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sakrilege · 10-24-2002, 02:04 PM

My neighbor claims that her hair turned gray after the accidental death of her 10 year old daughter 4 years ago. I'm wondering if this is something that can happen. I have my doubts (hence this post) but I don't want to judge too quickly. She does tend to exaggerate though she did not say overnight. She also dyes her hair so I cannot access the amount of grayness.

Thanks, Susan

Jeremy Pallant · 10-24-2002, 02:13 PM

This certainly cannot happen overnight.

<a href="http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/22030/23724/348513.html?d=dmtContent" target="_blank">Here's</a> a link that provides some information on graying hair.

From another location I saw a comment, to whit, severe emotional stress can cause rapid graying of the hair.

[ October 24, 2002: Message edited by: Jeremy Pallant ]</p>

sakrilege · 10-24-2002, 04:54 PM

This site also mentions smoking as a graying accelerator and she is a heavy smoker.

Thank you

Susan

Gringo · 10-24-2002, 06:04 PM

My dad knew a guy in the navy who was an aircrewman for a C-130, handling cargo. My dad didn't know him when the incident occured, but the people who did swore he became white headed overnight from fright when he had almost fell out of the back of a C-130 with no parachute. As I heard it, his boot or pants leg caught someting and prevented his completely falling out. This <a href="http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_315b" target="_blank">web page</a> suggests that dark hairs can fall out overnight through a particularly stressful event, giving the appearance of someone going gray or white overnight.

The Other Michael · 10-24-2002, 06:40 PM

It seems like only yesterday that I had auburn hair instead of grayish brown, but sadly that isn't the case.

cheers,
Michael

sakrilege · 10-25-2002, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gringo:
<strong>This <a href="http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_315b" target="_blank">web page</a> suggests that dark hairs can fall out overnight through a particularly stressful event, giving the appearance of someone going gray or white overnight.</strong>

From this site...

Quote:

Alopecia can result in sudden, substantial hair loss. For unknown reasons it seems to affect mostly pigmented hairs, leaving white ones untouched. The impression one gets, therefore, is that the patient has become suddenly gray.

Maybe it's because my hair is long but it seems to me that I would notice loosing a lot of hair in addition to it becoming gray. If my neighbor mentions this again I will ask if a lot of hair fell out. Since emotional stress would have been the trigger this detail can easily be forgotten and she may not remember but it would be interesting if she did.

Susan

10-24-2002, 02:04 PM	#1
sakrilege Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Cleveland, OH, USA Folding@Home Godless Team Posts: 6,211	Turning gray overnight My neighbor claims that her hair turned gray after the accidental death of her 10 year old daughter 4 years ago. I'm wondering if this is something that can happen. I have my doubts (hence this post) but I don't want to judge too quickly. She does tend to exaggerate though she did not say overnight. She also dyes her hair so I cannot access the amount of grayness. Thanks, Susan

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10-24-2002, 02:13 PM	#2
Jeremy Pallant Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Tucson, Arizona, USA Posts: 1,242	This certainly cannot happen overnight. <a href="http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/22030/23724/348513.html?d=dmtContent" target="_blank">Here's</a> a link that provides some information on graying hair. From another location I saw a comment, to whit, severe emotional stress can cause rapid graying of the hair. [ October 24, 2002: Message edited by: Jeremy Pallant ]</p>

10-24-2002, 04:54 PM	#3
sakrilege Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Cleveland, OH, USA Folding@Home Godless Team Posts: 6,211	This site also mentions smoking as a graying accelerator and she is a heavy smoker. Thank you Susan

10-24-2002, 06:04 PM	#4
Gringo Regular Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: WV Posts: 207	My dad knew a guy in the navy who was an aircrewman for a C-130, handling cargo. My dad didn't know him when the incident occured, but the people who did swore he became white headed overnight from fright when he had almost fell out of the back of a C-130 with no parachute. As I heard it, his boot or pants leg caught someting and prevented his completely falling out. This <a href="http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_315b" target="_blank">web page</a> suggests that dark hairs can fall out overnight through a particularly stressful event, giving the appearance of someone going gray or white overnight.

10-24-2002, 06:40 PM	#5
The Other Michael Honorary Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: In the fog of San Francisco Posts: 12,631	It seems like only yesterday that I had auburn hair instead of grayish brown, but sadly that isn't the case. cheers, Michael

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