What Causes Gray Hair on the Temples?

There are many causes of temple hair graying, including vitiligo, hypertension, and mental stress. Additionally, aging and genetic factors can also lead to temple hair graying. First, what causes temple hair graying? Gray hair is related to many factors, some of which are physiological. For instance, as people age, the activity of tyrosinase in melanocytes progressively decreases, leading to the disappearance of pigment in hair shafts. In gray hair, melanocytes are normal, but melanin production is reduced. In white hair, both melanocytes and melanin production are reduced. Genetic factors also play a role, as some cases of early-onset gray hair are associated with genetics. Other factors, such as vitiligo, pernicious anemia, albinism, hypertension, syphilis, and other diseases, can also contribute to the appearance of gray hair. Temple hair graying is strongly associated with mental factors, and severe emotional fluctuations, anxiety, fear, and sadness can easily lead to the appearance of gray hair in the temples.

Pernicious anemia is a type of megaloblastic anemia caused by atrophy of the gastric mucosa and a lack of intrinsic factor in gastric juice, which impairs the absorption of vitamin B12. The pathogenesis of this disease is unclear and is related to race and genetics. Approximately 90% of patients have parietal cell antibodies in their serum, and 60% have intrinsic factor antibodies in their serum and gastric juice. Some patients may also have thyroid antibodies. Pernicious anemia can be seen in diseases such as hyperthyroidism, chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis, and others.

The cause of pernicious anemia is atrophy of the gastric mucosa and a lack of intrinsic factor, leading to impaired absorption of vitamin B12. The pathogenesis of this disease is still unclear and is related to race and genetics. It is more commonly seen in people from Nordic Scandinavia, England, and Ireland and is rarely seen in people from southern Europe, Asia, and Africa. There have been a few domestic reports on this condition. Anti-gastric parietal cell antibodies can be detected in the serum and gastric juice of most patients, suggesting that pernicious anemia is an autoimmune disease. The occurrence of pernicious anemia is the result of complex interactions between genetic and autoimmune factors. Some believe that these antibodies against gastric parietal cells are merely incidental phenomena released after gastric mucosal damage caused by unknown reasons.