My cousin just passed away in May 2004. He was 34 years old. Didn't smoke or do drugs, and was a very active individual. An autopsy was performed (not all results are in). What we have been told thus far is, he died from an enlarged heart, blocked artery and was morbid obese. My question is, his hair in life was very very blonde, but after his death and the autopsy it was very dark and rusted looking near the scalp with a little blonde left on the ends. Would his condition case this or is this due to the autopsy? Should we be concerned? Thank you to anybody who can help.

fj

The color of the hair that has grown out of the scalp can be changed by external influences only. There is no disease to my knowledge, that can bring about this change in hair colour.
Could it be that the hair was fatty? Maybe it was dirty?
I do not know if pathologists use substances that can change hair colour.
If a body is preserved in formaldehyde, this could change the hair colour to reddish or blond, but the skin would be coloured dark also and it smells very strong.
Are you sure your cousin did not just bleach his hair and had stopped bleaching it during his illness?

homegirl1234

Thank you for your email, I very much appreciate your help. In answer to your questions. No his hair was not fatty, it was also clean.

Also, he died at home, then was taken to a local hospital to be pronounced. It was after he arrived at the hospital that we noticed his strange hair color.

I don't feel that his body was preserved in formaldehyde, (his body was returned the next day, after autopsy). Also, his skin was gray, as you know due to the lack of oxygen, (this I understand).

As for hair coloring, he was always a very natural blonde and never used hair dye.

Again thank you!

emporor008

Sorry to hear about your cousin