Scientists discover way to potentially restore color to white hair

World report

- Scientists may have discovered a way to restore color to white hair following illness, according to a study published in the

British Journal of Dermatology

.

Researchers looked at whether a peptide called K(D)PT, which can be synthetically produced in the lab, might have the same pigmentation stimulating effects as the naturally occuring melanocyte simulating hormone (MSH), which could be used to restore hair color, the University of Manchester reports.

The researchers treated normal, isolated hair follicles from six women between 46 and 65 years old with different concentrations of K(D)PT. Some test groups were first treated with Interferon type II, a proinflammatory stimulus, which is present in certain autoimmune disorders, such as alopecia areata.

The team found that those treated first with the proinflammatory stimulus and then K(D)PT had a significant increase in the amount of melanin in the hair follicle, according to the study.