Ask your doctor: Grey hair in kids

Q: My daughter is only 12 years old but she has a few strands of grey hair. The signs of greying surfaced in the past three months. She hasn't undergone any treatment except for certain multivitamin pills. Please advise a permanent solution to this problem.
XYZ, Kozhikode

A: You have to devote some time to your child’s hair care like you keep an eye on her food and studies. Grey hair in children can indeed give a sense of an inferiority complex to them. First and foremost, it is important to keep hair clean as it has to face the rigours of air pollution and weather changes. It is good to wash hair with a mixture of water and dry gooseberry (amla) powder. It is also good to wash hair with water boiled with gooseberry. Gooseberry is best to help maintain the natural hair colour.

Medicines such as ‘Narasimharasayanam’ and ‘Mahathikthakakritham’ can be taken under the direction of a physician. It should be kept in mind that you would get positive results only after a while. ‘Thakradhara’ of the head is beneficial and effective in resolving long-standing issues. For ‘Thakradhara’, milk boiled with crushed gooseberry is fermented and the buttermilk churned out of the resultant curd is mixed with ‘muthanga’ and other herbs and medicines. 

Undergoing ‘nasyam’ (a therapy whereby medicines are administered through the nasal cavity) treatment with special medicines is also effective. It should be noted that all treatments should be taken under the guidance of an experienced doctor. Head massage with ‘Kayyunyaadi velichenna’ is also effective. As premature greying is found in people who take baths in water with chlorine content, it is always better to wash hair with boiled water. The problem of premature greying can be solved with a balanced diet, the right hair care, and proper administration of medicines. 
Dr M R Vasudevan Namboothiri 
(Courtesy: Manorama)