Brief Answer:
"Premature canities" with Xerosis hands
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome and thanks for posting your query to healthcare magic.
I can understand the concern for grey hairs and
dry skin problem at the age of 25 years.
Early greying of hair is known as "Premature canities".
Our hair roots contains color forming cells known as melanocytes. These continuously secretes color into the hair shaft. During aging process after the age of 30 years these stops functioning in a skewed manner and accordingly the hair becomes grey slowly.
If at all this process appears early then we call it as Premature canities. Till now there is no exact cause has been identified but many times
stress, dietary imbalance or any log term illness is considered to be an underlying important causes.
Many a times the
scalp hair color is basically genetically mediated so it depends on family pattern also in some persons.
For the prevention part- You can take vitamins in the form of
biotin, calicium pantothenate and other vitamin B complexes.
Multivitamin tablets contains all these essential nutrients and zinc with above mentioned vitamins, so you can take it.
Additionally increase you protein intake on daily basis and eat sprouts. Eat a lot of green leafy vegetables and sprouts which contains
vitamins and minerals necessary for normal hair function. All of this will additionally help you in growing long hair.
Very lately, a gel is now available in the market which contains "melitane" (commercially available as Altris gel) a new compound launched to prevent premature greying. It contains a peptide which stimulates the pigment producing cells of hair.
FOR DRY SKIN: Dry skin is a common problem which is due to low activity of oil glands and less preservation of moisture in superficial skin known as Xerosis. Though uncommon in young adults but can be a normal feature in at 25 years of age because of diminution of activity of oil glands and sweat glands genetically.
In dry skin people we most often advise the patient to moisturize the skin. The most important part in moisturization is using certain different kind of creams.
There is a fundamental in moisturization of the skin that we use a "keratolytic" with an "emollient" creams.
To explain you simply "keratolytics" increases moisture in the skin by dissolving and softening the most superficial layer of skin. This process helps the skin keep to preserve more water in. Urea is keratolytic substance. Other than this Lactic acid is also used for the same.
Emollients or better known as moisturizers work by forming an oily layer on the top of the skin that traps water in the skin. SO we use Petroleum gelly (Petrolatum), lanolin or other oils as emollients.
So you probably got that both can be used in reducing the dryness of skin. The most ideal way is to use these two things alternatively. So you can combine Petroleum gelly (Petrolatum), lanolin or other oils as emollients and urea as keratolytic cream. Therefore both can be used alternatively. Petroleum gelly (Petrolatum), lanolin or other oils are quite cheaper and are available over the counter easily.
I guide to my patients to apply any of these just after bathing when the skin is still draping. It preserves the natural water in the body. Secondly when you apply any of the creams later then also you should first give compressions of mildly warm water of can take a shower and then apply it.
Do not use any strong soap or detergents over skin. Wear cotton clothes and avoid synthetic or swollen garments in direct contact of skin.
I hope this information will help you. If you have any further queries I will be happy to help.
With good health wishes,
Dr Sanjay Kumar Kanodia
MD- Dermatology