"Why does your hair turn grey"?

Rader

What is the chemical process which, changes your natural hair color to grey? Why gray and not red or blue?

iansmith

Does that answer your question

http://kidshealth.org/kid/grownup/ge...gray_hair.html
http://www.popsci.com/popsci/medicin...355658,00.html

Rader

Thanks iansmith, Yes you did, understood. If lack of sufficient melanin production in pigment cells, of the hair follicle is the cause. Then white hair would be the total lack of melanin. Do you think the cause of the cause would be excess or defect of a chemical agent?

iansmith

It could chemical agent but it could also be that there is a set limit on melanin production set by the genetic clock. There probably a chemicals that is missing as you age but this is pure speculation.As stated in the article, gray hair seems to be a genetic thing but people with aids, who smokes or in chemotherapy can develop gray early than the genetic clock. There migth be a chemical common to these situation.