Oxidative Stress in Aging of Hair

In the 2009 document, Dr. Ralph M. Trüeb presented the concept that oxidative stress plays a significant role in the aging of hair, including graying and alopecia. Oxidative stress arises from an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species and the body's antioxidant defenses, which diminish with age, leading to cellular damage. The review suggests that oxidative stress is a key mechanism behind both hair graying and hair loss, including androgenetic alopecia (AGA), which is characterized by patterned hair thinning. The document also notes that oxidative stress can cause apoptosis in hair follicle cells, premature senescence in dermal papilla cells from balding scalps, and is associated with inflammatory phenomena and fibrosis in AGA. It discusses the negative effects of smoking and ultraviolet radiation on hair health and emphasizes the importance of photoprotection. Potential interventions to counteract hair aging include the use of photoprotectors, oral antioxidant supplements like l-methionine and l-cystine with vitamin B6, and topical melatonin, which may protect against oxidative stress and UV damage.