Why shouldn't white hairs be plucked at will?
Mar 25, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Liu Wenmin
Introduction
Under normal circumstances, possible reasons for not arbitrarily plucking white hairs may include follicular damage, accelerated aging, folliculitis, neurodermatitis, and cicatricial alopecia. Symptomatic management through general treatments, medication, and other methods is needed. It is recommended to maintain a balanced diet in daily life, ensuring adequate intake of proteins, vitamins, and minerals to promote healthy hair growth.
Generally speaking, possible reasons for not arbitrarily plucking white hairs include follicle damage, accelerated aging, folliculitis, neurodermatitis, and scarring alopecia. These conditions require symptomatic treatments such as general therapy and medication. If discomfort occurs, timely medical consultation is recommended to receive appropriate treatment under a doctor's guidance. Detailed explanations are as follows:
1. Follicle Damage
Hair follicles are the foundational structures for hair growth. Frequently pulling out hairs forcefully, especially white hairs, can easily cause physical damage to the follicles. This damage may lead to enlarged follicular openings and disrupt the normal hair growth cycle, affecting the healthy growth of subsequent hair. Trimming the tips of white hairs with scissors in daily life can help reduce direct pulling on the follicles.
2. Accelerated Aging
Hair turns white due to a gradual reduction in melanocytes, resulting in insufficient pigmentation of newly grown hair. Forcefully plucking white hairs cannot halt this natural aging process and may instead accelerate aging due to additional stress on the follicles, causing more previously unpigmented hairs to lose color prematurely. Adopting healthy dietary habits and consuming foods rich in vitamin B, vitamin C, and zinc is recommended to help maintain hair health and promote melanin production.
3. Folliculitis
Folliculitis is an inflammatory condition affecting hair follicles. When follicles suffer physical damage, they become susceptible to bacterial invasion, triggering an inflammatory response. Improper plucking of white hairs may introduce bacteria into the follicles, leading to folliculitis, which may present with localized redness, pain, and pustule formation. It is recommended to follow medical advice and apply medications such as mupirocin ointment, fusidic acid cream, or compound polymyxin B ointment to alleviate symptoms.
4. Neurodermatitis
Neurodermatitis is a skin condition closely related to psychological factors, often triggered by emotional states such as tension and anxiety. Habitual plucking of white hairs may be a compulsive behavior linked to emotional regulation, and long-term repetition may intensify skin itching, leading to neurodermatitis. It is recommended to follow medical advice and use medications such as loratadine tablets, cetirizine tablets, or flumethason eptanoate cream for treatment.
5. Scarring Alopecia
Scarring alopecia is irreversible hair loss caused by permanent follicular damage. Repeated plucking of white hairs, especially in the same area, may destroy follicular structures, forming scar tissue that prevents hair regrowth in affected areas, potentially accompanied by hardened, smooth, and hairless skin. It is recommended to follow medical advice and use medications such as hydrocortisone cream, flumethason eptanoate cream, or Yangxue Shengfa Capsules for treatment.
It is recommended to maintain a balanced diet daily, ensuring sufficient intake of proteins, vitamins, and minerals to support healthy hair growth.
References
[1] Zhang Jufang, Shen Haiyan. Research Progress and Review on the Treatment of Alopecia [J]. Chinese Journal of Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2022, 33(01): 1-4.
[2] Jiang Li, Yang Zhibo, Wang Chang. Professor Yang Zhibo's Experience in Treating Alopecia Folliculitis Based on the Theory of Lung Governing the Skin and Hair [J]. Guangming Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2024, 39(09): 1867-1870.
