Rapid Whitening of the Hair First Reported in the Talmud

Possible Mechanisms of This Intriguing Phenomenon

Abstract

The first reported episode of rapid whitening of the hair is recorded in the Talmud. This intriguing phenomenon is explained on the basis of a two-step process. The first step involves the actual abrupt development of white hair due to vitiligo or alopecia areata. The second step involves the apparent sudden whitening of the scalp hair due to either simultaneous lengthening of the white hair or selective loss of the dark hair. In fact, the hair that is perceived as suddenly whitening was already white.