My mother has developed a lung condition which the doctor has just performed a biopsy to determine if it is cancer or another condition( keeping my fingers crossed) Her hair was all white (grey) and over the last week or so has been returning to it's natural color of black. There has been no change in diet or other pathology. The reason for the question is that my fathers hair about a month prior to his death returned to it's natural color as well. And I have noticed this change in others that are not related to my family in anyway. My girlfriends grand mother who died in her eighties had silver hair and weeks prior to her death her hair started to return to her natural red color can and one explain this to me. It's a quest for understanding the pathology

I've never heard this before and it's not my experience - other than an old wives tale.

You have actually seen this?

Read #8 here - and DrBill IS an expert. https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/forens...olor-2044.html

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Originally Posted by Dojin

.... It's a quest for understanding the pathology

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What more can you tell me about this? Is it the entire length of the hair or new hair growing in. Sections on or across the scalp?

Hair grows about 6" per year and once the shaft is out of the follicle it does not change color, the part you see is dead cells. Short of dying hair the only way hair changes color is over time.

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Originally Posted by Dojin

It's a quest for understanding the pathology

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Hair color changes, particularly of premature graying as a result of disease, have been noted in numerous studies. The fact that hair can lighten or even become more reddish seems to be an accepted though poorly understood phenomenon. These lightening effects are attributed to alteration or modification of melanin production within the follicle. But to my surprise there are conditions and/or procedures that can darken gray hair as well.

D J Cline (1988), University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, reported that “Gray hair may temporarily darken after inflammatory processes, after electron-beam-induced alopecia, and after some chemotherapy regimens.” Cline also mentions PABA (para-aminobenzoic acid) as being associated with darkening of gray hair. [This study abstract only, online]

Naturally occurring gray hair usually results from the diminution or death of melanin producing stem cells in the hair follicle resulting in non-pigmented growth. Cline also states that the darkening of color is temporary and the hair will return to original color post-treatment. This would seem to indicate that the color change is exogenous (outside influence) and/or produced by the treatment as opposed to regenerating melanin production. However, recent research first published in 2008, indicates that these color producing cells can and have been regenerated. (This is the only other study on darkening of hair)

Alpha melanocyte-stimulating hormone tripeptide [K(D)PT], is currently being developed as an anti-inflammatory, and it was also noted to restore color to grey and white hair and is now being considered for treatment of conditions causing loss of hair color.

So, contrary to what I was taught, what you have described can and does occur. The cellular mechanism has not been defined and the absence of scientific literature demonstrates it has been accorded little attention whether as a result of treatment or as a potential symptom of disease. That lack of attention means that there are undoubtedly other physiologic avenues to this result yet to be detected.

I suppose about all I have accomplished is to reaffirm your observation without being able to define the cause or even provide further direction. But that's all there is.

The hair is changing color from the shaft outwards. It has not increased in length other then normal growth and I due understand the literature posted as it is. But this does not change what I am seeing or the physical changes as well. I can only comment on what I am seeing at this point as I no longer have the other cases I mentioned to compare for obvious reasons. Her hair seems to be healthier as well and seems softer and less brittle. At this point the team of doctors have offered no treatment for her condition as they as of yet have no proper prognosis

I also forgot to mention my mother has allergies and only washes her hair with an olive oil based shampoo as this is the only product that doesn't cause her to have a reaction. She has been using the same product for over two years without any color change prior to this point. Due to the allergies she is unable to die her hair either,and I don't believe I can remember her ever dying her hair

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Originally Posted by JudyKayTee

I've never heard this before and it's not my experience - other than an old wives tale.

You have actually seen this?

Read #8 here - and DrBill IS an expert. https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/forens...olor-2044.html

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I believe the old wives tales because at the time doctors and midwives visited the homes of there patients and noted the differences in there patients. Not to knock today's physician But in my area I can only see my doctor after I call and wait several weeks for an appointment as most doctors here have over 1000 patients in family practice they really can't take the time to notice anything other then the symptoms as given by the patient . Old DOC Coruthers would drive by everyday on his way home and not have to see me every three to four weeks after I kept my specialists appointments

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Originally Posted by dojin

Her hair seems to be healthier as well and seems softer and less brittle.

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My hair has become much softer and finer (but no color change) since the three times I was under anesthesiology late last year. I Googled with all sorts of keywords to find an answer for this; emotional stress seems to be a major part of the equation.

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Originally Posted by Dojin

I believe the old wives tales because at the time doctors and midwives visited the homes of there patients and noted the differences in there patients. Not to knock today's physician But in my area I can only see my doctor after I call and wait several weeks for an appointment as most doctors here have over 1000 patients in family practice they really can't take the time to notice anything other then the symptoms as given by the patient . Old DOC Coruthers would drive by everyday on his way home and not have to see me every three to four weeks after I kept my specialists appointments

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Much wisdom is contained in the ancient annals of medicine that has been cast aside or ignored. And you have struck on the very reason that hair color changes wouldn't be noted by modern physicians. If you had the time to read any of the foregoing it is clear that these changes can occur and knowing that it is a matter of associating the change with some cause.

The only cause I see might be the olive oil shampoo. I see that PABA is often used in conjunction with olive oil in sun screens. If you would get me a brand name I could look for ingredients. It would not, in my opinion, be that the shampoo was coloring the hair externally but that it was diffusing into the hair follicle. I'm intrigued with your observations and will certainly follow through to try and find an answer.

I don't by the way believe that such hair color change is a premonition of death. But there probably is a physical cause for this that no one has paid any attention to.

The only cause I see might be the olive oil shampoo. I see that PABA is often used in conjunction with olive oil in sun screens

I have checked this but as stated the changes have only taken place in the past two weeks I can take a picture and share a before and after if you would like

The only cause I see might be the olive oil shampoo. I see that PABA is often used in conjunction with olive oil in sun screens. If you would get me a brand name I could look for ingredients. It would not, in my opinion, be that the shampoo was coloring the hair externally but that it was diffusing into the hair follicle. I'm intrigued with your observations and will certainly follow through to try and find an answer.


I have checked the ingredients ( and as stated the product has been in use for 2 years with no color change) and even checked her diet regimen over the past month and nothing has changed there nor as stated earlier has she started any new medication nor herbal remedies and These changes have only taken place over the last week or two. My girlfriend cut my mums hair and it was gray threw to the roots know it is almost black to the tips I have a picture of her taken at this time and will take another in a week for comparison and will forward them to you if you would like. And I also know that this change is not a for runner of death but it is why I noticed it in the first place I am keeping an eye out for changes in color in my older friends to see if I can correlate any relevance to treatments or medication they may be taking

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Originally Posted by Dojin

I have checked the ingredients ( and as stated the product has been in use for 2 years with no color change) and even checked her diet regimen over the past month and nothing has changed there nor as stated earlier has she started any new medication nor herbal remedies and These changes have only taken place over the last week or two. My girlfriend cut my mums hair and it was gray threw to the roots know it is almost black to the tips I have a picture of her taken at this time and will take another in a week for comparison and will forward them to you if you would like. And I also know that this change is not a for runner of death but it is why I noticed it in the first place I am keeping an eye out for changes in color in my older friends to see if I can correlate any relevance to treatments or medication they may be taking

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"These changes have only taken place over the last week or two"

Just so I completely understand this. Two weeks ago your mothers hair was completely gray and now it is black "almost to the tips" That's a very short period and the color is expanding faster than growth which would indicate it is not related to melanin production.

If I keep going over things it's because I have never been confronted with a problem involving hair color change. I also must have missed class the day we studied hair growth as I have to keep referring to text.

At any rate, please reaffirm the timing as above, I'd still like to know the brand on the shampoo (if for no other reason to rule it out as cause or combination), and when you get the pictures I'd be very interested in seeing them.

You also state that she has not started any new medication. Is she taking any medication at all, including natural products, and if so what?

Thanks. Bill

I searched a number of 19th century medical publications for canities (graying of hair). One 1879 publication titled The Hair lists 5 cases of gray hair returning to youthful color. It cites cases from 1774-1879. While there are several other cases they deal with premature canities, sudden whitening, that subsequently returns to normal.
Nonetheless here is a link to the referenced publication.

Leonard, C. H. (1879) The Hair. See P. 127

If you're interested in reviewing these old texts you can go to Google Books search by topic and then word search the entire text. I used to have to order these, taking a month or more, and then review them through and through. This is a great service.

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Originally Posted by DrBill100

"These changes have only taken place over the last week or two"

Just so I completely understand this. Two weeks ago your mothers hair was completely gray and now it is black "almost to the tips" That's a very short period of time and the color is expanding faster than growth which would indicate it is not related to melanin production.

If I keep going over things it's because I have never been confronted with a problem involving hair color change. I also must have missed class the day we studied hair growth as I have to keep referring to text.

At any rate, please reaffirm the timing as above, I'd still like to know the brand on the shampoo (if for no other reason to rule it out as cause or combination), and when you get the pictures I'd be very interested in seeing them.

You also state that she has not started any new medication. Is she taking any medication at all, including natural products, and if so what?

Thanks. Bill

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The name of the hair product I listed is Neolia it is made in Montreal CAN she has borderline Diabetes no meds it is diet controlled and high cholesterol which she is taking Crestor (rosuvastatin) which she has been on for about 2 years as well. As too the timing what I listed is correct it seems to have happened over a two week period I was with her yesterday and the back of her head is know almost completely black all that remains of the white hair is in the front right and left quadrants with the roots being black to about an inch from the scalp and the remainder being white any more questions I have not clarified please don't hesitate to ask

Spontaneous repigmentation of gray hair.

Archives of Dermatology, January 2010 Vol. 146 No 1 reports on a case of a 67 yo male that experienced spontaneous repigmentation. The author found as I did that reports on this condition are few but he states that “it may not be as rare as assumed.” I don't have access to this publication but a copy of the article (containing photos) can be purchased for $30 (see link below). I'm sure you can also obtain a copy at any medical school library, at no cost, if there is one near you. This is the only other reference found that corresponds with your observations.

Link to brief abstract: Arch Dermatol -- Reversal of Canities, January 2010, Navarini and Treb 146 (1): 103

.Thanks Dr. Bill.. I heard of this from someone else and was going to ask you...

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Originally Posted by DrBill100

Spontaneous repigmentation of gray hair.

Archives of Dermatology, January 2010 Vol. 146 No 1 reports on a case of a 67 yo male that experienced spontaneous repigmentation. The author found as I did that reports on this condition are few but he states that “it may not be as rare as assumed.” I don't have access to this publication but a copy of the article (containing photos) can be purchased for $30 (see link below). I'm sure you can also obtain a copy at any medical school library, at no cost, if there is one near you. This is the only other reference found that corresponds with your observations.

Link to brief abstract: Arch Dermatol -- Reversal of Canities, January 2010, Navarini and Treb 146 (1): 103

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Ask a reference librarian at your local public library. The article can be obtained through them too. Ask about any cost or fees.

I just checked. It's available via FirstSearch. Here's the citation (and give the librarian the OCLC number mentioned at the bottom of the citation) --

# Availability: Libraries worldwide that own item: 1116
Author(s): Navarini, Alexander A. ; Trüeb, Ralph M.
Title: Reversal of Canities
Source: Archives of dermatology. 146, no. 1, (January 2010): 103 (2 pages)
Additional Info: American Medical Association.
Alt Journal: Key Title: Archives of dermatology (1960) Preceding Title: A.M.A. archives of dermatology
Standard No: ISSN: 0003-987X CODEN: ARDEAC
OCLC No: 1482124
Database: ArticleFirst