Once and for all, IS there any scientific evidence that stress can turn a person’s hair gray? A friend made the comment that once a person is elected to the presidency, it isn’t long before we see them with gray hair. I maintain it would have gone gray anyway. Which one of us is right? And while we’re at it, is it possible for a person’s hair to turn white from fright? Has it ever happened or is it the stuff that makes good novels?
Thanks
Q
Personal anecdote, so take it for what it’s worth:
In 1985, age 27, I was involved in an arson fire. Lost my truck, my dog, damn near everything I owned including my life (just like a country western song). Within a month, I had two big swatches of grey hair; not because of burns…The extent of my grey hair remained at those two areas until about four yaers ago, age 39.
Far as I can tell, a very stressful incident turned at least part of my hair grey. I don’t see, physiologically, how hair can turn white overnight. Hair is already dead cells once it squirts out of your skull. But I will tell you categorically, my hair came in grey within a month of a traumatic incident.
In 1985, age 27, I was involved in an arson fire. Lost my truck, my dog, damn near everything I owned including my life …
That should be, almost lost my life. Sheesh.