Melanocytes and Hair Color
I have a question about greying process.
Scientists say that someday in the future it would be possible to reverse grey hair back to its original colour, because grey hair still have melanocytes but they are reduce in number. What do you think how long melanocytes survive in grey hair, and is it true that grey hair still have melanocytes but white hair have no more melanocytes.
DO you think that it will be possible to reverse also those hair which have no more melanocytes. (white hair?)
The reason that your hair becomes gray and eventually white is that over time you lose the cells that make melanin, the pigment responsible for hair color. It is very likely that we can reverse the process of graying hair with gene therapy in the future by prolonging the life of melanocytes.
I can not predict how soon we can have a method to reverse the color of gray hair to its original color and I recommend that you use dye to color your hair for now, rather than waiting for scientists to come up with that solution. Be careful that you use a professional quality hair dye and follow the instructions provided with the dye. I don’t want to see you back here with questions about treating chemical burns and experiencing hair loss!
I’m not sure why people think hair turns gray. That is, it is 100% false that hair gradually turns gray. Hair has the appearance of gray from the white hair mixed in. Hair does not turn gray. It either has color or it doesn’t, period.
Skippy – People think hair turns gray because it does. You’re mistaken.
Achromotrichia is the process your hair goes through when turning gray and then white.