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We tend to joke about how stress is turning our hair grey, but a recent study has revealed a sober truth. Hair colour is caused by melanocyte stem cells, and according to scientists from New York University, stress causes the stem cells to migrate to other parts of the body. When they do leave, they are not replaced, which is what causes the hair to go white.
The report, which was published in Nature Medicine reveals that the scientists, headed by Dr Mayumi Ito, began with the premise that when the body is injured, stem cells move from the hair to the skin, to prevent damage. This seems to be a crucial link in highlighting the physical damage that stress can do, if anyone is still under the impression that stress is simply a state of mind for people who can't handle their workload or family pressures.
On average, most people start greying from 25 onwards, and how early it begins and how widespread the colour change depends on many factors such as genetics, lifestyle habits and environmental factors. This is the first time that evidence has been found to show that stress may play a key role.
The most common outward signs a person is suffering from stress is when it affects their hair, nails and teeth.
Flor A Mayoral, MD, FAAD, clinical instructor in the departments of dermatology and cutaneous surgery at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine in Miami, said: “In treating hundreds of patients over the years with skin conditions such as eczema, rosacea, acne and psoriasis, I have seen firsthand how stress can aggravate the skin and trigger unexpected flare-ups that, in effect, create more stress for patients,” said Dr. Mayoral. “Learning how to manage the effects of stress on your skin can help alleviate some of the anxiety and symptoms.”
Rather than reaching for the hair dye, here are several ways to immediately eliminate stress from your life:
Common Stress-Busters
Talk It Out(01 of15)
Talking to a close family or friend was the most popular way to deal with stress in the survey, and this social support is a tried-and-true stress-buster, experts say. Not only is it comforting, a strong social network may actually ward off mental illness on a genetic level, according to a 2007 review.Talking to someone who can sympathize can also help normalize the stressful experiences, says Bourdeau. "Someone who is able to say, 'I've experienced that too' can make stress more manageable," she tells HuffPost. Plus, just hearing yourself talk through what's bothering you helps begin the problem-solving process, she says.Just make sure to talk to the right person, writes the American Psychological Association. If you're stressed about a family matter at the moment, calling home may not be the best solution. (credit:Getty Images)
Take A Deep Breath(02 of15)
Breathing deeply might sound trivial in the face of the greater challenges of the day, but there's a reason 55 percent of survey respondents say it's how they handle stress.A few deep breaths tell your body that it's time to chill out. "It's physiologically impossible to be both stressed and relaxed at the same time," says J. Kip Matthews, Ph.D., a licensed psychologist in Athens, Georgia, and vice president of AK Counseling & Consulting, Inc. Deep breathing induces the body's physiological relaxation response -- the heart rate will slow, the blood pressure will drop -- which overrides the fight-or-flight stress response you'd been experiencing before. As the brain realizes this calming response is kicking in, it becomes increasingly easier to relax, he says. (credit:Getty Images)
Turn on The Tube(03 of15)
Fifty-four percent of stressed-out people said they watch TV or a movie at home to deal. Both can certainly act as a break from paying the bills or a big work project and help you decompress. "Sometimes life presents stresses we can't do anything about," says Robin Haight, PsyD, a clinical psychologist in Tyson's Corner, Virginia, "but we can provide distraction from it for ourselves."However, says licensed psychologist Teri Bourdeau, Ph.D., clinical associate professor at Oklahoma State University's Center for Health Sciences, TV time may encourage you to completely avoid what's stressing you. A few minutes of your favorite show can quickly become an entire episode, which, before you know it, suddenly becomes two, and you're up against your work deadline. "Everything in moderation really needs to be applied here," says Matthews.Plus, if your show or movie of choice falls into a stressful genre, like crime, you may find your mind further agitated and overstimulated, says Bourdeau, leaving you only with more difficulty relaxing. (credit:Getty Images)
Snooze(04 of15)
Taking a nap or sleeping in general earned a nod from 53 percent of people. Catching a few winks may provide a better mental check out than some time in front of the TV.Nappers -- when they stick to just 20 or 30 minutes of shut-eye -- awaken feeling more alert, creative and productive. "A 20-minute break in the day can reset your outlook for the day," says Haight.However, if you're already experiencing difficult falling or staying asleep at night, it's best to skip a nap in favor of another stress-busting tactic, says Bourdeau. (credit:Flickr:Muffet)
Lose The Crowd(05 of15)
It's not surprising given the pressure and stress we can feel in the presence of a large group of people that many of us feel taking some time alone is a good way to handle stress. "When we're around other people, we're getting more information and more stimulation," says Matthews. "Some down time can [help you] recharge for a bit."However, if down time leaves you more likely to ruminate on what's bothering you, you might want to try a solitary relaxing activity like exercising, playing an instrument or writing, says Bourdeau. "Alone time spent with meditation, positive thinking, self-validation and positive coping thoughts can be a really helpful way to get away from the negativity," says Bourdeau.Alone time might also take the form of some of the other answers on the list, like taking a bath, getting a massage or even meditating, which, while only recommended by 13 percent of people, has known relaxation benefits. Even just a few mindful minutes can make a big difference. (credit:Getty Images)
Listen To Music(06 of15)
Anyone who has popped in headphones on a crowded subway car knows that music is a great way to steal a few minutes of alone time, but the 53 percent of people who say they try this to deal with stress are onto another benefit. Listening to music is generally associated with more positive feelings -- as long as it's music you like! "I'll have my patients make a playlist of songs that put them in a positive mood where they feel like [after listening], everything's more manageable," says Bourdeau. It's not one-size-fits-all, however. It may take some discovery to narrow in on the type of music that works best for you, says Matthews. (credit:Getty Images)
Break A Sweat(07 of15)
Is there anything exercise doesn't help?! Forty six percent of people say they work out to deal with stress, and there's research to back up that move. Thanks to those feel-good endorphins released when you break a sweat, exercising is a guaranteed stress-buster, even if you only get a few minutes in.It's also a way to take back the reins, says Haight. For the duration of your workout, you are in control, even if the stressors around you are threatening to take over, she says.Surprisingly, only 8 percent of people say they do yoga when they're stressed, despite the practice's calming reputation. But whatever your preferred method of breaking a sweat, "it's a great way to take that negative energy and channel it into something you can feel good about," says Bourdeau. (credit:Getty Images)
Have A Snack(08 of15)
The 46 percent of people who say they eat to deal with stress have to be careful. There are a few foods known for their natural stress-reducing powers, like leafy greens and oatmeal, but we're more often reaching for rich, fatty, sweet foods when we're stressed -- it's part of the body's attempt to protect us from danger, according to Psychology Today. Those carbohydrate-laden sweets trigger a release of serotonin in the brain that makes us feel better in the short term, says Matthews, but reaching for the cookies too often can mean trouble. "People who are [stress eating] in general don't feel positive when they're done eating," says Bourdeau.Luckily, a few simple mindfulness tricks can help turn that stress snacking around. Try being thankful for your food, or at least thinking about what you're eating while you're eating it and what it's doing for your body, says Bourdeau. Other tricks may help you break the food-as-comfort cycle for good, says Haight. "Instead of getting a Snickers bar from the vending machine, take a walk around the block first," she says. "Then decide if you still want that Snickers bar." (credit:Flickr:Merle ja Joonas)
Go For A Stroll(09 of15)
The 41 percent of people who said they take a walk to relax benefit from a form of feel-good exercise, even though you don't have to walk briskly to reap relaxation benefits. But taking a walk can also provide some time alone and (hopefully!) some time in nature, too. Spending some time being active outside has been shown to wash away feelings of frustration and over-stimulation.And don't be surprised if at the end of your walk you've come up with the solution to what was bugging you. "Stepping out of a situation and giving yourself time to think things over in a physical way can really clear your head and get your creative juices flower so that you can problem solve a little bit better," says Haight. (credit:Getty Images)
Watch A Funny Video(10 of15)
Laughter really is good medicine, at least when it comes to stress. The 34 percent of people who say they watch a funny video to de-stress not only reap the relaxing benefits of a good laugh, but also avoid the downward spiral of a too-long break like a TV marathon or an entire movie. A good laugh releases those same feel-good endorphins as exercise, and also improves circulation and muscle relaxation, according to the Mayo Clinic. "We hold a lot of stress in our faces," says Matthews, "so anything you can do to change that grimaced look can relieve that tension." (credit:Getty Images)
Get Away(11 of15)
"Imagine I'm somewhere else" is a tactic utilized by 31 percent of people. The power of the mind to escape stress shouldn't be underestimated. Imagining yourself in a more relaxing setting, say in a hammock on a beach, can help you focus solely on relaxation, says Bourdeau. The goal of this type of visual imagery practice (essentially a form of meditation, although survey respondents may not have identified it as such) is to then bring that vacation feeling back to your real life stress.You're even likely to feel physical changes from this "mental vacation," says Matthews. When stressed, the blood flows to larger muscles that, in the face of real danger, would help us run away, often leaving hands and feet feeling cold and clammy, he says. If you imagine yourself sitting on a warm beach with your feet in the sand, you'll find the blood is soon redirected and warming up your extremities, creating that relaxation response that overrides stress. (credit:Getty Images)
Shop(12 of15)
Hopefully the 30 percent of people who say they shop to handle stress have budgeted the cash for such an excursion. "Finances are a big source of stress right now, and something [many people] feel is out of their control," says Matthews. Shopping might feel to some like one way to exercise control over money, but if you're spending beyond your budget, shopping will likely only make your worries grow, warns Bourdeau. Also, believing that shopping will lower your stress means you're looking for a solution outside of yourself to make you feel better, she says. Instead, she suggests thinking, "How can I make myself feel better, inside and out?" (credit:Getty Images)
Find A Furry Friend(13 of15)
Playing with a pet is a go-to stress reducer for 27 percent of people. Fido and Fluffy are a different kind of social support, but still a valuable network. "Who else greets us so affectionately when we walk through the door?" says Matthews.Research shows that owning a pet lowers levels of stress hormones, possibly due to an increase in oxytocin, the hormone commonly cited for its role in love and bonding. Plus, if you have to take Fido for a walk, not only will you feel good by staying active, you might benefit from the feeling of doing something nice for someone else, says Bourdeau. "They don't talk back, they don't invalidate you, they just want attention and love and affection and they give it back in return," she says. (credit:Flickr:SMugridge)
Sip Tea(14 of15)
Nearly a quarter of people said they pour themselves a mug of tea to deal with stress. The act of making, pouring and drinking the tea may simply be a relaxing and solitary ritual that you establish as part of your relaxation routine, says Haight, or it might be something unique to tea responsible for its calming effects. A 2006 study found that black tea drinkers were less stressed in general and could relax faster when they were stressed than people given a tea substitute. And green tea boasts a particular amino acid suggested to lower anxiety.However, too much caffeine may only exacerbate a racing heart or nervous jitters, warns Matthews. "We need to avoid anything that's going to compound anxiety," he says. (credit:Flickr:phrawr)
Drink Alcohol(15 of15)
Interestingly, the same number of people who say they turn to tea say they turn to alcohol to lower stress. But what many think will be a relaxing nightcap actually stimulates production of the stress hormone cortisol, creating a cycle of feeling stress, wanting to drink and then wanting to drink more. "If you're using alcohol to de-stress, you need to be cautious," says Bourdeau. "You don't feel in control of your relaxation, and can easily drink to excess."Farther down the list were some similarly risky behaviors, including going out to clubs or bars, smoking cigarettes and using marijuana. Although fewer people say these are methods they use to deal with anxiety, the experts stress the importance of avoiding behaviors like these. "These are only short-term at best," says Haight. When the effects of alcohol, nicotine or marijuana wear off, your sources of stress will still remain, she says. "It's like putting a bandaid on a gaping wound." (credit:Getty Images)