Wrinkles and gray hair are probably the two most obvious signs of aging. We read all about collagen crosslinking, loss of deep fat pockets and other reasons for why wrinkles develop. But why do we go gray? Now there might be the answer. Hydrogen peroxide makes hair go gray.
Everybody has wondered why hair goes gray. Many people hate it, since it is such an obvious sign of aging. So much money is spent each year on dyes hiding it.
New research suggests that it is hydrogen peroxide that makes our hair go gray. Hydrogen peroxide (H202) is an oxidizing agent, so it has bleaching properties. It is found in products for bleaching hair.
Apparently, there is a build up of hydrogen peroxide in hair shafts. This hydrogen peroxide blocks both directly and indirectly the synthesis of hair pigments, so we go gray and eventually white.
Our bodies naturally make hydrogen peroxide and therefore also make enzymes to break down peroxides, called peroxidases. These enzymes will break down hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen. As hair follicles age there is less activity of a number of enzymes including peroxidases. The reduced levels of these enzymes result in less pigment being formed, and the destruction of any pigment that is made. So we go gray.
One thing that I have noticed is that those with darker thicker hair tend to go gray faster. Those, like me, with thin mousy hair tend to go gray much more slowly. Perhaps thin mousy hair means better peroxidases or other enzymes that are involved in hair pigmentation. I was always envious of those with thick hair, not so much anymore.
I wonder if soon there will be a deep scalp treatment to stop graying and/or to stimulatie production of pigment. Better hurry up; despite my thin hair, I am going gray.
[tags]gray hair, grey hair, hydrogen peroxide, peroxidases, pigment[/tags]
