Hair Greying and Oxidative Stress in Hair Follicles

Hair Greying and Oxidative Stress in Hair Follicles

For years, scientists have suspected that oxidative stress within hair follicles is the primary contributor to diminished scalp health, accelerated hair aging, and hair greying. Melanin, the pigment responsible forhair coloration, is produced by melanocytes within the hair shaft and follicle.However, the loss of hair color, resulting in grey or white hair, stems from dysfunction in melanocyte activity.

According to the "free radical theory of graying", oxidative stress caused by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) generation within the hair follicle and shaft leads to cellular DNA damage and melanocyte death. This accumulation of hydrogen peroxide also damages the hair's natural protective and repair antioxidants, catalase, MSRA, and MSRB. Consequently, melanocyte oxidative damage and the loss of natural antioxidant protection lead to decreased melanin production, causing hair greying and whitening.

Recent advancements in scientific instruments have enabled researchers to measure hydrogen peroxide levels in grey/white hair shafts and follicles. They have also assessed the levels of protective antioxidants, including catalase, MSRA, and MSRB. Their findings confirm the theory that high levels of hydrogen peroxide within the hair follicle contribute to oxidative stress, impairing melanocyte function and resulting in grey/white hair shafts.

At Micellar Haircare, our awareness of follicular oxidative stress as the underlying cause of hair greying inspired the development of our Q10 REVIVE Hair Mist. After four years of intensive research, we formulated a product containing Q10 and a unique selection of organic antioxidants in a nano-encapsulated, follicle-penetrating light serum. This innovative solution aims to neutralize and reverse follicular oxidative stress, restoring natural hair color.

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References:

Arck, P. C., Overall, R., Spatz, K., Liezman, C., Handjiski, B., Klapp, B. F., Birch-Machin, M. A., Peters, E. M.J., Arck, P. C., Overall, R., Spatz, K., Liezman, C., Handjiski, B., Klapp, B.F., Birch-Machin, M. A., & Peters, E. M. J. (2006). Towards a “free radical theory of graying”: melanocyte apoptosis in the aging human hair follicle is an indicator of oxidative stress induced tissue damage. FASEB Journal : OfficialPublication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology,20(9), 1567–1569. https://doi.org/10.1096/FJ.05-4039FJE

Wood, J. M., Decker, H., Hartmann,H., Chavan, B., Rokos, H., Spencer, J. D., Hasse, S., Thornton, M. J., Shalbaf, M., Paus, R., & Schallreuter, K. U. (2009). Senile hair graying: H 2 O 2 ‐mediate doxidative stress affects human hair color by blunting methionine sulfoxide repair. The FASEB Journal, 23(7), 2065–2075.https://doi.org/10.1096/FJ.08-125435

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