Why does hair turn gray and fall out as we age?
Oxidative Stress in Ageing of Hair
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Hydrogen peroxide builds up naturally in gray hair — not just from dyeing — at levels high enough to bleach it from within.
Most people think hydrogen peroxide only comes from hair bleach, but the body produces it naturally as a byproduct of metabolism — and it accumulates with age.
Practical Takeaways
Reduce smoking and protect your scalp from UV exposure to slow oxidative damage to hair follicles.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Hydrogen peroxide builds up naturally in gray hair — not just from dyeing — at levels high enough to bleach it from within.
Most people think hydrogen peroxide only comes from hair bleach, but the body produces it naturally as a byproduct of metabolism — and it accumulates with age.
Practical Takeaways
Reduce smoking and protect your scalp from UV exposure to slow oxidative damage to hair follicles.
Publication
Journal
International Journal of Trichology
Year
2009
Authors
R. Trüeb
Related Content
Claims (4)
Going gray isn’t just about getting older — it’s because of damage from stress inside the hair roots, where too much hydrogen peroxide builds up and the body can’t fight it off anymore.
Gray hairs have more damaging chemicals like hydrogen peroxide and less of the protective enzymes that normally keep those chemicals in check.
As we age, our hair might turn gray because of a buildup of a natural chemical called hydrogen peroxide in the hair, and our body's ability to clean it up weakens — this messes with the pigment-making process in hair.
Hair cells from people going bald show signs of early aging in lab tests — they don’t grow as well and have more damage from stress and DNA issues — which might explain why hair follicles shrink over time.