Hair Changes Caused by Aging

The document from 2014 details the physiological changes in hair follicles due to aging, including the onset of canities (graying of hair) and a decrease in hair follicle density. It notes that canities is influenced by age and race, with Caucasians typically graying around age 30, Asians after 30, and Africans around age 40. The paper also explains that melanocytes in the hair bulb reduce pigment production by 10-20% per decade after age 30, and the illusion of gray hair is often a mix of white and pigmented hairs. Additionally, the document discusses the role of oxidative stress in hair aging, with gray/white hair having high levels of hydrogen peroxide that damage melanocytes. Androgenetic alopecia, a common condition leading to hair loss, is also covered, including its multifactorial etiopathogenesis and treatment options such as minoxidil, finasteride, and hair transplants. The potential benefits of caffeine on androgenetic alopecia are mentioned, though the document does not provide the number of participants in the studies it references, limiting the ability to assess the strength of the findings.