Clinical and Epidemiological Characteristics and Associated Factors of Hair Graying: A Population-Based, Cross-Sectional Study in Turkey

In a cross-sectional study of 1,541 Turkish individuals aged 15 to 65, 69.0% experienced hair graying with an average onset age of 32.9 years, which was earlier in females (31.7 years) than males (33.7 years). The temporal region was the most common initial graying area for both genders, though males had more severe graying than females, and severity was greater in those with late-onset graying. Independent factors associated with hair graying included age, educational status, hair loss, skin type, family history of early-onset graying, and anxiety. The prevalence of hair graying increased with age, reaching 97.3% in individuals aged 51 or older. The study suggests that male gender, late-onset, and temporal onset may be poor prognostic factors, and there may be a genetic component to early-onset graying. Obesity, darker skin types, lower educational status, and income were also associated with graying, but no relation was found with smoking. Chronic diseases like hypertension, thyroid diseases, and cardiovascular diseases were more prevalent among those with hair graying. The study is limited by its focus on a Turkish population and potential recall biases, indicating a need for further research across different ethnicities.