ASK AN EXPERT
It will be reviewed and considered for posting on CNNHealth.com. Questions and comments are moderated by CNN and will not appear until after they have been reviewed and approved. Unfortunately, because of the voume of questions we receive, not all can be posted.
Submit another question or Go back to CNNHealth.com
Read answers from our experts: Living Well | Diet & Fitness | Mental Health | Conditions
Expert Q&A
I noticed a strand of gray hair on my child
Asked by Hari Natarajan, Hillsboro , Oregon
I noticed a single strand of grey hair on my 3½ year old daughter today. I would like to know if it could be external factors or some vitamin deficiency. There is no known history of young children having grey hair in either my or my wife's family. She is a healthy child. We are vegetarians and our ethnic background is Asian.
Living Well Expert
Dr. Jennifer Shu
Pediatrician,
Children's Medical Group
Expert answer
A strand of hair can appear gray when it contains a decreased amount of a pigment called melanin, and it can look white if there is no pigment at all. Gray hair occurs with normal aging because the hair cells on the scalp produce less melanin; in children, early graying tends to be inherited. A single strand of gray hair is most noticeable in people with darker hair and is usually not worrisome if the child's general health is normal.
There are some health conditions that can cause gray hair in children. One such condition is alopecia areata, which causes patches of hair loss on the scalp and other parts of the body. As the hair grows back, it may be gray at first.
Vitamin B12 deficiency can also cause gray hair. This vitamin is found in animal products (such as fish, meat, milk and eggs) but is also added to fortified cereals and multivitamin supplements. Abnormal thyroid hormone levels in the body (either too low or too high) can also cause gray hair. Your pediatrician may perform a blood test if one of these conditions is suspected.
Less commonly, gray hair may be associated with childhood disorders such as vitiligo (which also causes a decrease of pigment in the skin), tuberous sclerosis, neurofibromatosis and Waardenburg syndrome. These disorders run in families and have other symptoms such as seizures, tumors under the skin, and hearing loss. If you are concerned about any of these conditions, I encourage you to talk with your child's pediatrician.
Good luck!
More Q&A
CNN's medical unit brings you the best experts available to answer your questions about current events and health issues that matter most to you.
What are the potential problems with ovarian cysts?asked by: Asked by Jane Coles; Virginia
Why do I no longer need an antibiotic before teeth cleaning?asked by: Asked by Janet; Leeds
How frequently should a man urinate daily?asked by: Asked by Brian; Canada
CNN Comment Policy: CNN encourages you to add a comment to this discussion. You may not post any unlawful, threatening, defamatory, obscene, pornographic or other material that would violate the law. All comments should be relevant to the topic and remain respectful of other authors and commenters. You are solely responsible for your own comments, the consequences of posting those comments, and the consequences of any reliance by you on the comments of others. By submitting your comment, you hereby give CNN the right, but not the obligation, to post, air, edit, exhibit, telecast, cablecast, webcast, re-use, publish, reproduce, use, license, print, distribute or otherwise use your comment(s) and accompanying personal identifying and other information you provide via all forms of media now known or hereafter devised, worldwide, in perpetuity. CNN Privacy Statement.
The information contained on this page does not and is not intended to convey medical advice. CNN is not responsible for any actions or inaction on your part based on the information that is presented here. Please consult a physician or medical professional for personal medical advice or treatment.
