Las melanocytic cells They are responsible for giving color to the hair and protecting against UV radiation. They make their first appearances during youth and multiply in quantity when a person reaches their thirties and forties. Although there is no global average age for its appearance, reeds They are typically associated with aging.
Several myths surround their appearance: that if they are removed they multiply, that they are the consequence of stressful situations or that they reflect a decrease in vitality. However, some factors that influence its hatching are not taken into account or have been misrepresented.
Pedro Barbosa, a dermatology specialist at the Austral University Hospital, answers the most frequent questions about gray hair and reveals whether it is possible to reverse its appearance when it is not a genetic condition.
Melanin, the main pigment
Once the hair follicles lose melanin −natural pigment produced by melanocytes that determines the color of the skin, hair and eyes−, they cannot produce it again on their own. And as the production of this pigment decreases, the hair loses its original color, which in certain people causes the hair to go from gray to completely white.
Photo: Freepik.
In detail, Barbosa explains that those who work in the hair health They are stem cells. On the one hand, there are those on the scalp that, if you look closely, you can see how they give the shape and sheath to the hair. And then the melanocytic cells, responsible for producing melanin and protecting against UV radiation.
Regarding the latter, he points out, their function deteriorates over time, which makes them less efficient. “There comes a point where they stop generating the pigment. They continue to form the fiber, just without color,” he details.
The variability of when it happens may depend, for example, on breed. The professional points out that Caucasians start to have gray hair around age 30; In Asians, the process lasts a few more years and, in Afro-descendants, only after the age of 40.
Stress can also be a variable in the equation. A 2020 study titled “Hyperactivation of sympathetic nerves causes depletion of melanocyte stem cells” postulates that neuronal activity induced by acute stress can cause rapid and permanent loss of stem cells responsible for giving color to the follicle.
“When the sympathetic system is activated, the melanocytic cells go into a state of temporary shock,” adds Barbosa. A significant fact that is added and that is related to stress is abundant hair loss.
Photo: Rawpixel.
Another study called “Smoking Hair: Does Smoking Cause Premature Graying of Hair?” delved into the link between tobacco and hair health and found a strong connection between the appearance of gray hair before the age of 30 and smoking. The results even showed that smokers were two and a half times more likely to develop early lightening of their hair.
Smokeis developed in the academic article, constricts blood vessels, which can reduce blood flow to hair follicles and cause hair loss and premature graying.
The ultraviolet rays of sol They are one of the environmental factors that are most harmful to hair pigmentation. Barbosa explains that UV rays generate irreparable damage to DNA that results in the alteration of the function of melanocytic cells.
And at diet that one wears lacks certain nutrients, this could affect the production of melanin in the hair follicles. “Today there is evidence that suggests that the deficiency of micronutrients such as vitamina B12iron, folic acid and zinc, could generate alterations in hair pigmentation,” he reports. The explanation is that their presence in the body helps reduce the patient’s oxidative state and inflammation. By helping the entire body, the hair also benefits, he maintains. Although he adds that the link between diet and hair health must continue to be investigated to reach more compelling conclusions.
As a preventive measure, it is recommended to eat a balanced diet that includes a variety of vegetables, fruits, probiotic foods and no ultra-processed foods.
Foto: Unsplash.
If you consider that the gray hair may be due to dietary factors, a follow-up should be done with a dermatologist professional who will personalize and closely monitor the condition. To them, Barbosa adds that there is still “no magic supplement that makes hair grow or restores its color.”
Victoria Vera Ziccardi / La Nación / GDA
