Is Greyverse (unknown generic name) effective for treating canities (graying hair)?

Greyverse for Canities (Hair Graying)

Greyverse solution appears to have limited evidence supporting its effectiveness for treating canities (gray hair), with only small case reports showing potential benefit, but no high-quality clinical trials or guideline recommendations to support its widespread use.

Current Evidence on Greyverse

Greyverse is a topical formulation containing palmitoyl tetrapeptide 20, which is a biomimetic peptide that acts as an α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) agonist. The limited research available shows:

• A single case report demonstrated >90% conversion of gray hair to black hair after 5 months of treatment with Greyverse solution 2% applied twice daily initially, then reduced to once daily, along with oral biotin and calcium pantothenate supplements 1

Understanding Canities (Hair Graying)

Hair graying occurs due to:

• Gradual decline in melanogenesis in the hair bulb
• Reduced tyrosinase activity
• Defective melanosome transfer
• Apoptosis of hair follicle pigmentary unit melanocytes
• Eventually, depletion of melanocyte stem cells in the bulge area 2

Oxidative Stress and Hair Graying

Research indicates that oxidative stress plays a significant role in premature canities:

• Patients with premature canities show significantly higher malondialdehyde (MDA) levels (oxidative stress marker)
• Lower reduced glutathione (rGSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels (antioxidant markers)
• The severity of hair graying correlates with the degree of oxidative stress 3

Treatment Approaches for Hair Disorders

While there are established guidelines for treating alopecia areata and other hair loss conditions 4, there are no specific guideline recommendations for treating canities or using Greyverse.

Current dermatology guidelines focus on:

• Treating hair loss conditions with evidence-based approaches
• Using intralesional corticosteroids for limited patchy hair loss
• Contact immunotherapy for extensive patchy hair loss
• Wigs as a practical solution for extensive hair loss 4

Emerging Research on Hair Repigmentation

Recent research suggests:

• Individual gray hair darkening may be more common than previously thought

• Several factors have been associated with hair repigmentation, including:

  • Monoclonal antibody drugs
  • Tyrosine kinase inhibitors
  • Immunomodulators
  • Micro-injury
  • Certain tumors 5

• One case report noted repigmentation of gray hair following adalimumab (TNF inhibitor) therapy 6

Clinical Approach to Canities

Given the limited evidence:

1. Patient counseling:

   • Explain that canities is primarily an aging-related phenomenon
   • Current medical treatments have limited evidence
   • Commercial hair dyes remain the most reliable option

2. For patients interested in experimental treatments:

   • Greyverse solution may be considered as an off-label treatment
   • Set realistic expectations about results
   • Monitor for any adverse effects

3. Supportive measures:

   • Antioxidant supplementation may provide theoretical benefit based on oxidative stress involvement 3
   • Maintaining overall health and reducing stress

Pitfalls and Caveats

• Avoid making exaggerated claims about Greyverse or any treatment for canities
• The single case report on Greyverse represents very low-quality evidence
• Results may vary significantly between individuals
• Long-term safety data for Greyverse is lacking
• Cost-effectiveness should be considered against conventional hair dyes
• No FDA approval exists specifically for treating canities

In clinical practice, patients should understand that while Greyverse shows some promise in limited reports, conventional hair coloring remains the most reliable approach to addressing gray hair until more robust evidence emerges.