Stress may turn your hair Grey

Stress affects not only the physical and mental well-being of a person but could also result in early greying of hair, according to a new study. Several factors such as diet, genetic conditions, health complications and lifestyle factors lead to ageing of hair. Hair consists of stem cells that are responsible for producing colour to the hair. Specialised stem cells called melanocytes are located in the hair follicles and produce colour to the hair strands at different stages of growth. A recent research study published in the journal Nature has tried to understand the physiological process of stress leading to greying of hair. The research study was conducted on mice and the results have shown that the sympathetic nervous system is responsible for greying of hair.

The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is a part of the autonomic nervous system of the brain that is responsible for involuntary bodily functions such as blood pressure, heart rate, sweating, digestion and body temperature. The SNS acts as the body's fight-or-flight response system to the outward situations and secretes a hormone called noradrenaline. This hormone causes increased heartbeat, sweating, faster breathing and tensed body muscles. The research study has observed that during  stressful situations, the stem cells deplete and separate from the hair follicles due to noradrenaline secretion. This leaves the hair strands with no source of pigmentation; hence leading to greying of hair. It is advised to consult your physician to know how to better manage your stress along with diet and exercise to lead a stress-free life.

Source: Nature, 2024