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What term is used to describe gray hair?

  1. Hypertrichosis

  2. Canities

  3. Pityriasis

  4. Vellus

The correct answer is: Canities

Canities is the term used to describe gray hair. This term specifically refers to the natural process of hair losing its pigment, which typically occurs with aging when the production of melanin, the pigment responsible for hair color, decreases. As a result, hair may turn gray or white depending on the absence of color. Hypertrichosis refers to an abnormal increase in hair growth, which is unrelated to the pigmentation or color of the hair. Pityriasis typically pertains to skin conditions that involve flaking or scaling, and while vellus refers to fine, downy hair that covers most of the human body, it also does not relate to the color or graying of hair. In summary, canities directly addresses the specific phenomenon of gray hair, making it the correct term in this context.