The Link Between Stuck Stem Cells and Gray Hair.

Researchers have discovered that certain stem cells, called melanocyte stem cells, get stuck in hair follicles as people age, causing hair to turn gray. The study, which focused on cells in the skin of mice, suggests that the same fixed-positioning of melanocyte stem cells may exist in humans, presenting a potential pathway for reversing or preventing the graying of human hair by helping jammed cells to move again between developing hair follicle compartments.