Sesame oil to combat the onset of white hair?

The appearance of white hair, also known as canities, is a natural phenomenon associated with the gradual decrease in melanin production by melanocytes as well as a reduction in the number of melanocytes. The process of white hair emergence typically begins around the age of 35. However, we are not all equal when it comes to canities. Some people see their hair turn white as early as 20 years old, while others retain their natural color past 50. Several factors can play a role in the age of white hair onset, the most common being genetics, oxidative stress, nutritional deficiencies, and chronic stress.

Often extracted by cold pressing from seeds of the same name, the sesame oil has an interesting biochemical composition that gives it most of its cosmetic properties. Despite its interesting effects when applied to hair, the sesame oil cannot act on white hair to repigment it. However, it may potentially have a preventative action to slow down the whitening of the fibers.

Sesame oil contains vitamin E, an antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals by donating electrons. This anti-free-radical activity is relevant when it comes to combating the appearance of graying hair. Several studies have shown that oxidative stress plays a role in hair whitening, as free radicals disrupt melanogenesis and the differentiation of melanoblasts, the precursor cells of melanocytes.

Furthermore, a study has examined the effect of sesamin, found in sesame oil, on melanogenesis. As a reminder, melanin, which is responsible for hair pigmentation, is synthesized from tyrosine under the action of the enzyme tyrosinase. Sesamin acts at this stage of melanogenesis by stimulating the cAMP-protein kinase A (PKA) signaling pathway. This increases the activity of tyrosinase and stimulates the production of melanin. Sesamin may also induce an increase in the levels of mRNA coding for tyrosinase. Therefore, it is possible that this molecule could help combat the onset of white hair. However, it is not possible to reach the same conclusion with sesame oil, as the study did not focus on the botanical extract itself. Moreover, it is possible that the concentration of sesamin in sesame oil may be too low to have the same properties.

The key takeaway : There are reasons to believe that sesame oil could slow down the graying of hair. However, in the absence of clinical trials, it is currently impossible to confirm this.