Breakthrough drug can get back your black hair

Lübeck, Germany, November 16: A glimmer of hope for people whose hair has turned white due to illness or anxiety. Researchers from Manchester University and Lubeck University in Germany have found a way to restore the color by using a molecule that stimulates the pigment responsible for hair color. The technique, however does not undo the natural progression of graying.

The research was conducted on six women aged between 46 and 65. A skin disease alopecia areata and a stress-related disorder telogen effluvium were mimicked. Both these diseases can lead to white hair.

K(D)PT is a naturally-occurring molecule, pretty similar to the hormonesdefine in the body that stimulate the hair pigment melanin. Melanin is stimulated by a group of peptide hormones collectively known as ‘melanocyte stimulating hormone’ (MSH).

The study looked at whether K(D)PT, a peptide that can be synthetically produced, has the same pigmentation stimulating effects as that of a naturally occurring MSH. The results revealed that the quantity of melanin in the follicle increased considerably when treated with K(D)PT.

The study’s senior author Dr Ralf Paus, of the University of Lübeck, Germany said, "Since this tripeptide displays interesting hair pigmentation-stimulatory activities under proinflammatory conditions, clinically, K(D)PT deserves to be explored as an innovative new anti-greying agent."

He added, "Specifically, topical application of K(D)PT may become exploitable for the treatment of postinflammatory hair whitening that is often seen during the recovery phase of alopecia areata."

It is still early days so far as the study goes. Moreover, since the study was done in a laboratory, it cannot be applied to patients straight away. The research however could make way for new treatments that reinstate the black color.