Why does hair turn grey?
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Why does hair turn grey? Thanks for asking. Greying hair can be triggered for a number of reasons. Genetics, some people's hair turns grey earlier than others. Stress, a recent study in mice, showed that stress can cause stem cells to leave the hair follicle and migrate to other parts of the body, leaving no cells to produce melanin. Some illnesses like thyroid disease and of course aging. But could the days of grey hair be over? Possibly. A new study conducted by scientists from New York University Grossman School of Medicine have discovered why hair turns grey and how to stop it happening. Well at least in mice. What are the cells that produce hair colour and how do they work? Cells that produce hair colour are called melanchite stem cells MCSCs.
They produce melanin, the pigment that gives hair its natural colour. Hair colour is controlled by whether MSCs within hair follicles get the signal to become mature cells that make melanin and give our hair its natural colour. So why is hair going grey? The researchers found that during normal hair growth, MCSCs continually move between different compartments of the hair follicle, where they are exposed to signals that influence their maturity. However, as hair ages, sheds and grows back, some MCSCs get stuck in a compartment called the hair follicle bulge, where they remain immature and unable to produce melanin. This results in grey, white, or silver hair. What are the implications of this finding for humans and hair graying?
The lead investigator of the study, Quin San, said The newfound mechanisms raise the possibility that the same fixed positioning of the melanchite stem cells may exist in humans. If so, it presents a potential pathway for the reversing or preventing the greying of human hair by helping jam cells to move between developing hair follicle compartments. Which is exciting news. If we can just get those MCSCs moving, we need never be grey, at least in theory. More research is still needed to confirm if the same mechanism applies to humans and how often it plays a role in hair greying. What can we do in the meantime? If you have grey hair already, there's not much you can really do. You can colour it or you can accept it and learn to love it.
To stave it off as long as possible, a healthy balanced diet is a good idea. Keep in mind that some nutrients are important for melanin production and melanochite health such as vitamin B12, copper, iron and antioxidants. But until more research is carried out, then the grey is here to stay. There you have it. Now you know why hair turns grey.
Why does hair turn grey and what triggers it?
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