Reversing Grey Hair

A fascinating discovery has recently been reported - that the greying of hair, a common sign of aging, can be reversed! At least temporarily. This revelation challenges the long-held belief that greying is a permanent and irreversible process.

So let’s learn more.

A 1972 study by dermatologist Stanley Comaish first hinted at the possibility of hair color reversal. Comaish encountered a unique case where a 38-year-old man had hairs that were dark at the roots but light at the ends, indicating a reversal in the typical graying pattern which usually starts at the root.

In a recent study published in eLife, researchers presented substantial evidence supporting this phenomenon. They studied hair samples from a diverse group of individuals, examining changes in hair pigmentation. This study not only demonstrated that greying could be reversed but also linked these changes to stress levels, suggesting a strong connection between our psychological state and the aging process.

Martin Picard, a mitochondrial psychobiologist at Columbia University, sparked the research with his interest in cellular aging. He noticed that the process of hair graying seemed to mirror the aging at a cellular level. Picard, with his team, collected hair samples from various individuals, including two-colored hairs. They developed a method to digitally analyse these hairs, revealing surprising patterns of graying and color reversal.

This discovery was particularly significant as it showed that hair colour changes are not confined to the scalp but occur across different body regions. The research also indicated that this reversibility is limited to specific periods and may not be universal across all hair follicles.

The researchers' further investigations connected hair greying with psychological stress. They analysed hair segments and linked changes in pigmentation to specific stressful or relaxing periods in the participants' lives. For instance, a 35-year-old man exhibited hair color reversal during a relaxing two-week vacation, while a 30-year-old woman showed a white hair segment corresponding to a highly stressful period in her life.

Eva Peters, a psychoneuroimmunologist, praised the study's creativity and concept but noted the need for more extensive research due to the limited number of cases examined, particularly in the stress-related aspects.

The findings have sparked interest in further exploring the relationship between stress and hair greying. The researchers are planning a new study to prospectively track changes in hair and stress levels. They envision hair as a potential tool for assessing the impact of life events on aging, much like the rings of a tree, with hair encapsulating a physical record of past events.

The fascinating study that not only challenges our understanding of hair graying but also opens new avenues for exploring the intricate connections between aging, stress, and our physical appearance.

See our summary slides below:

Refernces

Comaish S. WIHTE SCALP HAIRS TURNING BLACK—AN UNUSUAL REVERSAL OF THK AGEIN PROCESS. British Journal of Dermatology. 1972 May 1;86(5):513-4.

Rosenberg AM, Rausser S, Ren J, Mosharov EV, Sturm G, Ogden RT, Patel P, Kumar Soni R, Lacefield C, Tobin DJ, Paus R. Quantitative mapping of human hair greying and reversal in relation to life stress. Elife. 2021 Jun 22;10:e67437.