It is theorized that some of the factors that have been linked to gray hair act to inhibit
or affect the melanocytes in the follicle, causing them to function less well, and resulting in the increasing number of gray hairs on
the individual. In some cases, it may be a matter of these factors causing cell damage and death (such as with malnutrition and chemotherapy for cancer patients).
In some cases, removing factors that can effect the melanocytes’ production of melanin (or
introducing new factors to bolster cell growth and regeneration) could allow the melanocytes to resume production of melanin normally.
However, research on this has been sketchy and in order to find real medical treatments for gray hair, we will likely be waiting many
more years for studies to be completed.
But, you can see now, the basics of how hair becomes gray. Hopefully this will take some of
the mystery out of the process. And while it doesn’t make it any more pleasant to deal with, it does help to understand the bottom line
causes and the processes that lead to hair turning gray.