Symptoms of premature greying

Premature greying is mainly a change in the colour of the hair. It rarely causes pain or discomfort.

Common signs

• Grey or white strands appearing in the teens, twenties or early thirties
• Greying that starts at the temples, the parting or the beard
• Strands that are coarser, drier or frizzier than pigmented hair
• Gradual increase in the number of grey hairs over years

Patterns that may point to a cause

• Sudden greying in a short time: needs review for a medical cause, such as a deficiency, thyroid or autoimmune problem
• Greying in patches with white skin patches: may be linked with vitiligo
• Greying with hair loss, brittle nails or dry skin: may suggest thyroid or nutritional causes
• Greying with tiredness, pale skin, tingling or poor memory: can suggest vitamin B12 deficiency or anaemia
• Greying in a child under about 10 years: needs a doctor's assessment
• White patch of hair at the front since birth: may be a birthmark of hair (poliosis) and needs a check for associated conditions