Question: I’m a 63-year-old man whose hair is turning gray very suddenly. Only about two years ago, I hardly had a gray hair on my head. Now my hair is mostly gray. Could this be due to a medical problem or is it normal aging?

Dr. Hibberd's answer:
Typically, white people start going gray in their mid-30s, Asians in their late 30s, and African-Americans in their mid-40s. Half of all people have a significant amount of gray hair by the time they turn 50. Research suggests that genetics may be largely responsible for graying. Some medical condition such as autoimmune and genetic conditions, vitamin B-12 deficiency, or problems with the pituitary or thyroid gland are associated with premature graying. Recently, reports suggest that there is a connection between premature graying and lower bone density later in life.
In your case, if you are otherwise healthy, it might just be due to your age, but it’s always good to get a comprehensive medical check done.