Khaberni - "I wish youth could return one day"... A sentence that accompanies everyone as they age, especially as gray hair encroaches on our strands, where we always try by all means and recipes to hide it, wishing that our hair would regain its original natural color instead of the gray or white color that indicates that we are entering the stage of aging.
However, scientists warn that if your gray hair turns back to its natural color without any intervention—as in your youth—do not be happy about it, as this may be a serious health sign!
Japanese researchers from "Tokyo University" have revealed that losing hair pigment might not just be a sign of aging, but a natural mechanism that prevents the growth of malignant cells through the body.
According to health.mail.ru, and reported by Russian media, hair color depends on the activity of pigment cells responsible for producing the melanin pigment. When these cells stop working or die, the hair loses its color and becomes white or gray.
The process was commonly thought to be directly related to age, where the number of pigment stem cells decreases with age, and the body gradually loses its ability to maintain the pigment.
However, the new study conducted by the Japanese researchers showed that aging is not the only factor, as pigment cells might sometimes stop functioning as a result of DNA damage due to exposure to ultraviolet rays, radiation, or severe oxidative stress.
When DNA damage occurs, the body stimulates a safety mechanism, where pigment stem cells face two options: either to stop dividing and exit the body, leading to hair loss or the emergence of gray color, or to continue dividing despite the damage, increasing the risk of cancer. If the cells choose the first option, the hair turns gray, which represents a natural way to protect the body from cancer.
Researchers affirm that this response represents a natural mechanism to stress, as when cells in hair follicles face the risks of mutations, the body prefers to stop their activity to maintain their safety.
The study presents a new concept in the relationship between gray hair and skin cancer. Previously, melanoma and gray hair were viewed as two separate processes, but the new findings suggest that both phenomena might be different results of the same cellular decision.
The findings of the study open new horizons for studying pigment cells and potential prevention methods against skin cancer, according to researchers from "Tokyo University".
However, scientists emphasize that gray hair does not provide full protection, as grayness only indicates that some cells have chosen the "safe path", while other cells may still be susceptible to mutations.
