Is it possible to be born with purple hair

Why is it impossible to be born with purple hair? originally appeared on Quora - the knowledge sharing network where compelling questions are answered by people with unique insights.

Answer by Pippi M. R. Groving on Quora:

Humans can only produce two types of hair pigment: eumelanin and pheomelanin. Eumelanin is brown or black depending on the amount present. Pheomelanin is reddish yellow.

Some people produce one, the other, or a combination of both. All possible hair colors in the world are made with variations of the pigment and the amount of pigment.

If you have two fully functional genes for eumelanin, you get the bluish jet black hair. If you have one or both eumelanin genes less functional, you get a shade of dark brown to light brown and white blonde.

If you have a mix of both, you can get dark hair, but with a more red tone, like chestnut. And you can have various combinations of reddish browns.

If you have two pheomelanin genes, you get the red and red-blonde hair types in different strengths, depending on the functionality of the genes.

There aren't any genes that would make something that looks purple ... yet.

This questionoriginally appeared on Quora - the knowledge sharing network where compelling questions are answered by people with unique insights. You can follow Quora on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+. More questions:​

• Genetics and Heredity: What are some genetic mutations that give a distinct advantage in humans?
• Human Biology: How does blood circulation take place in a human body in space?
• Hair: What happens if you stop using shampoo on your hair for a year?

Alex Haragan answered on 5 Jun 2018:

Hair colour, and indeed any complex “trait” is made up of both genetics and environment.
When I say a trait I mean anything about a person that is part of defining them – so it might be something physical, like height or hair colour, or something personal like preference for music.

Some traits are more determined by genetics, and some more by what you experience. Nature vs nuture.

Hair colour is a good example – we are all born with a certain hair colour (well, many babies are born bald but the hair grows in a certain colour) but of course things like sunlight can change its colour and you can dye it any colour you like.

But the hair colour you’re born with is entirely dependent on genetics. Every gene in your body can hold a number of different configurations – that is, for example, a gene coding for hair colour can code for brown or blonde. We call these different choices alleles.
Now I’m sure you’ve been taught or will be taught about dominant and recessive genes, and incomplete and semi-dominant expression (hence all the other hair colours) – although even that isn’t the whole story – there is more than one “hair colour gene”.
We don’t fully know – but it is likely several genes code for hair colour. However, the alleles that determine what colour hair is only come from a limited range of choices – brown, ginger, blonde, black etc.
Although mutations in genetics can result in unpredicted change – hair colour is actually quite a complicated trait, and there is only a certain range of pigment/colour that the human body can literally produce. So even if you had really bizarre mutations – the body cannot make green hair pigment.
So if you want green hair you’ll just have to dye it!

The iris is the colored ring that surrounds the eye’s pupil. It controls the amount of light that enters the eye.

Natural changes with age

Most babies are born with brown eyes. However, many of Caucasian heritage initially have blue or gray eyes. This color may darken over time, to become green, hazel, or brown. Infants with brown eyes rarely experience changes in iris color, although the shade of brown may become more prominent.

A change in iris color occurs because of a protein called melanin, which is also present in the hair and skin. Cells called melanocytes produce melanin in response to light exposure.

Melanocytes become more active during the first year of life, explaining the change in an infant’s eye color.

Usually, changes in eye color will have stopped by the age of 6, though some people experience them throughout adolescence and adulthood. Research suggests that this phenomenon affects 10–15 percent of people of Caucasian heritage.

Heterochromia iridis

People with heterochromia iridis have eyes of different colors.

Another form of the condition, called segmental heterochromia, causes color variations within the same iris.

Most of the time, heterochromia occurs sporadically and is not caused by another disorder.

In rare cases, it may be linked to other conditions, such as:

• Horner’s syndrome
• Parry-Romberg syndrome
• Sturge-Weber syndrome
• Waardenburg syndrome

Fuchs’ heterochromic uveitis (FHU)

Also known as Fuchs’ heterochromic iridocyclitis, this rare condition is characterized by long-term inflammation of the iris and other parts of the eye.

FHU causes a change in eye color. The iris usually becomes lighter, though it may darken in some cases. FHU typically affects one eye, but 15 percent of people experience a change in both, according to the American Uveitis Society.

Other symptoms include decreased vision and the perception of “floaters.” FHU may increase a person’s risk of developing other eye conditions, such as cataracts and glaucoma.

Horner’s syndrome

Horner’s syndrome, or Horner-Bernard syndrome, refers to a group of symptoms that affect one side of the face. These include:

• decreased pupil size
• delayed opening of the pupil in dim light
• a drooping eyelid
• reduced sweating on one side of the face

The difference in pupil size between the affected and unaffected eyes can give the appearance of different eye colors.

The iris of the affected eye may also be lighter in color when the syndrome develops in babies under 1 year old.

Horner’s syndrome is caused by a disruption in a nerve pathway leading from the brain to one eye and side of the face. It often results from damage induced by:

• a spinal cord injury
• a stroke
• a tumor

Sometimes no underlying cause can be found.

Pigmentary glaucoma

Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions caused by damage to the optic nerve. This damage is often linked to abnormally high pressure in the eye. Glaucoma can lead to vision loss if left untreated.

It is estimated that over 3 million Americans have glaucoma, though not all are aware of it.

One type, pigmentary glaucoma, causes the pigmentation in the iris to fall away in tiny granules.

These granules build up in the eye’s drainage channels, preventing fluid from seeping out and increasing pressure in the eye.

This may lead to abnormalities in the iris, though the color of the eyes will not completely change. Treatment involving medication, lasers, or surgery can reduce the buildup of pressure, but it is difficult to prevent the release of pigment.

Tumors of the iris

Tumors may grow behind or within the iris. The majority are cysts or pigmented lesions similar to moles, called nevi. Other tumors may be cancerous.

Tumors in the iris usually cause no symptoms, but some people with nevi may notice changes in their eye color.

Even when no other symptoms are present, if a person suspects that they have a tumor they should see a doctor, especially if a nevus:

• changes shape or color
• becomes bigger
• interferes with the pupil

Treatments include radiation and surgery.

Medicated eye drops

Some medicated eye drops used to treat glaucoma can lead to changes in eye color.

Medications known as prostaglandin analogs, such as latanoprost (Xalatan) and bimatoprost (Lumigan), can cause light-colored eyes to darken. They may also lead to other changes in the eyes’ appearance.

Bimatoprost can act as an eyelash enhancer, and it is marketed under the name Latisse for this purpose. When applied to the eyelashes, Latisse can encourage growth, but it may also increase brown pigmentation in the eyes. This effect is likely permanent.

Latisse can cause the skin of the eyelids to darken as well, though this effect usually goes away when a person stops using the product.

Anyone who notices changes in the color of one or both eyes should see a doctor. Changes unrelated to color should also be investigated, as they may signal an underlying condition.

A person should also seek treatment anytime they experience:

• reduced vision
• blurriness
• floating spots in the field of vision
• pain
• redness of the eyes

Alexandria’s genesis is a myth about the existence of “perfect” human beings who have purple eyes and other unrealistic attributes.

However, many real conditions and some medications can change the iris’ color. Eye color may also change naturally over time, especially in early childhood.

These changes may be harmless but should always be checked by a doctor. If there is a serious underlying cause, such as glaucoma or a malignant tumor, early treatment can improve a person’s outlook.

Is it genetically possible to have purple hair?

Can u be born with colored hair?

What is the rarest hair color?

What hair colors can you be born with?