Integumentary / VISUAL EXPLAINER
Why Does Hair Turn Gray?
Melanin gives hair its color. Newly growing hair may become gray or white when follicles supply less pigment, and genes influence the timing, which varies between people.
READ THE IMAGE
What the illustration shows
English poster titled “Why Does Hair Turn Gray?” on a deep blue background. A scalp cutaway compares two enlarged hair follicles: a dark shaft on the left contains many enlarged dark pigment dots, while a silver shaft on the right has fewer. Both bulbs surround small red and blue vascular papillae. Labels identify new hair growth, hair follicles and melanin. Separate circular close-ups compare pigment-rich and pigment-poor shafts. Three panels say melanin gives hair its color, hair can grow gray or white as follicles make less or no pigment, and genes influence when graying begins. A note says pigment dots are enlarged and not to scale. The takeaway reads “New growth changes. Existing hair is not repainted.” Gold AllHumanBody.com branding and the full slogan appear below.
How to interpret this poster
- Examples are not timed stages or pigment counts; existing hair is not repainted by new follicular pigment. No universal age or treatment claim.
- AI-assisted educational illustration; not physician certification, microscopy, a diagnosis or individualized medical advice.
- Fine annotations need enlargement; the full description provides an accessible text alternative.
- Display the full uncropped illustration; do not trim titles, legends or boundary annotations.
AI-assisted educational illustration, adapted into web-sized images without changing its composition. This is general education, not an individual diagnosis or treatment recommendation.
EVIDENCE / CONTEXT
Sources and what they support
- American Academy of Dermatology education ↗
Follicular melanin and graying; family history affects onset. Exclude broad stress mechanism and cycle-count assertions.
- MedlinePlus aging overview ↗
Less follicular melanin with aging and genetic influence.