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Sheryl Kraft

Sheryl Kraft, a freelance writer and breast cancer survivor, was born in Long Beach, New York. She currently lives in Connecticut with her husband Alan and dog Chloe, where her nest is empty of her two sons Jonathan. Sheryl writes articles and essays on breast cancer and contributes to a variety of publications and websites where she writes on general health and wellness issues. She earned her MFA in writing from Sarah Lawrence College in 2005.

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Not An Old Wive's Tale: Stress Can Cause Gray Hair

Self-Care & Mental Health

Did your mother or grandmother ever tell you that all the stress in their lives was turning their hair gray? And did you laugh at them, thinking it was just an old wive's tale? Well, now that many of us are going gray, you may want to tell them that you're sorry for laughing.

Researchers have discovered a relationship between stress and DNA. According to scientists at Tokyo Medical and Dental University, hair follicles can become damaged by stress and stop producing pigment. They said that anything that can limit the stress "might stop the graying from happening."

In the past, an association between stress and gray hair has been theorized but never proven. But it was always believed that genes play a larger part in the development of gray hair than does stress; and that stress can indeed be responsible for hair loss

All the more reason, I think, to take charge of your stress. It might help minimize those trips to the hairdresser! (Although if you're one of the lucky ones who looks great with gray hair - I personally am not - don't sweat the gray. But please still do take care of your stress!)

Click here for more stress-busting advice.

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