From the Beauty Brains.com:
First we told you about a better way to get your gray hair dyed. Then we explained how stress causes gray hair. And most recently we we told you how to to get rid of gray hair forever.
Now we’re blogging about why you should be HAPPY that you have gray
hair. (Why all the posts about gray hair? Trust me, if you had to look
at the Left Brain’s roots everyday you wouldn’t have to ask that
question!) Anyway, the latest news is that gray hair may actually
protect you from cancer!
Gray hair is good
Hair color is produced by cells called melanocytes which are in part
controlled by stem cells. When the number of stem cells in hair
follicles goes down, hair turns gray. Now researchers at Tokyo Medical
and Dental University in Japan have discovered that radiation and
chemicals that damage DNA can cause stem cells to permanently transform
into melanocytes. Without the stem cells to produce more melanocytes,
hair turns grey (Cell, vol 137, p 1088). Another researcher, David
Fisher at Harvard Medical School, suggests this processes may help
protect us from cancer, by preventing damaged stem cells from passing
on mutated DNA. “One likely beneficial effect is the removal of
potentially dangerous cells that may contain pre-cancerous
capabilities,” he says. So there you have it gals, it’s Gray Pride Day!
