Relationship between diet, atopy, family history, and premature hair graying

Regulatory Effects of Thai Rice By-Product Extracts from Oryza sativa L. cv. Bue Bang 3 CMU and Bue Bang 4 CMU on Melanin Production, Nitric Oxide Secretion, and Steroid 5α-Reductase Inhibition

Alopecia and gray hair are common hair abnormalities affecting physical appearance and causing psychological problems. Chemical treatments partially restore hair disorders but have distressing side effects. Bioactive plant compounds constitute promising sources of potential medicinal substances instead of chemical agents, producing high side effects. In this study, we focused on the waste of local rice cultivars: Bue Bang 3 CMU (BB3CMU) and Bue Bang 4 CMU (BB4CMU) from the north of Thailand. The rice bran oil (RBO), defatted rice bran extract (DFRB), and rice husk (H) were determined for in vitro hair revitalization in melanin production, nitric oxide (NO) secretion, and steroid 5α-reductase inhibition. The results indicated that BB4CMU-RBO with high contents of iron, zinc, and free fatty acids showed a comparable induction of melanin production on melanocytes (130.18 ± 9.13% of control) to the standard drug theophylline with no significant difference (p > 0.05). This promising melanin induction could be related to activating the NO secretion pathway, with the NO secretion level at 1.43 ± 0.05 µM. In addition, BB4CMU-RBO illustrated a significant inhibitory effect on both steroid 5α-reductase genes (SRD5A) type 1 and type 2, which relates to its primary source of tocopherols. Hence, rice bran oil from the Thai rice variety BB4CMU could be applied as a promising hair revitalizing candidate, from natural resources, to help promote hair growth and re-pigmentation effects.

Fuzhuan Brick Tea Boosts Melanogenesis and Prevents Hair Graying through Reduction of Oxidative Stress via NRF2-HO-1 Signaling

The anti-graying effect of the hexane fraction of Fuzhuan brick tea is investigated in Melan-A cells and C57BL/6 mice. As a result, it is found that reactive oxygen species-induced damage is associated with the reduction of melanogenesis in hair bulb melanocytes when reactive oxygen species generation in Melan-A cells occurred. The results revealed that the hexane fraction of Fuzhuan brick tea could remarkably reduce reactive oxygen species generation in Melan-A cells; meanwhile, it could increase the cellular tyrosinase and melanin content, as well as up-regulate the expression of tyrosinase, tyrosinase related protein-1, tyrosinase related protein-2, and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor, and activate the MAP-kinase pathway through activating the phosphorylation of p38 c-Jun N terminal kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase. Furthermore, high-pressure liquid chromatography analysis reveals that the tea's major ingredients in hexane fraction include gallic acid, theaflavin, theobromine, caffeine, epicatechin, and quercetin. Together, the current results suggest that Fuzhuan brick tea proves to protect from the damage of hydroquinone, which induces hair pigment loss.

The Effects of Smoking on Hair Health: A Systematic Review

Smoking is not only a preventable cause of significant systemic disease but also affects the follicular growth cycle and fiber pigmentation. Ambient tobacco smoke exposure results in nicotine accumulation in hair follicles and the hair shaft. This review summarizes the evidence on the association between smoking and hair health, as denoted by alopecia and premature hair graying (PHG). In July 2020, a review of the literature using PubMed/MEDLINE and CINAHL databases identified 32 studies investigating the relationship between smoking, PHG, and alopecia (androgenetic alopecia and frontal fibrosing alopecia). The prevalence of hair loss and PHG is more prevalent in smokers than nonsmokers. Smoking is associated with negative effects on hair health as evidenced in PHG and alopecia. Smoking status should be assessed in patients who are presenting to their dermatologist for evaluation of alopecia and PHG.

Clinical and epidemiological characteristics and associated factors of hair graying: a population-based, cross-sectional study in Turkey

Background

Hair graying is common in humans; but there is scarce data about its epidemiology.

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the clinical and epidemiological characteristics and associated factors of hair graying.

Methods

A total of 1541 volunteers between 15 and 65 years old were included in this population-based, cross-sectional study. A questionnaire on characteristics and associated factors of hair graying was filled in by face-to-face interview method.

Results

One thousand sixty three participants (69.0%) had hair graying. The mean onset age of hair graying was 32.9 ± 9.8 years. It was 31.7 ± 9.5 years in females, whereas 33.7 ± 10.0 years in males (p = 0.001). The most common involved area of hair graying at the onset and at the time of the interview was temporal region. When it was evaluated by gender, it was temporal in males whereas parietal in females. Hair graying was more severe in males than in females and in late-onset hair graying than early-onset hair graying (respectively, p = 0.000, p < 0.001). The most common involved area at the onset and at the present was temporal in severe hair graying; whereas parietal in mild hair graying. In logistic regression analysis, age, educational status, presence of hair loss, skin type, family history of early-onset hair graying and anxiety were independently related to hair graying (p < 0.05).

Study limitations

The study was performed in only Turkish individuals. The recall biases were another limitations.

Conclusion

Male gender, late-onset and temporal-onset of hair graying may be considered to be poor prognostic factors for hair graying. There is need for further epidemiological studies in people with different ethnic origin to illuminate the clinical and epidemiological characteristics and associated factors of hair graying.

Medication-Induced Repigmentation of Gray Hair: A Systematic Review

Hair graying is a common sign of aging resulting from complex regulation of melanogenesis. Currently, there is no medical treatment available for hair repigmentation. In this article we review the literature on medication-induced hair repigmentation, discuss the potential mechanisms of action, and review the quality of the literary data. To date, there have been 27 studies discussing medication-induced gray hair repigmentation, including 6 articles on gray hair repigmentation as a primary objective, notably with psoralen treatment or vitamin supplementation, and 21 reports on medication-induced gray hair repigmentation as an incidental finding. Medications noted in the literature include anti-inflammatory medications (thalidomide, lenalidomide, adalimumab, acitretin, etretinate, prednisone, cyclosporin, cisplatinum, interferon-α, and psoralen), stimulators of melanogenesis (latanoprost, erlotinib, imatinib, tamoxifen, and levodopa), vitamins (calcium pantothenate and para-amino benzoic acid), a medication that accumulates in tissues (clofazimine), and a medication with an undetermined mechanism (captopril). Diffuse repigmentation of gray hair can be induced by certain medications that inhibit inflammation or stimulate melanogenesis. There is also low-quality evidence that some vitamin B complex supplementation can promote gray hair darkening. While these compounds are not currently indicated for the treatment of gray hair, their mechanisms shed light on targets for future medications for hair repigmentation.