Can Stress Really Turn Your Hair Gray Faster? Expert Explains

Stress and hair concerns are the two things that bother almost every other person in the modern day. From office deadlines to financial problems, constant overthinking, and lack of sleep, stress has turned out to be a permanent companion for many. What really makes it worse is the belief that it is due to stress that greying of hair accelerates. Almost everyone has heard this from parents or grandparents, “Don’t worry so much, or your hair will turn white!” But is there any truth to this statement, or is it just a generational myth passed down over time?

To separate fact from fiction, we reached out to our expert, Dr Priya K, Dermatologist, Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, who helped us with the science and clarity into this much-debated topic.

Science Behind Hair Colour

Hair colour comes from melanin, which is produced by cells called melanocytes residing in each hair follicle. Every time hair grows, these melanocytes inject melanin into the strand to determine whether the hair will appear black, brown, red, or blonde.

However, with age, it is natural for the activity of melanocytes to reduce. Eventually, this slows down melanin production and can turn strands grey or white, and this process is known as age-related greying.

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So, Does Stress Speed Up Greying?

According to Dr Priya, stress does play a role. "Chronic stress increases the release of certain hormones and chemicals in the body which can actually damage melanocyte stem cells. Once depleted, the hair tends to lose its pigment, resulting in early greying," Dr Priya shared.

Stress activates the sympathetic nervous system, releasing a chemical known as norepinephrine. Scientific studies, including those published in Nature, have revealed that this can force pigment, producing stem cells to leave the hair follicle, allowing the hair to grey more quickly.

In other words, stress doesn't cause grey hair to appear out of nowhere, but it will quicken the process if one is genetically predisposed to greying.

Signs That Stress May Be Affecting Your Hair

Dr Priya emphasised that while greying is related to stress, it can also lead to:

• Increased hair fall
• Thinning hair
• Dullness and lack of volume
• Conditions like telogen effluvium (sudden hair shedding)

The scalp and hair follicles are very sensitive to internal hormones and external lifestyle factors. When the body remains in a constant fight-or-flight mode, hair health often gets compromised.

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Genetics versus Stress: Which One Has the Upper Hand?

Greying is influenced mainly by genetics. Chances are if the parents or grandparents had prematurely grey hair. Stress only hastens what the genes have programmed.

According to Dr Priya, "Think of genetics as the blueprint determining when hair starts to grey, while stress is the catalyst that can make it happen sooner.

Other contributors include nutritional deficiencies, such as Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, and iron, smoking, autoimmune conditions; and oxidative stress.

Can Premature Greying Be Reversed?

With current science, once a hair strand turns grey due to the loss of melanin-producing cells, it cannot be reversed. In the rare instances where the cause of greying is nutritional deficiencies or temporary stress, pigment may return, but this is quite rare.

Dr Priya shared, “Instead, the goal should be to reduce the triggers, not to chase reversal. Healthy hair begins inside the body.”

Tips to Slow Down Stress-Induced Greying

Here are some expert-approved tips to slow down stress-induced greying of hair:

• Prioritise sleep of seven to eight hours.
• Include in your diet B12, Omega-3, iron, and protein-rich foods.
• Practice stress-relief techniques like meditation or deep breathing.
• Avoid excessive smoking and consumption of alcohol.
• Improve hormone balance through regular exercise

Bottomline

While stress itself does not lead to grey hair, it can hasten premature greying through the destruction of pigment-producing cells, particularly when accompanied by genetic and nutritional deficiencies.