TLDR Gray hair is caused by hydrogen peroxide buildup, which damages hair color repair.
The study demonstrated that senile hair graying was associated with the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in gray/white hair shafts, leading to oxidative stress. This oxidative stress resulted in the almost complete absence of catalase and methionine sulfoxide reductase A and B proteins, impairing the repair of methionine sulfoxide (Met-S=O) in the hair follicle. The oxidation of methionine residues, including Met 374 in tyrosinase, reduced the enzyme's functionality, contributing to the loss of hair color. The research suggested that H2O2-induced oxidative damage affected the entire hair follicle, not just melanocytes, and proposed that preventing Met oxidation with L-methionine could offer new strategies for reversing hair graying.
210 citations
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May 2006 in “The FASEB journal” Oxidative stress causes hair to gray by damaging and killing pigment cells.
99 citations
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June 2005 in “Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology” Hair ages due to genetics and environmental factors, leading to graying and thinning, with treatments available for some conditions.
450 citations
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January 2005 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology” Hair color is determined by melanin produced and transferred in hair follicles.
78 citations
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August 2002 in “Experimental Dermatology” Researchers developed a quick and easy way to get and grow cells from the base of human hair follicles.
71 citations
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June 2001 in “American Journal of Pathology” The p53 protein helps control hair follicle shrinking by promoting cell death in mice.
54 citations
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December 1999 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings” 192 citations
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October 1998 in “Experimental Dermatology” Androgenetic alopecia involves complex hair follicle changes and knowledge gaps remain.
161 citations
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June 1994 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology” Hair stops producing melanin as it transitions from the growth phase to the resting phase.
210 citations
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July 1993 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology” Hair color production in mice is closely linked to the hair growth phase and may also influence hair growth itself.
521 citations
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January 1954 in “Physiological Reviews” Hair growth is cyclic and influenced mainly by local factors.
126 citations
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January 2009 in “International Journal of Trichology” Oxidative stress contributes to hair graying and loss as we age.
1 citations
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September 2013 in “Elsevier eBooks” Hair ages and thins due to factors like inflammation and stress, and treatments like antioxidants and hormones might improve hair health.
September 2016 in “Springer eBooks” Gray hair is caused by oxidative stress damaging hair cells.
June 2025 in “Clinical Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology” Gray hair can potentially be managed or reversed with treatments that boost melanin production and address nutritional deficiencies.
75 citations
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January 2009 in “International journal of trichology” Hair grays due to oxidative stress and fewer functioning melanocytes.
