Human Hair Graying Revisited: Principles, Misconceptions, And Key Research Frontiers

    December 2023 in “ Journal of Investigative Dermatology ”
    Ralf Paus, Alec Sevilla, James M. Grichnik
    Studysummary This study highlights multiple factors contributing to hair graying, such as oxidative damage, melanocyte changes, and genetic influences, and suggests that repigmentation may be temporarily reversible, offering potential targets for future treatments while urging caution when applying mouse model findings to humans.
    Automatically generated from the study's abstract, not written by a person, and not a review of the full paper. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Read the original study, and consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer
    Read the full study on jidonline.org →
    Discuss this study in the Community →

    Research cited in this study 102

    1. Spatial Distribution and Functional Impact of Human Scalp Hair Follicle Microbiota Journal of Investigative Dermatology · 2023
    2. Melatonin Exerts Prominent, Differential Epidermal and Dermal Anti-Aging Properties in Aged Human Eyelid Skin Ex Vivo International Journal of Molecular Sciences · 2023
    3. Beyond the Epidermal-Melanin-Unit: The Human Scalp Anagen Hair Bulb Is Home to Multiple Melanocyte Subpopulations of Variable Melanogenic Capacity International Journal of Molecular Sciences · 2023
    4. MTORC1 Activity Negatively Regulates Human Hair Follicle Growth and Pigmentation EMBO reports · 2023
    5. A Comprehensive Review of Mammalian Pigmentation: Paving the Way for Innovative Hair Color-Changing Cosmetics Biology · 2023
    6. Human Hair Follicles Operate a Functional Peripheral Equivalent of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Somatotropic Axis Ex Vivo ˜The œjournal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology · 2022
    7. Single-Cell Transcriptomics Reveals Lineage Trajectory of Human Scalp Hair Follicle and Informs Mechanisms of Hair Graying Cell discovery · 2022
    8. Toward Elucidating Epigenetic and Metabolic Regulation of Stem Cell Lineage Plasticity in Skin Aging Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology · 2022
    9. A Clinical Study of Premature Graying and Its Association with Hemoglobin, Ferritin, and Calcium Levels Indian Journal of Dermatology · 2022
    10. Clinical and Epidemiological Characteristics and Associated Factors of Hair Greying in Lagos, Nigeria Ghana Medical Journal · 2022
    11. Hair Graying Regulators Beyond Hair Follicle Frontiers in physiology · 2022
    12. Revisiting the Role of Melatonin in Human Melanocyte Physiology: A Skin Context Perspective Journal of pineal research · 2022
    13. Human Hair Follicles Operate an Internal Cori Cycle and Modulate Their Growth via Glycogen Phosphorylase Scientific Reports · 2021
    14. Canities Subita After Extreme Trauma Showing Positive Staining for Anti-PD-L1 Antibodies: A New Clue Into Etiopathogenesis? Skin Appendage Disorders · 2021
    15. Udp-GlcNAc-1-Phosphotransferase Is A Clinically Important Regulator Of Human And Mouse Hair Pigmentation Journal of Investigative Dermatology · 2021
    16. Evidence from a Humanized Mouse Model of Androgenetic Alopecia That Platelet-Rich Plasma Stimulates Hair Regrowth, Hair Shaft Diameter, and Vellus-to-Terminal Hair Reconversion In Vivo British Journal of Dermatology · 2021
    17. Telomere Dynamics and Telomerase in the Biology of Hair Follicles and Their Stem Cells as a Model for Aging Research Journal of Investigative Dermatology · 2021
    18. Dermal Adipose Tissue Secretes HGF to Promote Human Hair Growth and Pigmentation Journal of Investigative Dermatology · 2021
    19. The Effects of Smoking on Hair Health: A Systematic Review Skin appendage disorders · 2021
    20. Stress-Sensing in the Human Greying Hair Follicle: Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM) Depletion in Hair Bulb Melanocytes in Canities-Prone Scalp Scientific reports · 2020
    21. Epidemiological and Biochemical Factors (Serum Ferritin and Vitamin D) Associated with Premature Hair Graying in the Egyptian Population Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology · 2020
    22. The biology of human hair greying Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society · 2020
    23. Exploring the Possibility of Predicting Human Head Hair Greying from DNA Using Whole-Exome and Targeted NGS Data BMC Genomics · 2020
    24. Topical L-Thyroxine: The Cinderella Among Hormones Waiting to Dance on the Floor of Dermatological Therapy? Experimental Dermatology · 2020
    25. Hyperactivation of Sympathetic Nerves Drives Depletion of Melanocyte Stem Cells Nature · 2020
    26. Medication-Induced Repigmentation of Gray Hair: A Systematic Review Skin appendage disorders · 2019
    27. An Osteopontin-Derived Peptide Inhibits Human Hair Growth by Decreasing Fibroblast Growth Factor-7 Production in Outer Root Sheath Keratinocytes British Journal of Dermatology · 2019
    28. Effects of the Selective TrkA Agonist Gambogic Amide on Pigmentation and Growth of Human Hair Follicles In Vitro PLOS ONE · 2019
    29. Histopathology of Aging of the Hair Follicle Journal of Cutaneous Pathology · 2019
    30. Lipid Losses and Barrier Function Modifications of the Brown-to-White Hair Transition Skin research and technology · 2019
    31. Transepidermal UV Radiation of Scalp Skin Ex Vivo Induces Hair Follicle Damage That Is Alleviated by Topical Treatment with Caffeine International Journal of Cosmetic Science · 2019
    32. Nuclear Factor (Erythroid-Derived 2)-Like-2 Pathway Modulates Substance P–Induced Human Mast Cell Activation and Degranulation in the Hair Follicle The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology · 2018
    33. Autophagy Is Essential for Maintaining the Growth of a Human Mini-Organ: Evidence from Scalp Hair Follicle Organ Culture PLOS Biology · 2018
    34. Melatonin: A Cutaneous Perspective on Its Production, Metabolism, and Functions Journal of Investigative Dermatology · 2018
    35. Association of Epidemiological and Biochemical Factors with Premature Graying of Hair: A Case-Control Study International journal of trichology · 2018
    36. Three Streams for the Mechanism of Hair Graying Annals of dermatology/Annals of Dermatology · 2018
    37. Compartmentation of Mitochondrial and Oxidative Metabolism in Growing Hair Follicles: A Ring of Fire ˜The œjournal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology · 2017
    38. Demographic Characteristics and Association of Serum Vitamin B12, Ferritin, and Thyroid Function with Premature Canities in Indian Patients from an Urban Skin Clinic of North India: A Retrospective Analysis of 71 Cases DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · 2017
    39. Oxidative Damage Control in a Human Mini-Organ: Nrf2 Activation Protects Against Oxidative Stress-Induced Hair Growth Inhibition Journal of Investigative Dermatology · 2016
    40. A Genome-Wide Association Scan in Admixed Latin Americans Identifies Loci Influencing Facial and Scalp Hair Features Nature Communications · 2016
    41. Hair Follicle Aging Is Driven by Transepidermal Elimination of Stem Cells via COL17A1 Proteolysis Science · 2016
    42. The Impact of Oxidative Stress on Hair International Journal of Cosmetic Science · 2015
    43. A Guide to Studying Human Hair Follicle Cycling In Vivo Journal of Investigative Dermatology · 2015
    44. Human Hair Follicle Organ Culture: Theory, Application, and Perspectives Experimental Dermatology · 2015
    45. Repigmentation of Hair Following Adalimumab Therapy Dermatology online journal · 2015
    46. Association of Premature Hair Graying with Family History, Smoking, and Obesity: A Cross-Sectional Study Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology · 2014
    47. The Peripheral Clock Regulates Human Pigmentation ˜The œjournal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology · 2014
    48. Neuroendocrinology of the Hair Follicle: Principles and Clinical Perspectives Trends in Molecular Medicine · 2014
    49. Premature Graying as a Consequence of Compromised Antioxidant Activity in Hair Bulb Melanocytes and Their Precursors PLOS ONE · 2014
    50. A Case of Repigmentation and Curling of Hair on Acitretin Therapy Clinical and experimental dermatology · 2013
    51. A Meeting of Two Chronobiological Systems: Circadian Proteins Period1 and BMAL1 Modulate the Human Hair Cycle Clock Journal of Investigative Dermatology · 2013
    52. Age-Induced Hair Greying: The Multiple Effects of Oxidative Stress International Journal of Cosmetic Science · 2013
    53. Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Thyroid Axis Hormones Stimulate Mitochondrial Function and Biogenesis in Human Hair Follicles Journal of Investigative Dermatology · 2013
    54. Poliosis Circumscripta: Overview And Underlying Causes Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology · 2013
    55. Topobiology of Human Pigmentation: P-Cadherin Selectively Stimulates Hair Follicle Melanogenesis ˜The œjournal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology · 2013
    56. B-Raf and C-Raf Are Required for Melanocyte Stem Cell Self-Maintenance Cell Reports · 2012
    57. Deficiency in Nucleotide Excision Repair Family Gene Activity, Especially ERCC3, Is Associated with Non-Pigmented Hair Fiber Growth PloS one · 2012
    58. Alopecia Areata: An Autoimmune Disease Causing Hair Loss The New England Journal of Medicine · 2012
    59. Hair Repigmentation Associated with the Use of Lenalidomide: Graying May Not Be an Irreversible Process Journal of oncology pharmacy practice · 2012
    60. The Human Hair Follicle, A Bistable Organ? Experimental Dermatology · 2012
    61. Endocannabinoids Limit Excessive Mast Cell Maturation And Activation In Human Skin Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology · 2012
    62. Hair Greying Is Associated With Active Hair Growth British Journal of Dermatology · 2011
    63. Coordinated Activation of Wnt in Epithelial and Melanocyte Stem Cells Initiates Pigmented Hair Regeneration Cell · 2011
    64. Melanocyte Stem Cells: A Melanocyte Reservoir in Hair Follicles for Hair and Skin Pigmentation Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research · 2011
    65. Hair Follicle Stem Cells Provide a Functional Niche for Melanocyte Stem Cells Cell stem cell · 2011
    66. Human Hair Follicle and Epidermal Melanocytes Exhibit Striking Differences in Their Aging Profile Involving Catalase ˜The œjournal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology · 2010
    67. Repigmentation of Hair After Latanoprost Therapy Journal of The European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology · 2010
    68. A Neuroendocrinological Perspective on Human Hair Follicle Pigmentation Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research · 2010
    69. The Cell Biology of Human Hair Follicle Pigmentation Pigment cell & melanoma research · 2010
    70. Why Some Women Look Young for Their Age PLOS ONE · 2009
    71. Thyrotropin Releasing Hormone: A New Player in Human Hair Growth Control ˜The œFASEB journal · 2009
    72. Neuroendocrine Perspectives in Alopecia Areata: Does Stress Play a Role? Journal of Investigative Dermatology · 2009
    73. Persistent Hair Growth During Treatment With the EGFR Inhibitor Erlotinib Dermatology Online Journal · 2009
    74. Senile Hair Graying: H2O2-Mediated Oxidative Stress Affects Human Hair Color by Blunting Methionine Sulfoxide Repair The FASEB Journal · 2009
    75. The Hair Follicle as a Dynamic Mini-Organ Current Biology · 2009
    76. Profiling the Response of Human Hair Follicles to Ultraviolet Radiation Journal of Investigative Dermatology · 2009
    77. Aging of the Hair Follicle Pigmentation System International journal of trichology · 2009
    78. Thyroid Hormones Directly Alter Human Hair Follicle Functions: Anagen Prolongation and Stimulation of Both Hair Matrix Keratinocyte Proliferation and Hair Pigmentation The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism · 2008
    79. Stem Cell Factor/c-Kit Signaling in Normal and Androgenetic Alopecia Hair Follicles Journal of Endocrinology · 2008
    80. Probing the Effects of Stress Mediators on the Human Hair Follicle American Journal of Pathology · 2007
    81. Repigmentation of Gray Hair After Thyroid Hormone Treatment Actas Dermo-Sifiliográficas · 2007
    82. Melatonin and the Hair Follicle Journal of pineal research · 2007
    83. Dissecting the Impact of Chemotherapy on the Human Hair Follicle ˜The œAmerican journal of pathology · 2007
    84. Deletion of the Developmentally Essential Gene ATR in Adult Mice Leads to Age-Related Phenotypes and Stem Cell Loss Cell Stem Cell · 2007
    85. Towards A Free Radical Theory Of Graying: Melanocyte Apoptosis In The Aging Human Hair Follicle As An Indicator Of Oxidative Stress Induced Tissue Damage ˜The œFASEB journal · 2006
    86. Hair Growth Inhibition by Psychoemotional Stress: A Mouse Model for Neural Mechanisms in Hair Growth Control Experimental Dermatology · 2005
    87. Changes in Different Melanocyte Populations During Hair Follicle Involution (Catagen) ˜The œjournal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology · 2005
    88. Hair Melanocytes as Neuro-Endocrine Sensors—Pigments for Our Imagination Molecular and cellular endocrinology · 2005
    89. The Role of Melatonin in Neuroectodermal-Mesodermal Interactions: The Hair Follicle Synthesizes Melatonin and Expresses Functional Melatonin Receptors ˜The œFASEB journal · 2005
    90. The Cutaneous Serotoninergic/Melatoninergic System: Securing a Place Under the Sun ˜The œFASEB journal · 2005
    91. Hair Follicle Pigmentation: Mechanisms and Factors Influencing Melanin Production ˜The œjournal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology · 2005
    92. Protective Effect of Superoxide Dismutase Against Hair Graying in a Mouse Model Photochemistry and Photobiology · 2004
    93. Expression of Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Thyroid Axis Related Genes in Human Skin Journal of Investigative Dermatology · 2002
    94. Hair Darkening in Porphyria Cutanea Tarda British journal of dermatology/British journal of dermatology, Supplement · 2002
    95. Control of Hair Growth and Follicle Size by VEGF-Mediated Angiogenesis Journal of Clinical Investigation · 2001
    96. Melanocyte Subpopulation Turnover During the Human Hair Cycle: An Immunohistochemical Study Pigment cell research · 2000
    97. The Biology of Hair Follicles The New England Journal of Medicine · 1999
    98. Do Hair Bulb Melanocytes Undergo Apoptosis During Hair Follicle Regression (Catagen)? ˜The œjournal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology · 1998
    99. Melanogenesis During the Anagen-Catagen-Telogen Transformation of the Murine Hair Cycle ˜The œjournal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology · 1994
    100. Melanogenesis Is Coupled to Murine Anagen: Toward New Concepts for the Role of Melanocytes and the Regulation of Melanogenesis in Hair Growth ˜The œjournal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology · 1993
    101. Changes in Scalp Hair After Cancer Chemotherapy European Journal of Cancer and Clinical Oncology · 1989
    102. Successful Treatment of Gray Hairs with High Dose Calcium Pantothenate Indian Journal of Dermatology Venereology and Leprology · 1981