Which deficiency causes white hair?

Author: Leanne Runte  |  Last update: Monday, September 1, 2025

Vitamin B-12 deficiency is one of the most common causes of premature hair turning white. Researchers have noted that vitamin B-12 deficiencies are often concurrent with folic acid and biotin deficiencies in those people whose hair has begun to turn grey at an early age.

Which vitamin deficiency makes hair white?

Any deficiencies of vitamin B9, B12, biotin, or vitamin D can contribute to premature graying. One 2018 review notes various deficiency studies on vitamin D3, vitamin B12, copper, zinc, and calcium and their connection to graying hair.

Can B12 reverse white hair?

Your hair could be turning white due to a deficiency of vitamin B12. But it is a reversible condition, and consuming sufficient amounts of vitamin B12 can reinfuse your hair with pigment.

Can white hair turn black again?

In most cases, once hair has turned grey or white, it cannot naturally return to its original color. This is because the melanocytes in the hair follicles stop producing melanin. While there are exceptions due to specific factors, regaining natural hair color without external intervention is rare.

Will iron deficiency cause white hair?

Reversible hypopigmentation of the hair can be seen in nutritional deficiencies protein-energy malnutrition and diseases of chronic loss of protein. Copper and iron deficiency also can cause graying of hair. A study reported significantly lower levels of copper in patients with PGH when compared to the control group.

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Can low thyroid cause white hair?

The thyroid is responsible for regulating your metabolism, so when your thyroid is not working correctly, it can affect every cell in your system - including your hair. Ahead, why hypothyroidism and gray hair often go hand in hand and what you can do to get your color back.

Should I pluck white hair?

No, most experts agree that pulling out gray hair is an impulse best avoided. Though plucking white hairs may seem like a quick and easy solution to your haircare woes, repeated plucking can damage the hair follicle and potentially cause the hair to thin.

What food to eat to stop grey hair?

These nutrients play a vital role in maintaining healthy hair follicles and promoting melanin production, the pigment responsible for hair colour.
  • Berries. ...
  • Nuts and Seeds. ...
  • Fish. ...
  • Whole Grains. ...
  • Eggs. ...
  • Sweet Potatoes. ...
  • Greek Yoghurt. ...
  • Carrots.

What nationality does not get gray hair?

Melanin is what gives your hair (and skin) its natural color. People of African descent, Thai, and Chinese people, go grey more slowly.

Can stress cause white hair?

Analyzing hairs from fourteen volunteers and correlating what they saw with their stress diaries showed that while some gray definitely followed stressful times, some hairs regained their pigment when stress abated. So yes, stress can absolutely cause gray hair.

What are the negatives to taking B12?

High doses of vitamin B-12, such as those used to treat a deficiency, might cause:
  • Headache.
  • Nausea and vomiting.
  • Diarrhea.
  • Fatigue or weakness.
  • Tingling sensation in hands and feet.

Can magnesium reverse grey hair?

There isn't a lot of medical data to back it up, but some research does show that magnesium deficiency may be behind some (not all) causes of gray hair. If this is the cause of your greying, then making sure your magnesium stores are optimal could stop or even reverse the greying of your hair.

What illness makes your hair white?

Marie Antoinette syndrome designates the condition in which scalp hair suddenly turns white.

Which fruit is rich in vitamin B12?

There are ten major sources of vitamin B12 fruits. These are apples, bananas, oranges, mangoes, strawberries, guava, avocado, pomegranate, kiwi, and blueberries. Apples- Apples rank first in the vitamin B12 fruits list.

Which vitamin deficiency causes weight gain?

​Vitamin D deficiency

Vitamin D is essential for carrying out many bodily functions, including regulating metabolism. When your body doesn't get enough vitamin D, it leads to a slower metabolism, making it easier to gain weight even if you're not consuming excessive calories.

Why is my gray hair turning black again?

That said, certain conditions may temporarily restore pigmentation. For example, if greying is caused by a vitamin deficiency, stress, or an underlying medical condition, addressing these issues may slow or even partially reverse greying. However, the complete reversal of naturally aged hair remains a challenge.

What does baking soda do to gray hair?

Regarding using baking soda for gray hair, experts endorse its potential benefits such as controlling pigmentation loss, lightening the strands, and providing texture. It can be used on coarse grey locks to make them smoother too by eliminating product buildup from oils or soaps.

What is the average age to go GREY?

The average age of onset of hair graying appears to be mid- to late forties; however, this varies with race, with the average age for Caucasians being mid-thirties, that for Asians being late thirties, and that for Africans being mid-forties.

How to restore melanin in hair?

If you're looking at how to increase melanin in hair, you must include in your diet, melanin rich foods and foods that are rich in vitamins. o Vitamin A – stimulates the oil-producing glands in the hair follicle and keeps the hair moisturized. Found in carrots, kale, spinach and sweet potatoes.

Is white hair reversible?

If the cause of greying is genetic, it is not possible to reverse the process, no matter what some marketers on the internet claim. In case of nutritional deficiencies and underlying medical conditions, you can gradually slow down or even reverse the process.

What is the difference between gray hair and white hair?

Greying hair typically progresses gradually, with individual strands losing pigment over time. In contrast, white hair occurs when melanin production ceases altogether, resulting in hair that appears completely colorless.

What hurts when your iron is low?

Chest pain, fast heartbeat or shortness of breath. Headache, dizziness or lightheadedness.

What drink has the most iron?

The following drinks high in iron for anemia can supplement your diet:
  • Prune juice. Prune juice is high in iron and is an excellent supplement to heme (animal-based) iron. ...
  • Beetroot juice. ...
  • Spinach, cashew, and raspberry smoothie. ...
  • Cocoa and beef liver smoothie. ...
  • Pea protein shakes. ...
  • Pumpkin juice.

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