A new study gives us a greater understanding of how and why hair turns gray – and may give clues as to how to slow down, stop, or even reverse the process.
“Our study adds to our basic understanding of how melanocyte stem cells work to color hair,” says dermatologist Qi Sun from New York University. “It presents a potential pathway for reversing or preventing the graying of human hair by helping jammed cells to move again between developing hair follicle compartments.”
The new research focuses on melanocyte stem cells (McSCs) that are found within the hair follicle. As we age, McSCs get stuck in the follicle bulge and stop developing into pigment-producing melanocytes in sufficient numbers to fill the growing strand of hair with color. Ultimately, modulating McSC mobility may just be the key to maintaining hair color, the research suggests. The study was tested on mice and still needs to be observed in humans to ensure the same mechanisms are at play.
