How many silver hairs have you spied on the top of your head lately? Six...seventeen...twenty four and one half...or are your starting to lose count? Some say that the world is a jungle and if you habitually follow the new media's environmental headlines, you might agree - things seem to be getting slightly more troubling by the week out there in the big bad world. Is it possible that we're literally letting all of that worry go to our heads? From rapidly melting glaciers and wildlife species hanging in the balance to international climate discussions that have amounted to very little in the way of significant eco-policy overhaul, being a concerned greenie could very well be the source of follicular strands that are scared white. Not that maintaining an informed eco-status is a bad thing, but if we take everything that we absorb to heart and allow it to stew inside our bodies, it's quite possible that it triggers what Japanese researchers at Kanazawa University believe is radiation-induced stress, ultimately leading to pigment-compromised tresses.
Great. Just what we need to hear. Isn't it punishment enough that greenies continue to be in the minority, willing to leap vast parking lots and public parks in a single bound just so we can rescue recyclable containers that have been carelessly flung into garbage cans? It's no easy task sticking by our eco-guns while nameless entities continue committing awful, irresponsible and apathetic crimes against nature. Sometimes our resolve may waiver as we ask ourselves, "Is this locally grown organic apple that I just spent a king's ransom on REALLY making a difference in the world, or am I just kidding myself?" And yet we still soldier on. So, what's the thanks that we get for staying the course and continuing to do right by Mother Nature when no one's looking? Premature hair follicle stem cell aging, otherwise known as melanin-free strands - you know, the stuff that you yank out at the root with your best pair of tweezers until to continue doing so would render you partially bald.
Jeesh. Who's bummed out now? Take heart because there's actually a legitimate and surprisingly positive silver lining in all of that eco-worry worting. First, it's helpful to understand that DNA-damaging toxins and radiation - such as what we are typically exposed to via X-rays, solar UV radiation and chemicals - cause cells to commit suicide or "apoptosis". Researchers believe that this is actually one of the body's self-preservation defense mechanisms. By automatically purging risky follicular stem cells that have suffered from excessive DNA damage - essentially by tripping off a switch that makes them turn white - the body rids itself of potentially cancerous cells embedded in particular pigmented strands. The research team is currently in the process of backing up their hypothesis with a full range of experiments, but their preliminary findings were deemed valuable enough to be cited in Cell, a highly regarded research article publication. Ultimately, perhaps it's wise for all of us to try to keep our eco-stressing in check. If you find that those whites continue to populate your scalp, at least you know that your body's got your back...and you can always reach for a box of natural hair dye if the thought of prematurely surrendering your melanin makes you lose your eco-cool. Or...you could always choose to just embrace your inner silver fox.
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