Healthy hair is a sign of general well-being and youth. Unlike other animals, the function of hair in human is currently under debate. Nevertheless, hair serves as a great esthetic tool and means of nonverbal communication.
Hair color and style can significantly alter the physical appearance of a person and thus alter his/her body image.
As graying of hair is perceived as
a sign of old age, premature graying of hair can potentially bear an adverse effect on the self-esteem of the individual. Graying of hair occurs with normal aging.
However, the age at which it occurs varies in different races.
Premature graying of hair is defined as graying of hair before the age of 20 years in Caucasians and before 30 years in Blacks. The average age of the onset of graying in Caucasians is 34 ± 9.6 years, and in Blacks, it is 43.9 ± 10.3 years(1).
A large population-based study reported that 6%–23% of people have 50% gray hair
by 50 years of age(2).
Melanin is a complex polymer that originates from the amino acid tyrosine. Melanin is present in human and animal skin to varying degrees and is responsible for your unique eye, hair, and skin color. Melanin is produced in melanocytes, which are cells that are in different areas of your body such as hair, skin, pupils, and irises.
Melanin is also responsible for the color of human hair.
Both genetic and environmental elements influence the hair follicle stem cells and melanocytes implicating telomere shortening, decrease in cell numbers, and certain transcription factors influencing the aging process(3).
The cause and development of premature graying of hair is not completely understood and can be attributed to several variables. The various factors that can potentially contribute to premature graying of hair are autosomal disease, premature aging disorders (e.g., progeria), oxidative stress resulting from ultraviolet rays, pollution, emotional factors, or inflammatory causes, Vitamin B12 deficiency, decreased thyroid hormones, and
minerals such as copper, iron, calcium, and zinc as well as drugs reducing melanogenesis(4).
The key signal of melanogenesis is through the effect of α-melanin-stimulating hormone by binding to melanocortin 1 receptor on normal human melanocytes(5).
Many methods of treating premature graying of hair have been utilized over the years such as various vitamins and mineral combinations, however outcomes of treatment are not satisfactory.
The following case report shows how a patient with premature greying of hair was reversed with topical application of Greyverse solution constituting palmitoyl tetrapeptide-20 (PTP20), a biomimetic biopeptide of α-MSH. After diagnosing this patient with premature hair graying, the patient was prescribed a topical formulation of Greyverse solution to be applied 1 ml twice daily directly on the affected part of the scalp.
Oral hair supplements containing a combination of biotin and calcium pantothenate once daily were also prescribed. The patient demonstrated improvement in graying of hair after 3 months of treatment and the dose of Greyverse solution was reduced to 1 mL once daily at night.
After 5 months, the patient achieved >90% conversion of gray hair to black hair which was preserved till 9 months(6)!
This patient who was diagnosed with premature graying of hair used the topical application of Greyverse solution which contains PTP20, a biomimetic biopeptide of α-MSH. After 5 months of treatment, >90% reversal of graying of hair was observed.
Oral hair supplements containing a combination of biotin and calcium pantothenate once daily were also prescribed since levels of serum calcium, serum ferritin, and Vitamin D3 are considered to have a role in premature graying of hair. The reversal of premature greying of hair observed may be related to the PTP20 present in the topical formulation through its α-MSH stimulating activity.
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References:
1. Tobin DJ, Paus R: Graying: gerontobiology of the hair follicle pigmentary unit. Exp Gerontol 36:29-54, 2001
2. Panhard S, Lozano I, Loussouarn G: Greying of the human hair: a worldwide survey, revisiting the '50' rule of thumb. Br J Dermatol 167:865-73, 2012
3. Goodier M, Hordinsky M: Normal and aging hair biology and structure 'aging and hair'. Curr Probl Dermatol 47:1-9, 2015
4. Daulatabad D, Singal A, Grover C, et al: Profile of Indian patients with premature canities. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 82:169-72, 2016
5. Rodrigues AR, Almeida H, Gouveia AM: Intracellular signaling mechanisms of the melanocortin receptors: current state of the art. Cell Mol Life Sci 72:1331-45, 2015
6. Chavan D: Reversal of Premature Hair Graying Treated with a Topical Formulation Containing α-Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone Agonist (Greyverse Solution 2%). Int J Trichology 14:207-209, 2022
7. Videira IF, Moura DF, Magina S: Mechanisms regulating melanogenesis. An Bras Dermatol 88:76-83, 2013
8. Almeida Scalvino S, Chapelle A, Hajem N, et al: Efficacy of an agonist of α-MSH, the palmitoyl tetrapeptide-20, in hair pigmentation. Int J Cosmet Sci 40:516-524, 2018
