It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the biggest reason many of us fear aging (especially those of us who are blond) is that our hair turns white as we age. Did you know that our stem cells are responsible for the graying of our hair?

In a study by researchers at New York University, melanocyte stem cells (McSC) and found in both mice and humans, these stem cells are a structure in the epidermis of our skin where hair grows in the shape of a tunnel. in the follicles exists and receives signals to develop into mature cells that produce protein pigments responsible for color. it makes our hair color.

McSCs lose their mobility as they age, making them unable to produce color for our hair

Research published in the journal Nature observed that McSC’s pigments spread in a certain way, thanks to the movements they perform during hair growth, thus protecting the color of the hair. However, the researchers found that this back-and-forth movement of McSCs decreased with age, and so did hair remains unpigmented noticed. This was the main cause of graying hair in old age.

Is it possible to reverse or prevent hair bleaching?

Mayumi Ito, of NYU Grossman School of Medicine’s Department of Dermatology, and lead author of the study. “This study demonstrates the vital importance of McSCs in the maintenance of hair color. In older mice, pigment production can be reversed through reactivation of McSCs. This can lead to hair growth.” say. However that this procedure is not yet possible in humans and further research is needed to develop this method.

This research may also provide some clues to prevent hair graying. The researchers note that therapeutic approaches that include the use of WNT proteins or reactivation of McSCs may help prevent or reverse hair graying.