What is the primary cause of canities?

The primary cause of canities, which refers to the condition of gray or white hair, is age. As individuals age, the pigment cells within hair follicles, known as melanocytes, gradually decrease in number and function. This decrease affects the production of melanin, the pigment responsible for giving hair its color. As these cells diminish, hair loses its natural color and turns gray or white.

While genetics can influence the onset and speed of graying, age is the universal factor that impacts everyone, leading to this condition. Environmental factors and diet can also play roles in hair health overall, but they do not directly cause canities in the same way that the natural aging process does.