What vitamins or medicines can reverse grey hair?

Vitamins and Medicines for Reversing Grey Hair

Currently, there are no FDA-approved medications or supplements that can reliably reverse grey hair. The scientific evidence for treatments that can reverse grey hair is limited and of low quality.

Current Evidence on Potential Treatments

Vitamin Supplementation

• Calcium pantothenate (vitamin B5) has shown some limited evidence for grey hair darkening, though studies are of low quality 1
• Para-amino benzoic acid (PABA) has been mentioned in literature with low-grade recommendation (2A) for premature grey hair 1
• Combination of calcium pantothenate and PABA has been studied with limited success 1
• A case report showed >90% conversion of grey hair to black hair after 5 months of treatment with a combination of biotin and calcium pantothenate supplements along with a topical formulation containing α-MSH agonist 2
• Vitamin B complex deficiencies (B12, folate, B7) have been associated with premature greying, suggesting supplementation might help in deficient individuals 1

Mineral Considerations

• Low serum calcium and ferritin (iron) levels have been associated with premature grey hair 1
• Correcting mineral deficiencies may help prevent further greying, though evidence for reversal is limited 1

Topical Treatments

• A topical formulation containing palmitoyl tetrapeptide 20 (a biomimetic peptide of α-MSH) has shown promise in a case report when combined with oral supplements 2
• Grey hair evulsion (pulling out grey hairs) combined with calcium pantothenate supplementation showed some benefit in a small study, though this approach is impractical for widespread greying 3

Medications with Incidental Repigmentation Effects

• Several medications have been reported to cause incidental grey hair repigmentation, though none are approved for this purpose 4:
  • Anti-inflammatory medications (thalidomide, lenalidomide, adalimumab, acitretin) 4
  • Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (erlotinib, imatinib) 4, 5
  • Other medications (latanoprost, tamoxifen, levodopa) 4

Important Considerations

• Most studies on grey hair reversal have small sample sizes and methodological limitations 1
• Treatments targeting the underlying mechanisms of hair greying (inflammation reduction or melanogenesis stimulation) show the most promise 4, 5
• The British Association of Dermatologists guidelines for conditions like vitiligo and alopecia areata do not recommend vitamin D analogues like calcipotriol as monotherapy for pigmentation disorders 6
• Treating underlying medical conditions that may contribute to premature greying (thyroid disorders, nutritional deficiencies) may help in some cases 1

Practical Approach

1. Rule out underlying medical conditions that may contribute to premature greying:

   • Check for vitamin deficiencies (B12, folate, biotin) 1
   • Assess mineral status (iron, calcium) 1
   • Evaluate thyroid function 1

2. Consider supplementation if deficiencies are identified:

   • Calcium pantothenate 200mg daily if deficient 3
   • B-complex vitamins including B12 and folate 1
   • Iron supplementation if ferritin is low 1

3. Understand limitations:

   • Results are likely to be modest at best 4, 1
   • Most evidence comes from case reports or small studies 4, 1
   • Commercial hair dyes remain the most reliable option for covering grey hair 5

Caution

• None of these treatments have FDA approval specifically for grey hair reversal 4
• Medications that have shown incidental repigmentation effects often have significant side effects that outweigh potential cosmetic benefits 4
• Claims of dramatic grey hair reversal should be viewed skeptically given the limited scientific evidence 1