Although getting gray hair is natural, not everyone likes to have it. As soon as the first strand of gray hair appears, people begin to color their hair. Now, here's a breakthrough finding that may spell excitement for people who are going gray but may stir worries among hair dye manufacturers.
A team of European researchers has developed a topical, UVB-activated compound called PC-KUS (a modified pseudocatalase) that may soon be a cure for gray hair.
According to the researchers, hair turns gray when people develop massive oxidative stress through a build up of hydrogen peroxide in the hair follicles. This accumulation of hydrogen peroxide in the hair follicle blocks the normal synthesis of the natural hair pigment - melanin.
The new compound, a pseudocatalase, developed by the researchers is said to work by reversing oxidative stress, leading to repigmentation. The compound has also been found to work for vitiligo, a condition in which the skin loses its pigment and color in patches.
The new research report is published online in The FASEB Journal.
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