GREY HAIR – the Body’s Way of Avoiding a Deadly Cancer

Grey hair is nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, according to the latest research, the presence of grey hair may be a good sign that your body is naturally protecting itself from cancer.

A series of mouse experiments by scientists from the University of Tokyo suggest we’ve evolved to let go of cells that are at risk of generating tumours at the expense of a little colour.

The study reported in Nature Cell Biology, found that when stem cells in hair follicles – the cells that give hair its colour – sustain DNA damage, they can choose to self-destruct to prevent becoming cancerous. This process eliminates the damaged cells, which results in the loss of pigment and leads to grey hair.

In other words, going grey could be a side effect of your body choosing safety over colour. It’s a visible sign that your cells are prioritising health by preventing potentially dangerous mutations from spreading.

Our cells are routinely subjected to a barrage of “genotoxic insults”, or DNA damage wrought by a wide variety of environmental factors. DNA damage can contribute to cell ageing as well as to the development of cancer. Skin cells bear the brunt of many such affronts, given their role in helping buffer our internal organs from the outside world.

The new study focuses specifically on melanoma, a type of cancer predominantly found in the skin, where it originates in melanocytes – specialised skin cells that generate melanin, the pigment responsible for skin and hair colour.

However, experts caution that this doesn’t mean grey hair directly protects you from cancer. It’s a biological marker, not a shield – and the study so far has been conducted mainly in mice. Still, it offers a fascinating glimpse into how our bodies balance beauty, ageing, and survival at the cellular level.

The takeaway: Grey hair isn’t just about ageing – it may be your body’s way of quietly keeping you safe. Appreciate those silver strands, they might be your body’s built-in defence against cancer.

References: Science Alert; Techworm