Can stress turn hair white?

Yes, stress can indeed cause hair to turn white. Andrew Huberman explains that when you are highly stressed, there is an increase in the release of adrenaline to the hair follicles. This activates peroxide groups in the follicles, causing the hair to turn gray or white. This effect is in addition to the natural graying that occurs with aging 1.

Furthermore, chronic stress contributes to the depletion of melanocyte stem cells in the follicles, which also leads to graying. Strategies like managing stress through consistent practices or getting ample sunlight can help mitigate this effect 2.