Hair - Gray

Also known as:  Grey Hair

Medical Name:  Achromotricia

Gray Hair involves a change in Hair Color from its normal color to gray.  Hair is regarded as prematurely gray when 50% of Scalp’s Hair has changed its color to gray by the age of 40.

 Gray Hair occurs when the Melanocytes in the Scalp die, causing the manufacture of Melanin (the chemical that is responsible for normal Hair Color) to cease:

 Gray Hair contains very few Melanocytes in the Hair Bulb, leading to the production of fewer Melanosomes and those Melanosomes that are produced contain less Melanin than non-gray Hair.

Amino Acids

 N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC) may help to prevent Gray Hair.  ^[1]

Auxins

 Dihydroxyl-5,6-Indole (applied topically) may reverse Gray Hair.  This occurs via Dihydroxyl-5,6-Indole functioning as a precursor molecule for the production of Melanin via a slow oxidation process.  This compound is not yet commercially-available. 

Hormones

 There are many anecdotal reports claiming that Human Growth Hormone (hGH) replacement therapy has restored normal Hair Color to Gray Hair. 

Minerals

 Gray Hair may occur as a result of Calcium deficiency. 

 Copper supplementation may occasionally delay the onset of Gray Hair (due to its role in the production of Melanin).  ^[2]

 Zinc deficiency may cause premature Gray Hair: 

 Some contradictory reports state that Zinc has no effect on the onset of Gray Hair.