Hair turning gray? Study finds a stem cell ‘glitch’ may be the cause

Hair follicles, the structures that produce hair, undergo several cycles of growth over an individuals lifetime. The increase in the number of follicle growth cycles with aging is associated with deficits in melanocyte stem cells (McSCs), the stem cells residing in the follicle that can form hair pigment-producing melanocytes. These deficits are thought to lead to graying of hair

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Study advances understanding of how melanocyte stem cells work to color …

Certain stem cells have a unique ability to move between growth compartments in hair follicles, but get stuck as people age and so lose their ability to mature and maintain hair color, a new study shows. Led by researchers from NYU Grossman School of Medicine, the new work focused on cells in the skin of mice and also found in humans called melanocyte stem cells, or McSCs.

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