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| CASE REPORT |
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| Year : 2022 | Volume
: 14
| Issue : 6 | Page : 207-209 |
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Reversal of premature hair graying treated with a topical formulation containing α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone agonist (Greyverse Solution 2%)
Dipali Chavan
Skin Central, Deccan, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| Date of Submission | 28-Jul-2022 |
| Date of Acceptance | 19-Sep-2022 |
| Date of Web Publication | 31-Jan-2023 |
Correspondence Address:
Dipali Chavan
”Skin Central” 102, Samadhan Appt., Goodluck Café Chouk, Bhandarkar Road, Deccan, Pune - 411 004, Maharashtra
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/ijt.ijt_85_22
 Abstract | | |
With aging, hair graying is a common sign resulting from complex regulation of melanogenesis. Multiple factors control the stimulation of melanogenesis at the level of the hair follicle, including melanin-stimulating hormone (MSH), adrenocorticotropic hormone, endothelin-1, prostaglandins, leukotrienes, neutrophils, fibroblast growth factor, nitric oxide, catecholamines, Vitamins, and minerals. Premature hair graying (PHG) has a major impact on the cosmesis, self-credibility, and social life of the affected individual. Currently, there is no medical treatment available for PHG. We present a case of a 25-year-old female with a history of graying of hair on the scalp. Clinical diagnosis revealed it as a case of premature graying/canities. She was prescribed a topical formulation (Greyverse solution) containing palmitoyl tetrapeptide 20, a biomimetic biopeptide of α-MSH for treating her PHG. The formulation was applied 1 mL twice daily directly on the affected part of the scalp. Hair supplements containing a combination of biotin and calcium pantothenate once daily orally were also prescribed. After 3 months, the patient showed some improvement, and the dose of the topical solution was reduced to 1 mL once daily. After 5 months, the patient achieved >90% conversion of gray hair to black hair.
Keywords: Greyverse, melanocyte-stimulating hormone, melanogenesis, premature hair graying
How to cite this article:
Chavan D. Reversal of premature hair graying treated with a topical formulation containing α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone agonist (Greyverse Solution 2%). Int J Trichol 2022;14:207-9 |
How to cite this URL:
Chavan D. Reversal of premature hair graying treated with a topical formulation containing α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone agonist (Greyverse Solution 2%). Int J Trichol [serial online] 2022 [cited 2023 Jun 10];14:207-9. Available from: https://www.ijtrichology.com/text.asp?2022/14/6/207/368908 |
| Introduction | |  |
Aging is generally associated with graying of hair also called canities or achromotrichia. Premature graying of hair (PGH) occurs at different ages in different races, for example-before the age of 20 years in Caucasians and before 30 years in Blacks.[1] Few authors have suggested that 25 years can be considered for the Indian subcontinent.[2] Melanin produced by melanocytes is responsible for the color of human hair. The human hair follicles contain three types of melanin, namely eumelanin, pheomelanin, and neuromelanin.[3] Genetic and environmental elements influence the hair follicle stem cells and melanocytes implicating telomere shortening, decrease in cell numbers, and certain transcription factors influencing the process of aging.[4]
The exact etiopathogenesis of PGH remains incompletely understood and extends to a number of contributors. PGH can occur as an autosomal disease, premature aging disorders such as progeria and pangeria, oxidative stress as a result of ultraviolet rays, pollution, emotional factors, or inflammatory causes, Vitamin B12 deficiency, decreased thyroid hormones, and minerals such as copper, iron, calcium, and zinc as well as drugs reducing melanogenesis.[2],[5],[6] The effects of α-melanin-stimulating hormone (MSH) by binding to melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1-R) on normal human melanocytes are recognized as a key signal of cutaneous melanogenesis by the activation of downstream factors, microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TRP-1), and TRP-2.[7]
For treating PGH, various Vitamins and minerals such as biotin, calcium pantothenate, zinc, copper, and selenium are prescribed, however, the treatment outcomes are not satisfactory.[8] Herein, we present a case of a patient with PGH which was reversed with topical application of Greyverse solution constituting palmitoyl tetrapeptide-20 (PTP20), a biomimetic biopeptide of α-MSH.
| Case Report | | |
A 25-year-old female presented with a history of graying of hair on her scalp for the past 1 year. On physical examination, a higher portion of gray hair mingle with natural, black-colored hair was found on the scalp [Figure 1]a. The primary hair-graying region was the frontoparietal to temporal area. There was no significant family history of graying of the hair. Her thyroid functions, complete blood count, and Vitamin B12 and Vitamin D levels were within the normal limit. | Figure 1: Reversal in greying of hair (a) pre treatment, (b) At 5 months post treatment, and (c) At 9 months post treatment
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Based on the observations, a clinical diagnosis of premature hair graying (PHG)/canities was done. She was prescribed a topical formulation of Greyverse solution to be applied 1 ml twice daily directly on the affected part of the scalp. She was instructed to avoid oil before the application of medication. Oral hair supplements containing a combination of biotin and calcium pantothenate once daily were also prescribed. After 3 months of treatment initiation, the patient showed some improvement in graying of hair, and the dose of Greyverse solution was reduced to 1 mL once daily at night. After 5 months, the patient achieved >90% conversion of gray hair to black hair [Figure 1]b, which was maintained till 9 months [Figure 1]c.
| Discussion | | |
Melanin and melanogenesis have been associated with skin and hair care. It is well documented that α-MSH and its receptors MC1-R, MITF, TRP-1, and TRP-2, and endogenous ligand agouti signaling protein (ASIP) are the key regulators of melanin pigment generation in hair.[9]
PTP20, an α-MSH agonist, has been reported to enhance the expression of catalase and to decrease (by ~30%) the intracellular level of H2O2 in both in vivo and in vitro studies.[10] Furthermore, PTP20 has shown to activate the melanogenesis process in vitro and ex vivo, which has shown to be correlated with elevated expression of MC1-R, TRP-1, and with the reduction in ASIP expression. It is also associated with modulation on TRP-2.[10] In an in vivo clinical study on 15 healthy Caucasian male patients with PGH aged between 18 and 38 years, with >20% of white hairs were treated with a lotion containing PTP20 active peptide. At 3 months, the immunostainings of the plucked hair showed stimulation of melanosome biogenesis and eumelanin synthesis. In >50% of the patients, MC1-R expression was slightly increased in the bulb and moderately in the lower root sheaths, whereas ASIP was moderately decreased in the lower root sheaths and bulb.[10] The findings demonstrate the ability of the biomimetic PTP20 peptide to preserve the function of follicular melanocytes and its ability to promote hair pigmentation and thus, reduce the hair graying process.[10]
In our case, the young female diagnosed with PGH used topical application of Greyverse solution which contains PTP20, a biomimetic biopeptide of α-MSH. There was a reversal of graying of hair within 1 month, and subsequently, the dose was reduced from twice daily to once daily. At 5 months, >90% reversal of graying of hair was observed. Oral hair supplements containing a combination of biotin and calcium pantothenate once daily were also prescribed since levels of serum calcium, serum ferritin, and Vitamin D3 are considered to have a role in PHG.[5] The reversal of PGH observed, in this case, may be related to the PTP20 present in the topical formulation through its α-MSH stimulating activity.
Declaration of patient consent
The authors certify that they have obtained all appropriate patient consent forms. In the form, the patient has given her consent for her images and other clinical information to be reported in the journal. The patient understands that his name and initials will not be published, and due efforts will be made to conceal his identity, but anonymity cannot be guaranteed.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
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| 9. | Videira IF, Moura DF, Magina S. Mechanisms regulating melanogenesis. An Bras Dermatol 2013;88:76-83. |
| 10. | Almeida Scalvino S, Chapelle A, Hajem N, Lati E, Gasser P, Choulot JC, et al. Efficacy of an agonist of α-MSH, the palmitoyl tetrapeptide-20, in hair pigmentation. Int J Cosmet Sci 2018;40:516-24. |
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