A syndrome would turn hair gray in just one night. But how does it work and what causes it? Explanation.
Imagine waking up one morning and discovering hair in the mirror that has lost all its chromatic shine. This phenomenon, as fascinating as it is frightening, shakes up all the codes of hair biology that we know. While we usually track the appearance of our first silver threads over the years, this devastating discoloration can strike in just a few hours. But make no mistake: behind what seems like a cruel magic trick lies a very real chain reaction deep within our cells, where the nervous system can radically transform our appearance.
It all began in 1793. According to legend, Queen Marie-Antoinette, wife of King Louis XVI, saw her hair turn white from shock the night before her execution. So, true historical fact, or simple myth? Over the years, other cases have been reported: that of Thomas More in 1535, where it is said that his hair turned white the night before his execution, again. According to medical reports, some Air Force pilots experienced the same phenomenon during World War II. Thus, this condition is called Marie Antoinette Syndrome. If graying of hair is a natural process, as we age the melanin pigments responsible for hair color diminish, this condition is however not linked to age.
One could believe in a totally incomprehensible and supernatural manifestation. However, according to health professionals, Marie-Antoinette syndrome has a very logical explanation. “The most popular theory is that it is a rare form of alopecia areata, a hair loss condition where the immune system directly attacks the pigment cells nestled in the hair follicles.“, explains Dr. Chesahna Kindred, dermatologist, to the American media Harper’s Bazaar. Roughly explained, in this type of syndrome, it is not the hair that magically changes color, but rather a selective loss: the colored hair falls out, leaving only the “white” ones already present. This is what creates this optical effect suggesting premature and extremely sudden whitening of hair. In the rare cases that doctors have been able to analyze, canities parfait, its scientific name, has been associated with extreme and intense stress, notes an expert trichologist.
So, if science has long debunked the myth, hair fiber specialists are today unanimous: a major psychological shock can literally short-circuit our scalp. Since doctors are still trying to unravel the mystery of its root causes, there is currently no miracle cure to counter Marie-Antoinette syndrome. However, Dr Kindred points out that a very promising report from Spain shows positive results to reverse the trend. So to be continued.
