My Hair Has Gone Grey And Stopped Growing – Why

George Clooney may look great on it, but for most of us, the appearance of grey hair just reminds us that we are getting older. The reason for this has until recently been unclear, however a recent study has highlighted a possible reason for grey hairs and maybe pointing the way forward for new treatments to help hair keep its natural colour.

Medical Journal ‘Cell’ reports that Langone Medical Centre at New York University have been looking at the problem and now believe that a breakdown in communication between the stem cells in the hair follicles and the melanocyte stem cells could well be the cause for our grey hair. The Melanocytes are the cells responsible for producing the pigment that gives our hair its colour, the follicles produce the hair.

Dr Mayumi Ito who lead the study was quoted as saying “We have known for decades that hair follicle stem cells and pigment-producing melanocycte cells collaborate to produce coloured hair, but the underlying reasons were unknown”

Stem Cells Are The Key

The study identified a pathway called WNT which the cells in the follicles use to both send and receive instructions that activate the melanocyte stem cells. Once the WNT signal has been received, the melanocytes begin to product the pigment that colours our hair.

Inhibiting or restricting the WNT signal to follicle stem cells led to reduced hair re-growth and reduced melanocyte stem cell activation, which in turn caused hair loss and depigmented hair that turned to grey

The study suggested that manipulating the WNT signals could well help prevent both hair loss and it turning grey. If scientists are able to turn these findings into a treatment that could save millions of men and women he cost of hair colouring and re-growth treatments

The study also gave an insight into certain diseases including skin cancer (melanoma) that involve the loss or sudden uncontrollable growth of melanocytes

For Now

Until such times as these results and subsequent testing delivers a proven cure for grey hair and hair loss, we are still going to have to colour our hair to stop the grey, and rely on proven hair loss remedies to encourage the re-growth of our hair.

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One proven product is Profollica, the #1 hair loss product in the USA, now available throughout the UK and Europe, Profollica offers a tried and tested way to encourage the re-growth of your own natural hair.

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