This grey hair has become a big headache to many in this modern generation. We see more number of people facing this issue, these days starting at a younger age. We see more number of  hair products for coloring grey hair and even more products to color ordinary hair which cause delayed side effects and unforeseen reactions. Hair loss, hair thinning, early hair greying, skin reactions affecting the the scalp, face and eyes are the mostly occuring side effects. Cheaper quality hair products, hair coloring agents, harmful ingredients including chemicals that are used in these products cause such reactions, even though some products claim to have natural ingredients and herbal sources. Genetically and scientifically, It has been understood and proved that hair greying occurs due to aging process in humans, that is when Melanin, the pigment that is responsible for color to the hair, eyebrows, eye lashes and hair on skin is no longer produced...keeping aside the hair greying that occurs in advance due to extensive use of artificial hair colors and their reactions too.

 

A recent study revealed that a certain gene is responsible for hair greying in humans, which can open doors to creating a remedy to delay or prevent the process or even reverse the already grey hair, in future. Scientists studied thousands of subjects from Latin American Countries belonging to different Ancestral backgrounds, out of whom 55% were women. They accessed everyones hair color, balding pattern and greying along with hair textures and Men were also assessed for their beard, eyebrow and mononrow thickness. After analysing everyones hair characterisitics and comparing them with their genomes, the Researchers were able to conclude that it is the Genes that determine the hair characteristics in each person.

 

 

This particular gene controls the production and storage of Melanin and has influence on the Color of Hair, eyebrows and skin, but this study revealed that it has an influence on hair greying too.  Researchers say that understanding this Gene in deep can help come up with various ways and strategies to combat greying problems and also more research in this direction can help know in depth about what influences the hair texture and thickness in humans. I wonder how long this research takes, but until then, proper Nutrition during younger age years, keeping hair products and coloring agents at bay, not resorting to hair straighteners and curlers might make life easier with not-so-grey hair during the not-so-old age years !!

 

- Prathyusha