At 31 years old, Luan Santana caught the attention of Internet users when she revealed that she has been dealing for some time with a problem related to her appearance that affects many people: the appearance of white hair in young people .

Through a photo published on Instagram's Stories, the singer showed a friend covering his white hair with paint and the help of a toothbrush, and even took the opportunity to tell that it is not today that he needs to resort to the trick.

"White hair: since I was 20 [years old] faithfully accompanying me," she wrote about the image.

Reproduction/Instagram

According to trichologist Luciano Barsati, the process of hair whitening is called baldness, and it can appear at any age, even in children, although the most common is after the age of 40.

But, after all, why does gray hair appear earlier in some people? Check it out!

Read also: After all, what to do when encountering the first white hair?

White Hair in Young People: Why Do They Occur?

According to Barsati, the pigment that gives color to hair is called melanin and is produced by cells called melanocytes.

These, in turn, are commanded by a sort of "biological clock" that, when it stops working, interrupts the production of the colored pigment, replacing it with air.

"This process is called apoptosis, which is why when hair loses its color, it initially becomes more unruly and has a different texture," says the doctor.

Causes that lead to the early appearance of white hair

Although baldness occurs according to each person's genetics, there are some factors that accelerate the process of hair thinning:

• Chronic diseases;
• Stress;
• Anxiety;
• Depression;
• Constant pain;
• Chemotherapy.

"Nothing reverses the whitening of the strands, so the only solution is to dye them or accept the silvering of the strands," she clarifies.

Read also: White hair: does stress really have an influence?

Can it be avoided?

The best way to delay the appearance of white hair, according to the doctor, is to invest in care for the body and the mind.

"Do meditation, yoga, enjoy life with family and friends, think about the present, take care of yourself, and avoid stress. A healthy lifestyle can contribute to hair health," indicates Barsati.

And those who think that plucking out the white hair will solve the problem are mistaken.

"This attitude will only cause you to lose hair and have thinning hair, because no more strands will grow by tearing out the hair bulb, so be careful!"

Read also: Does pulling out the white hair make two in its place?

How to care for gray hair

For those who still don't intend to go gray, a good solution is to dye their hair. This, however, must be done with care, since excess chemical can lead to a chemical cut.

In this case, however, the ideal is to have an interval between the procedures, and always bet on hair moisturizing.

"If you have straightened your hair, keep a distance of 30 days between dyeing and straightening," advises the doctor.

Another cause for concern when using dye is the itching of the scalp, because this indicates an allergy.

"In case of itching or flaking, see your doctor and trichologist to rule out a scalp sensitization or chemical dermatitis."

Read also: Glória Pires delivers tricks she uses to take care of white hair

For people who decide to go gray, it is important to know that white hair has a different texture than colored hair, thus causing a certain amount of surprise at first.

Here, the tip is to opt for specific products for this type of hair, which help prevent the hair from turning yellow.

"Besides this, it is fundamental to hydrate the hair weekly, and to maintain healthy habits, with a good diet," concludes the doctor and trichologist.

Source: Luciano Barsati, doctor and trichologist, from São Paulo.