It’s believed that most people will have 50% of their heads gray by the time they are 50 years old. It’s a part of life many people dread as it is often associated with aging and a reminder we aren’t as young as we used to be.
So, what causes gray hair? And most importantly, is there a way to prevent it?
First, what causes it..
The hair is made up of a group of cells called melanocytes. And as we mature, the hair’s ability to produce more pigment to the melanocytes starts to fade.
This has led scientists such as Rodney Sinclair, Professor of Dermatology, Epworth Hospital, at the University of Melbourne to the conclusion that to prevent the hair from going gray, we’d need to find a way to prolong the life of the melanocytes in the hair bulb.
There’s another option as well….
Expand the melanocyte stem cell reservoir in the upper or top region of the hair follicle, so they are constantly upgrading lost pigment cells.
If all of this scientific jargon is going over head, here’s a simpler way of putting it – scientists need to find a way to ward off future graying hair.
Teams all across the world are working to find a solution, including a group of scientists in France. They are working to stop the hair from losing its pigmentation by using a special enzyme to protest the cells from damage. If it goes well, then this will open the doors to a new product that will keep your mane full of color much longer.
There’s no denying this would be seen as a breakthrough in the health and beauty industry.
If a solution is discovered to prevent gray hair, that could be a large leap forward to finding other ways to delay human aging.