Repigmentation of gray hair: A case report with a brief review of literature

A case of gray hair nearly 99% was seen to be converted to more than 99% of the pigmented hair, after using full sleeves shirts for 2 years, with 1‑year follow‑up, with the same results, and on screening the literature, we find it first such case in the world literature of almost complete repigmentation of both the forearms after using full sleeves shirts for 2 years and a follow-up of 1 year.

Three Streams for the Mechanism of Hair Graying

Hair graying is an obvious sign of human aging. Although graying has been investigated extensively, the mechanism remains unclear. Here, we reviewed previous studies on the mechanism of graying and seek to offer some new insights. The traditional view is that hair graying is caused by exhaustion of the pigmentary potential of the melanocytes of hair bulbs. Melanocyte dysfunction may be attributable to the effects of toxic reactive oxygen species on melanocyte nuclei and mitochondria. A recent study suggests that bulge melanocyte stem cells (MSCs) are the key cells in play. Graying may be caused by defective MSC self-maintenance, not by any deficiency in bulbar melanocytes. Our previous study suggested that graying may be principally attributable to active hair growth. Active hair growth may produce oxidative or genotoxic stress in hair bulge. These internal stress may cause eventually depletion of MSC in the hair follicles. Taken together, hair graying may be caused by MSC depletion by genotoxic stress in the hair bulge. Hair graying may also be sometimes caused by dysfunction of the melanocytes by oxidative stress in the hair bulb. In addition, hair graying may be attributable to MSC depletion by active hair growth.

Profifi le of Indian patients with premature canities.

Background: Premature canities is a common yet incompletely understood dermatological entity with scarce demographic and clinical data. Aim: Evaluation of the demographic and clinical profi le of cases with premature canities and to look for systemic associations. Methods: Fifty two self-reported cases of premature canities (onset before 20 years of age) and an equal number of healthy controls were recruited from the outpatient department of the Department of Dermatology, Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital Delhi, India from November 2011 to March 2013. A detailed history including onset, duration and pattern of involvement, a family history with pedigree charting and scalp examination were recorded on a predesigned proforma. A history of atopy was looked for in all study subjects and they were screened for thyroid disorder and diabetes. Results: The mean age of cases and controls was comparable. The mean age of onset of graying was 11.6 ± 3.6 years. The mean duration at the time of presentation was 39.8 ± 37.2 months. The frontal region was the earliest affected area in 25 (48.1%) cases. Positive family history of premature canities was reported in 39 (75%) cases with an equal prevalence on paternal and maternal sides. More than half of the cases, 29 (55.8%) reported having a fi rst degree relative affected by premature canities, 13 (25%) had a second degree and 20 (38.5%) had a third degree relative affected. Atopy was found to be strongly associated with premature canities with an odds ratio of 3.8. No association with thyroid abnormality or diabetes mellitus was seen. Limitation: The study suffered from the limitation of a small sample size. Conclusion: It was observed that the process of graying mostly starts in the frontal region. It was also found to be associated with a strong family history and atopic predisposition. Larger studies are recommended to arrive at a definite conclusion.

Statistical and Clinical Study of Gray Hair / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Graying of hair is usually a manifestation of the aging process and is due to a progressive reduction of the activity of melanocytes in the hair bulb. OBJECTIVE: We performed this study to investigate the clinical features of the graying process in Korea.ns. METHOD: The study population consisted of 1,058, comprising 589 men and 469 women between the fourth and seventh decade. They were studied statistically by using questionaires about graying and 12 persons with gray hair were observed clinically on the grouping pattern of scalp hairs by the dermatologist. RESULT: 1. More than 50 percent of the population over 40 years old had gray hair on the scalp. 2. The age of onset of graying was variable but generally between 35 and 44 years. 3. The temporal area of the scalp was the most common site of initial graying and the most abundant site of gray hair. 4. There were no relationship between gray hair and male pattern baldness. 5. Generally each one of the hairs in the grouped hair became gray independently, not in union. 6. The proportion of graying in the grouped hair was higher than that of the single hair. CONCLUSION: According to the results of the study, more than 50 percent of the population over 40 years of age have gray hair and the temporal area usually becomes gray first and is the most abundant site of gray hair. Further studies will be needed in regard to the graying in the grouped hair, though we think that each one of the hairs in the grouped hair may become gray independently and the graying process of the grouped hair may occur earlier than that of the single hair.

A Case of Waardenburg`s Syndrome

Waardenburg`s syndrome is a rare hereditary disease, which is characterized by dystopia canthorum, hypochromic heterochromic iridum, sensorineural deafness,high and broad nasal bridge, white forelock and premature graying. We present a case of 27 year old woman with Waardenburg`s syndrome. She has characteristic features such as dystopia canthorum, broad and high nasal bridge, confluent eyebrow(synophrys), hypochromic heterochromic iridum, depigmented fundus and premature graying.