الفهرس 
Premature Hair GrayingOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Background: Stress can be defined as “a state of bodily or mental tension resulting from factors that tend to alter an existent equilibrium. Skin and hair pigmentation systems are also significant elements of the response to stress. Stress can be assessed by several scales. Perceived chronic stress can be measured by the German version of the Trier Inventory for the Assessment of chronic Stress. Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between chronic stress and level of hair cortisol in cases of premature hair graying. Subjects: This study included two groups: the first group included 20 subjects with premature hair graying. They were 10 males and 10 females with ages ranging from 18 to 30 years in males and from 23 to 30 years in females. The second group included 20 sex matched subjects with normal hair color as controls. They were 10 males and 10 females with ages ranges from 18 to 30 years. An informed consent was taken from all subjects before participating in the work. Results: The results of the present study showed a significantly higher mean age among patients with premature hair graying than controls as a whole and also among female patients than female controls, suggesting an important role of age in premature hair graying. Also, the present study demonstrated a significantly higher percentage of positive family history among patients with premature hair graying than controls and in female patients than female controls. Moreover, our results concerning the interpretation of life events questionnaire and showing a significantly higher percentage of moderate and high risk of illness in patients of premature hair graying than in controls as a whole and in male patients than male controls, suggest a role for psychological stressors and lack of coping with them in the occurrence of premature hair graying. Conclusion: In conclusion, the present work shows a relation between psychological stressors and lack of coping with them with premature hair graying especially in males. This lack of coping seems not to be related to hair cortisol level at least on the long term level. Increasing age and positive family history are possibly important factors in premature hair graying. Recommendations: Our recommendations include further studies on hair cortisol level in male subjects (normal and with premature hair graying).