Friends, have you noticed that many young people are prematurely turning grey, meaning that their hair is changing colour from natural to greyish? Recent scientific studies indicate that stress can be a major cause of hair turning grey. This happens because stress can affect the stem cells that are responsible for regenerating hair pigment.
Stress can have various negative effects on the body, and stress can cause hair to turn grey, which may be one of them. Hair colour is determined by cells called melanocytes, which produce the pigment called melanin. New melanocytes are made from melanocyte stem cells that live within the hair follicle at the base of hair strand. As we age these stem cells gradually disappear. The hair that re grows from hair follicles that have lost melanocyte stem cells have less pigment and appears grey.
Few years back, scientists and researchers set out to determine if stress could also cause grey hair, and if so, how. The study was funded and conducted by National Institute of Health (NIA), USA. The findings were released in January 2020.
The research team used mice to examine stress and hair graying. The mice were exposed to three types of stress involving mild, short-term pain, psychological stress, and restricted movement. All caused noticeable loss of melanocyte stem cells and hair graying. Having established a link between stress and graying, the scientists then explored several potential cause. They first tested whether immune attack might be responsible for depleting melanocyte stem cells. But stressing mice with compromised immune systems still led to their hair graying. The team then investigated the role of the stress hormone corticosterone, but altering its levels did not affect stress-related graying.
The researchers eventually turned to the neurotransmitter norodernaline, which along with corticosterone, was elevated in the stressed mice. They found that noradernaline, also known as norepinephirine, was key to stress-induced hair graying. By injecting noradernaline under the skin of unstressed mice, the researchers were able to cause malanocyte stem cells loss and hair graying.
Noradernaline is produced mostly by the adrenal glands. However, mice without adrenal glands still showed stress-related graying. Noradernaline is also the main neurotransmitter of the sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the “fight-or-flight” reaction in response to stress. The team ultimately discovered that signaling from the sympathetic nervous system plays a critical role in stress-induced graying. Sympathetic nerves extend into each hair follicle and release noradrenaline in response to stress. Normally, the melanocyte stem cells in the follicle are dormant until a new hair is grown. Noradrenaline causes the stem cells to activate.
Using florescent labeling, the researchers observed that stem cells change to melanocytes and migrate away from their reserve in the hair follicle. With no remaining stem cells, no new pigment cells can be mad, and any new hair becomes grey, then white. As per the scientists, when this experiment started they expected stress was bad for body-but the detrimental impact of stress that they discovered was beyond their imagination. After just few days, all of the melanocyte stem cells were lost. Once they were gone, pigments could not be regenerated, and the damage was permanent.
Some other studies suggest that stress-induced graying is reversible in people. In one study, researchers found that less pigmented sections of hair strands were linked to stressful events in a person’s life. In younger people, the colour returned to the hair after the stressful event passed.
Other factors that can contribute to grey hair include:
- Ageing
- Genetics
- Exposure to UV and pollution
- Smoking
- Some drugs
Here are some tips to reverse stress-induced graying:
- Stress management- Try meditation, yoga, deep breathing exercises, or spending time in nature.
- Healthy diet- eat a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein.
- Supplements-Consider taking Vitaminn B12, biotin, or copper.
- Sleep routine- Develop a healthy sleep routine
- Exercise- Get regular exercise
There is still a long way to go for proving what are all the causes for developing grey hair. Till then, hair dyeing/coluring industry is going to mint money.
Waiting for your feedback on this blog.
Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
23rd October 2024