Scientists get to the root of grey hair as they work on developing a cure

A CURE for grey hair which means millions will be able to throw away messy dyes could be available in the future, researchers have said.

Scientists found people who are going grey develop “massive oxidative stress” via accumulation of hydrogen peroxide in the hair follicle, which causes hair to bleach itself from the inside out.

According to the FASEB Journal, the team which includes experts from Bradford University’s School of Life Sciences, have discovered the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide can be remedied with a proprietary treatment.

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They described it as “a topical, UVB-activated compound called PC-KUS (a modified pseudocatalase)”, the report said.

The treatment can also be used for people with the skin condition vitiligo, which causes a loss of pigmentation. In 1993 Michael Jackson claimed to have developed vitiligo.

FASEB Journal editor-in-chief Gerald Weissman said: “For generations, numerous remedies have been concocted to hide grey hair but now, for the first time, an actual treatment that gets to the root of the problem has been developed.

“While this is exciting news, what’s even more exciting is that this also works for vitiligo.

“This condition, while technically cosmetic, can have serious socio-emotional effects of people.”