Many fear the appearance of gray hair on their heads! However, this phenomenon is completely natural. Long considered inevitable, this depigmentation, which occurs more or less gradually, could in reality
be reversible. Yes, yes, you read that right! Cosmetics capable to reverse graying
are they about to revolutionize the beauty market?
In any case, this is what a recent study suggests! Published in the journal Nature and carried out by researchers from the Grossman School of Medicine at New York University, this work opens a path never before explored. Will it soon be possible to restore white hair to its original color ? Marie France takes stock of these discoveries which will delight more than one…
What causes graying of hair?
Above all, scientists sought to understand the key role played by melanin stem cells in the appearance of graying. These latter can transform into melanocytes and thus become responsible for melanin production. As a reminder, melanin is a pigment naturally present in the body, which colors the skin, body hair, and hair.
It was by observing the melanocyte stem cells of mice that the researchers observed that they “moved between various microscopic compartments hair follicles”, as the webzine explains
Trust My Science. This behavior is very different from that of other cells in the body, which do not migrate, but most often evolve. linearly
until it disappears.
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Is it possible to reverse the appearance of gray hair?
But that’s not all! Scientists also found that some melanocyte stem cells remain trapped in a compartment of the hair bulb, which deprives them of their maturation signal and prevents them from regaining their stem cell state. It is at this precise moment that they stop producing pigment and that graying of hair intervenes.
“These results suggest that mobility and reversible differentiation of melanocyte stem cells are essential to preserve healthy, colored hair”, explains Mayumi Ito, co-author of the study. “It is loss of chameleon ability melanocyte stem cells which could explain graying and depigmentation of hair”, she concludes.
Is the beauty market about to be disrupted?
For his part, Dr. Qi Sun, postdoctoral researcher at NYU Langone Health, explains: “Newly identified mechanisms [chez les souris] suggest that a similar positioning of melanocyte stem cells could exist
in man. If so, this could offer ways reverse or prevent graying of human hair by helping these blocked cells to
regain their mobility within the hair follicles”.
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Shutterstock
Although these advances are still in their early stages, they already raise a lot of hope. If these discoveries open up the field of possibilities for the world of beauty and science, it will still take time before slowing down the graying processeven
restoration of natural hair colorare not possible. However, a cosmetic revolution seems to be well underway!
