Solution to Graying Hair May Be at Hand

Everyone knows that people's hair gets to become gray or white as they get older. But for thousands of years, no one knew what turned hair gray or white. Now, after research conducted by Karin Schallreuter, a professor clinical and experimental dermatology at England's University of Bradford, it seems that a solution may be at hand, because now, we know the cause.

So what does make hair gray? Apparently, it's a lack of an enzyme called catalase, which works to control the naturally-occurring hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in hair. Apparently, H2O2 accumulates in the hair shafts of the scalp and inhibits the enzyme tyroisinase, which is responsible for melanin production, which, we all know gives color to our skin and hair. With reduced tyrosinase levels in the scalp, the hairs suffer with a slow loss of color. A compound used by OXIS, BXT-51072, has been shown to neutralize hydrogen peroxide. This may possibly be used in new products for greying hair.

Other enzymes which also help in keeping hair dark, or a normal light color like blonde, also diminish with age. If catalase can be kept present and active in hair, we all might be saying goodbye to gray hair soon enough!