organ that cleans the body can no longer eliminate toxins and this results in premature aging and the development of white hair.

2 - Avoid exposure of your child to cigarette smoke as much as possible, which is responsible for the deterioration of the condition of the skin and hair. Indeed, studies have shown the correlation between smoking and the appearance of gray or white hair prematurely. Therefore, avoid exposing your child to cigarette smoke.

Be aware that in no case, our advice replaces the advice of a professional, such as a doctor, a naturopath or a nutritionist. If you want to check your child's state of health, do not hesitate to call your doctor.

By combining a healthy lifestyle and natural processes, you have the possibility of slow down the process of premature depigmentation of hair and thus prevent the appearance of too much gray hair at 11 years old.