Does stress really make you grey?

When President Barack Obama took office in 2009 he looked a different man. One thing you notice is that he is now definitely greying. So is it the stress of the presidency? Well, if you ask Michelle, who has managed to keep it black and stylish, she jokingly says, "He's a little grey. People think the grey is from his job. It's from the children". This is from an interview she did on Good Morning America earlier this year.

But whether from job, children or anything else, does stress really cause greying?

The 50/50/50 rule

There is a 50/50/50 rule of thumb, which states that 'at age 50 years, 50 per cent of the population has at least 50 per cent grey hair'. Okay, do a quick survey among your family and friends and see if this is true! Hold on, before you start counting, make sure that you get the right age, wait for the hair dye to fade or the shaved head to grow back a bit. Indeed, many persons seek cover when grey hairs start pushing out.

The grey hair

Within the root of each strand of hair are cells called melanocytes, which produce the pigment that gives it colour. As these cells die, less pigment is produced and the colour fades away leaving that white or grey look. Your pigment production is really programmed by your genes with gender and ethnicity also playing a role. Women, on average, begin greying approximately five years after men. Caucasian men start greying in their mid-30s, while Asian and African men may not show signs of grey for five to 10 years later. By the age of 50, many women have already noticed the first signs of greying. The jury is still out, however, on the question of stress turning hair grey.

The problem with greying

"So doc, what can I do about these grey hairs?" I have had that question thrown at me a few times, and, yes, by both men and women. Unless there is some uncommon underlying medical problem, I can't do much but I am sympathetic.

My mother used to have us look for that one grey hair amidst her full head of black hair. Our job was to pluck it out when we found it!

Indeed, for many persons the problem with greying is a cosmetic one. You stand up and look in the mirror and it's not the you that you've known or grown up with. A recent Time Magazine poll of 1,013 persons revealed that 79 per cent of Americans see grey/white hair as a disadvantage in personal/social life. It is seen as a disadvantage by 67 per cent in the workplace. But when it comes to running for political office 59 per cent saw it as an advantage!

Are you 'old and grey'?

Many individuals rush to avoid the 'old and grey' label, which can smell of a kind of age discrimination or ageism. As you grey into the fifties and beyond, play with your new look and put away any negative connotations of ageing.

How about 'bold and grey'? Go work on it!

Dr Tomlin Paul is a family physician at Health Plus Associates in Kingston; email: yourhealth@gleanerjm.com