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The first grey hair, that is often associated with old age coming, is usually met with philosophical mood at best, and at the worst – with fear and depressive spirits. However, silver threads in the hair mop in most cases are far from being harbingers of life sunset.What’s the reason of the grey hair then and are there any methods to avoid this lot? The hair color is determined by melanin pigment, produced in special, located in hair bulbs, cells – melanocytes. Situated in the neighborhood, keratinocytes synthesize protein – the essential building material for hair. At a certain stage pigment combines with protein and a hair is born into the world colored. Our hair color depends on the kind of melanin, produced in our organism. There are only two variants: if it is eumelanin, hair is black or brown, pheomelanin provides hair with red and yellowish, blond tints. The intensity of color is the consequence of the pigment quantity. Most often hair becomes grey as a sign and result of our organism ageing. From biological aspect, hair color losing is taking place because of melanocyte functions decreasing. At first tyrosinase ferment activity – indispensable participant of melanogenesis (the process of melanin production) - gradually decreases, and then it stops its functioning completely. The beginning of this process is determined genetically. Note, that Europeans first encounter grey hair at the age of 34±10, Asians at the age of 30-34, and the most lucky here is Negroid race, the average age for them to encounter grey hair is 43±10. And though grey hair on the head of a dark-haired man is more visible, it happens oftener with blond people. It was discovered also, that beard and moustache turn grey earlier than the hair on the head and body. Women’s hair, as a rule, turn grey at first on the temples and then on the top and the back of the head. But some people encounter the problem of grey hair too early. Such poliosis, happening at the age under 20 for Europeans and under 30 for Negroid race, can be both hereditary, that is genetically conditioned, and acquired. And if in the first case the reason of turning grey is obvious, in the second case we often don’t know what to lay the blame on. So, why do such unexpected changes happen? Scientists, who seem to have learnt a human organism “from A to Z” cannot give unanimous answer. Often untimely turning grey is associated with autoimmune diseases (for example, pernicious anemia, hyperfunctioning of thyroid gland) and various inborn syndromes. There are cases, when under the influence of some unfavorable factors pigment suddenly stops to be produced or kept on protein of a hair strand. It can happen, for example, because of shortage of microelements, working as ferment particles. Their shortage can lead to ferment hypoactivity. History known cases when people turned grey for exceptionally short period of time. Most often it took place because of intense nervous experiences. For instance, Maria Antoinette’s head turned absolutely grey just for a night before the death penalty. This phenomenon has scientific explanation. Inside a hair there is so-called medullary layer, core, the thinnest channel, through which liquid circulates. It is supposed that neuropeptides, produced by organism in stressful situations, come by blood vessels to the hair bulb. Then, through this central channel, they penetrate strand of hair and influence in a way that breaks chemical link, uniting melanin and protein. After it, the pigment can quickly fall out, wash away, become neutralized: it doesn’t last for a long time in itself. However, there is another, less understandable, theory of appearing of grey hair. According to it, under some factors there appear air spaces in hair texture, light refraction changes and hair becomes grey. Thus, mechanisms of losing color are divided into inborn and acquired. In the first case there are no effective methods of struggle, except cosmetic ones: arguing with the Nature is almost useless. Then we resort to the help of hair-dyes, becoming not just makeup preparation, but a true elixir of the youth. Manufactures took pains long ago to avoid lack of hair-dyes. Today, when market of cosmetic products for men is developing especially intensely, even special makeup preparations for beard, moustaches and whiskers are worked up for the strongest half of the mankind. No wonder, that hair-dyes are the production, having wide popularity, after all they gift not only beauty, but peace of mind. These are complexes, connected with fear of problems of social character, for instance – difficulties when taking a job or losing popularity among the opposite sex, that lie at the heart of inimical attitude to turning grey. In social opinion of Europeans a grey-headed man is perceived as a flat and less perspective one. And though there are people, whom ash-grey hair suits very well, most of men and women deeply worry and scrutinize the first silver strands in mirror with discontent. Perhaps, it’s people in the East, who take the hair color change quite easy, there old age isn’t considered as misfortunate, but as a fine period of human life, and grey-haired old men are accepted as true sages. However, in Europe weaker and stronger sex perception of this problem is also different: while women are absolutely unready to put up with it, most often men are inclined to treat grey hair more philosophically, calling it the sign of experience, steadiness and even spiritual nobleness. It’s interesting to note the list of 174 “invented” diseases, published in the British medical journal. The gray hair problem is among this list, having taken its place near cellulites, alopecia and freckles. When the reason of gray hair is derangement of metabolism or external factors, it’s possible to try to renew your natural hair color, however cases of “recovery” are extremely rare. That is why, even if it’s almost impossible to foresee untimely turning grey, you can make all efforts to avoid it. And though we are not insured against old age or unexpected stresses, something is still within our power. Generally speaking, preventive measures against untimely turning grey, however hackneyed they might sound, are: healthy life-style and good balanced nutrition. Long-lasting wearisome diets, excluding consuming products, rich in proteins, can have negative effect both on your health condition and your hair color. And in case years will dye your hair silver, turn your face to the East, may be silver threads on your head are the sign of life wisdom, and not a God’s penalty.
Written by Lily Mollison
Submitted by Lily Mollison

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