Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Rapidly Greying Hair While On Gluten Challenge?

greenbeanie

Recommended Posts

greenbeanie Enthusiast
greenbeanie
Posted

This sounds strange, but I'm only 37 years old (female), and prematurely greying hair does not run in my family. I've been doing a gluten challenge for the last month, and I swear that I'm getting a dozen new grey hairs every day. It's definitely not my imagination - others have noticed my hair changing color too.

 

My hair is normally dark brown, and it's short so the grey is pretty noticeable. I've had the occasional hair grow in grey since my early 30's, but I've gotten more in the last few weeks than in the previous seven years combined! I've been gluten-light for most of my adulthood (though not suspecting celiac until recently), but for the past month I've had moderate amounts of wheat every day in preparation for testing.

 

Could gluten really be causing my hair to turn grey so quickly?  That sounds so crazy...Perhaps it's just the stress from the tests. I've been waiting a week for my blood test results (no news yet), and I have another month to wait before I see the GI doctor. If gluten is causing this, I'm afraid my whole head will be grey by then!

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


notme Experienced
notme
Posted

since i have been gluten free, my hair isn't as gray as it used to be.  at all.  and it doesn't break and split as easily.  i have been able to grow it (lengthwise) longer than i have been able to since i was a teenager.  i think it's because my healed intestines are able to absorb the nutrients that i wasn't getting before.  i can go 6-8 wks without coloring it (i am 50) instead of 4-6 because it just isn't as gray.  so, if i had to guess, yup, it's gluten  :(  

pricklypear1971 Community Regular
pricklypear1971
Posted

Yes.

Hypothyroidism is also known to cause premature greying and grey eyebrows. I've had both...

powerofpositivethinking Community Regular
powerofpositivethinking
Posted

I continue to be amazed at all the connections to gluten, nutrient absorption and how they show in the human body.  i love that on this site, you can post what's happening with your body, and it's so comforting to hear you're not the only one  :)  

 

although I can't relate with premature greying, i can believe that the connection between a gluten challenge and grey exists despite if there are no PubMed articles to back it up  :lol:

Jestgar Rising Star
Jestgar
Posted

Premature greying and autoimmune disease is a connection that's pretty well known in the medical field.  I saw a photo once of two identical twins; one had an AI and the other didn't.  The difference in their appearance was amazing.

bartfull Rising Star
bartfull
Posted

Mom (who had celiac) went gray almost overnight. At least it seemed that way. I can't remember now if it was before or after her celiac diagnosis.

 

As a side note, I notice you spell it grEy. I know I must sound crazy, but I DO have a touch of synesthsia, and to me, grAy was always a bluish gray, and grEy was a more brownish grey. As a matter fo fact, I am having my house painted grAY, even as we type.

 

OK, enough of my foolishness, back to our regularly scheduled topic...

Fire Fairy Enthusiast
Fire Fairy
Posted

39 and lots of white hair. Color every two weeks with Henna, white roots show up far to well.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


pricklypear1971 Community Regular
pricklypear1971
Posted

39 and lots of white hair. Color every two weeks with Henna, white roots show up far to well.

You and me both!!! Ugh.

Dozey Apprentice
Dozey
Posted

Hi, have you been tested for b12 deficiency. It can cause premature greying.

Jo

GottaSki Mentor
GottaSki
Posted

I have gone prematurely gray twice!!!  Once in my early 40s prior to diagnosis -- the graying slowed about 2.5 years gluten-free (timing of my complete elimination diet) --- sadly I had a few very bad autoimmune flares during years 3-4 and I went nearly gray ---

 

Good NEWs -- I haven't had to dye my roots in over three months and I have only a few grays around my ears -- seems it really is an indication of absorbing nutrients properly that returns with healing -- at least in my case.  Oh and my hair is less wiry and once again simply toooo wavy!

frieze Community Regular
frieze
Posted

copper....probably not absorbing it well.

GottaSki Mentor
GottaSki
Posted

take your pick...I wasn't absorbing B12 D, K, Copper, and Zinc in both instances.

Fire Fairy Enthusiast
Fire Fairy
Posted

Oh deer! I thought once white always white so I was not concerned. My hair is just getting whiter. One Grandmother went White in her 20's. The other still had a lot of Black hair when she passed at 93. Before being diagnosed I thought the white was just genetic.

GottaSki Mentor
GottaSki
Posted

Oh deer! I thought once white always white so I was not concerned. My hair is just getting whiter. One Grandmother went White in her 20's. The other still had a lot of Black hair when she passed at 93. Before being diagnosed I thought the white was just genetic.

 

It can be genetic -- I have a friend that went white in his 20s...he remains the picture of health in every way.

 

just saying for me...seems it was an indication of malabsorption :)

greenbeanie Enthusiast
greenbeanie
Posted
  • Author

Well, nice to know I'm not alone, at least!

 

I did get some blood test results today - I'll post that on a separate thread. I'd also requested vitamin level tests (incl. B12, K, magnesium, zinc, and copper), but my doctor wouldn't run them. Hopefully the GI doctor that I'm seeing next month will agree to run the vitamin and mineral tests.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,894
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Lostcha
    Newest Member
    Lostcha
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      Patiently Waiting to See Results

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      You've done an excellent job of meticulously tracking the rash's unpredictable behavior, from its symmetrical spread and stubborn scabbing to the potential triggers you've identified, like the asthma medication and dietary changes. It's particularly telling that the rash seems to flare with wheat consumption, even though your initial blood test was negative—as you've noted, being off wheat before a test can sometimes lead to a false negative, and your description of the other symptoms—joint pain, brain fog, stomach issues—is very compelling. The symmetry of the rash is a crucial detail that often points toward an internal cause, such as an autoimmune response or a systemic reaction, rather than just an external irritant like a plant or mites. I hope your doctor tomorrow takes the time to listen carefully to all of this evidence you've gathered and works with you to find some real answers and effective relief. Don't be discouraged if the rash fluctuates; your detailed history is the most valuable tool you have for getting an accurate diagnosis.
    • Scott Adams
      Gluten free beer ?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      In this case the beer is excellent, but for those who are super sensitive it is likely better to go the full gluten-free beer route. Lakefront Brewery (another sponsor!) has good gluten-free beer made without any gluten ingredients.
    • trents
      Patiently Waiting to See Results

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome to the forum, @catsrlife! Celiac disease can be diagnosed without committing to a full-blown "gluten challenge" if you get a skin biopsy done during an active outbreak of dermatitis herpetiformis, assuming that is what is causing the rash. There is no other known cause for dermatitis herpetiformis so it is definitive for celiac disease. You would need to find a dermatologist who is familiar with doing the biopsy correctly, however. The samples need to be taken next to the pustules, not on them . . . a mistake many dermatologists make when biopsying for dermatitis herpetiformis. 
    • trents
      How Come Gluten Didnt Bother Me In Italy

      By trents · Posted

      You state in an earlier post that you don't have celiac disease. Here in this post you state you will "be doing another test". What will this test be looking for? What kind of celiac disease testing have you had done? If you have used a Entero Labs it sounds like you have had stool testing done for celiac disease which is not widely accepted as a valid celiac disease diagnostic testing method. Have you had blood antibody testing for celiac disease done and do you realize that for antibody testing to be valid you must have been eating generous amounts of gluten for a period of weeks/months? 
    • Gigi2025
      How Come Gluten Didnt Bother Me In Italy

      By Gigi2025 · Posted

      No, I've not been diagnosed as celiac.  Despite Entero Labs being relocated to Switzerland/Greece, I'll be doing another test. After eating wheat products in Greece for 4 weeks, there wasn't any reaction.  However, avoiding it here in the states.   Thanks everyone for your responses.  
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.