Why is gray hair a warning from the body? It is not a good thing if your hair suddenly turns black

People with black hair will not understand the pain of people with gray hair, especially those with premature graying. At a young age, they have to face the two choices of seeking medical treatment and dyeing their hair. But behind the gray hair, we cannot ignore an important health reason!

Why do white hair grow? In fact, the graying of hair is a natural aging process. Hair is originally translucent, but under normal circumstances, hair matrix cells continue to divide and proliferate, so that melanin is dyed in the hair follicles during the growth of hair. The melanin is provided by the endogenous pigment cells around the hair matrix cells. The two cooperate with each other to produce black and shiny black hair for us.

Why does hair turn gray?

It's very simple. The raw material for melanin production by melanocytes is interrupted, or the melanocytes directly go on strike. Therefore, the translucent hair that has not been processed through the second dyeing process will penetrate the scalp, grow longer and longer, and eventually turn into a white hair under the reflection of light. When more and more melanocytes go on strike or the raw material supply of hair follicles is interrupted, then a head full of silver hair becomes a reality!

What is the real reason why melanocytes stop working?

Massive death of hair matrix melanocytes;

Hair growth is cyclical and is divided into the growth phase, regression phase and resting phase, which generally lasts 2 to 7 years. After this cycle ends, the melanocytes that produce pigment will be damaged and die, and enter a new renewal cycle. However, if they fail to renew for some reason, the melanocytes can no longer produce melanin, and of course cannot dye, so white hair grows.

Decreased or absent tyrosinase production;

Melanin is synthesized by melanocytes in hair follicles. The synthesis of melanin requires the participation of substances such as tyrosine and vitamin C. At the same time, there must be sufficient blood supply and a normal functioning melanin synthesis system. They work normally to make hair darker. If there is a problem in any link, such as the presence of tyrosinase inhibitors in the human body, it will cause a melanin synthesis disorder and cause gray hair.

What is the real reason?

Until now we are not 100% sure which factors will cause gray hair, but it is generally believed that there are several reasons for melanin formation disorders: genetic factors, trace elements and vitamins, psychological and endocrine factors, and environmental factors, among which the most noteworthy is the gray hair caused by psychological and endocrine factors!

A study led by Nobel Prize winner Dr. Robert Lefkowitz was published in the journal Nature in 2011. The study found that long-term stress and frequent "fight or flight" stress responses will eventually lead to DNA damage, which will not only cause aging and mental illness, but also affect the genes that control hair pigmentation!

Endocrine factors may be caused by lesions in certain parts of the body. In contrast to sudden white hair, sudden black hair in the elderly is not a good thing. It is usually caused by hormonal disorders caused by lesions. Especially when accompanied by tender skin and hypersexuality, this may be an early signal of serious diseases such as pituitary tumors and adrenal cell carcinoma! You must seek medical attention immediately to determine where the lesion is.

Is there any cure for gray hair? Just as the causes of gray hair are confusing, how to darken hair is also a difficult problem, but doctors generally have some suggestions:

Maintain a good spirit and an optimistic mood: increased stress response damages DNA.

Quit smoking: Smoking increases the production of oxygen free radicals, which can destroy melanin.

Strengthen nutrition, supplement various trace elements with a reasonable diet

Regular head massage increases blood circulation

Is it advisable to pull out gray hair?

Fighting against gray hair is a long process, so some friends will pull out the gray hair in a hurry, but in fact it does not help. Pulling out the gray hair will not reduce a single hair, because it will grow back after a while. Fortunately, it will not grow two hairs, because one hair follicle has one hair, no more, no less! However, pulling out a large number of gray hair will cause scalp inflammation.

The latest scientific methods

In 2018, French scientists published a paper in the journal Science stating that there is a way to protect or improve hair follicle melanocytes from damage, and its working principle is to mimic the action of dopachrome isomerase. This enzyme is a naturally occurring antioxidant in the hair bulb that protects melanocytes from oxidative damage. By replicating the action of dopachrome isomerase, the metabolism and survival of melanocytes are significantly improved, and this preparation is being formulated into a shampoo or spray to protect melanocytes.

In April 2019, Li Yumei's team from Jiangsu University published a paper in Cell Reports titled "The Potential of Patient iPS Cell-derived Induced Melanocytes in Autologous Transplantation Therapy". They used skin cells from the depigmented areas of vitiligo patients to generate autologous iPS cells, and obtained a large number of melanocytes with high proliferation ability and in vivo integration function through efficient and unique three-dimensional induced differentiation culture technology. However, this method has only been successful in rats, and there is still a long way to go in the future.

According to the latest developments in the scientific community, progress is being made in the solution to gray hair, and in the future we may no longer have to worry about gray hair.