Grey hair could mean more than just becoming older. A recent study says that it could mean that the body is fighting off melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer.
Researchers found that when melanocyte stem cells, which make pigment in hair follicles, are injured, they leave the body instead of dividing, according to Women’s Health yesterday.
If they kept splitting, they may help tumors grow.
Yasuaki Mohri, the primary author of the study and an assistant professor at The University of Tokyo, said, “The risk of melanoma goes down at the same time that grey hair grows.”
In October 2025, Nature Cell Biology released a study that looked at melanocyte stem cells in animals that had been exposed to cancer-causing chemicals.
The cells either left the body, which caused grey hair, or kept dividing, which might cause tumors.
Mohri said that this procedure “works as a protective mechanism against melanoma,” getting rid of cells that could be malignant from the hair follicle.
Experts, on the other hand, warned that having gray hair doesn’t mean you’re safe from skin cancer.
Ife J. Rodney, a dermatologist and the head of Eternal Dermatology + Aesthetics, said, “When these cells are gone, you get grey hair, but other things still affect your risk of melanoma.”
Gary Goldenberg, an assistant clinical professor at Mount Sinai, said, “Just because you have gray hair doesn’t mean you’re safe.” A lot of people with silver strands still get melanoma.
Some things that can increase your risk are getting sunburned, being in the sun a lot, having pale skin, having a family history of skin cancer, and using tanning beds.
Doctors stressed the need of protecting yourself from the sun. Rodney remarked, “It’s very important to protect yourself from the sun,” and he also said that further research on people is needed.
“Don’t let your gray hair make you think you have a higher risk of melanoma or make you change how you act.” He said, “Sunscreen is still important.”
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