 Show Follow me on Twitter @RobShmerling If you look at photos of President Obama taken before he ran for president and since he left office, you’ll notice a distinct difference: where there used to be only dark brown hair, there is now far more gray than brown. It seems that the stress of running a country would turn any person’s hair gray. But is stress really to blame? And why does hair turn gray, even for those of us who don’t have jobs quite as stressful as President of the United States? In humans, most gray hair is not related to stress. In fact, hair doesn’t actually "turn" gray at all. Once a hair follicle produces hair, the color is set. If a single strand of hair starts out brown (or red or black or blond), it is never going to change its color (unless you color your hair). Your hair follicles produce less color as they age, so when hair goes through its natural cycle of dying and being regenerated, it’s more likely to grow in as gray beginning after age 35. Genetics can play a role in when this starts. While being under stress can’t change the color of individual strands of hair, stress can trigger a common condition called telogen effluvium, which causes hair to shed about three times faster than normal. The hair grows back, so the condition doesn’t cause balding. But if you’re middle-aged and your hair is falling out and regenerating more quickly because of stress, it’s possible that the hair that grows in will be gray instead of its original color. That said, a 2020 study of mice demonstrated how stress can lead to their fur may turn gray under stress. Whether this applies to humans and how often it plays a role in hair graying are unclear. Illnesses that cause gray hairThe vast majority of people with gray hair have age-related graying. However, sometimes graying hair indicates an illness, especially if it occurs at a particularly young age. Health problems that may be heralded by gray hair include:
The bottom lineWhen and how thoroughly your hair turns gray is influenced mostly by the genes you inherit from your parents. Though stress may play a role in the process, it would be more helpful to look to past generations rather than your current stress levels to help you predict when or if you’ll go gray. That’s true whether you’re the President of the United States, or someone with a less stressful job. Dan Gottlieb September 25, 2017 I’m a 92-year old male with a full head of brown hair, that is not dyed, and i don’t use any lotions. My solution is so simple that you are going to wonder why you did not think of it. It is so simple and logical. I am 65 with still mostly reddish brown hair. I do have enough grey that if someone looks closely they don’t think that I dye my hair. I have two siblings who have started turning grey late too. All three of us started having a few grey strands around 60. Two others started having grey come in in their early 40s. One of my aunts still had a mix of brown and grey in her early nineties. The timing of greying certainly seems to be genetic in my family. I would think that never greying would also be a gene-related outcome. Esther September 24, 2017 During my work in health care I noticed that elderly with long term health issues like diabetes (since their younger years) usually have quite dark hair without coloring it. Interesting: Dr. Shmerling, You wrote that “Once a hair follicle produces hair, the color is set. ” I am a blond with some red highlights and have produced black hairs on my head and face. I have had a few strands of my mustache start out gray then turn black and vice versa. Just wanted to comment about follicles setting their color. Nanda Acharya September 22, 2017 My parents got grey hair at 55+ yrs of age.and I have got them at 35+ yrs.i have a medium level stressful lifestyle.and do not have any of the diseases mentioned above. Erica Himley September 19, 2017 I am facing this problem from any days. Even lot of my hairs are Don’t know what to do. I have tried everything, applied egg, alovera etc. suzanne September 18, 2017 Hair turns gray because you don’t die it! (Ha! sorry!) wonders September 23, 2017 Suzanne, . . . dye it! Great comment. Commenting has been closed for this post. Why do some people's hair turn grey and others white?The less melanin you have, the lighter your hair color. Gray hair has minimal melanin, while white has none. As you age, it's natural to lose melanin in your hair. In fact, it's estimated that the odds of your hair turning gray increase up to 20 percent each decade after you hit your 30s.
Why does hair go white Not grey?This is when you notice hair appearing to turn grey, when there is a mix of dark colored and grey or white hair. As the person grows older and the body's ability to produce melanin begins to slow down, all the hair in the body turns grey or white and this when you begin to see all white hair.
What's the difference between white hair and GREY hair?People use “gray,” “white” and “silver” interchangeably to describe hair that is turning or has turned. Its appearance — whether it looks, gray, white or silver — depends on how much natural color, or pigment, remains, experts say. Hair that has lost all its color typically appears white.
Does GREY hair turn white or grow white?Dr. Kraleti explains that your hair turns gray or white when the pigment cells in the follicle surrounding the hair die. “When you pluck a hair a new one will grow in its place and because the pigment cells are no longer producing pigment, this new hair will also be white.”
|
Why does some hair turn grey and some turn white?
Related Posts
Copyright © 2024 SignalDuo Inc.
