Marie Antoinette Syndrome

Marie Antoinette syndrome referred to the sudden whitening of scalp hair, a phenomenon historically associated with extreme stress or trauma, as in the case of Queen Marie Antoinette before her execution. Although rare, this condition, also known as canities subita, was thought to be an acute episode of diffuse alopecia areata, where the rapid graying resulted from the selective loss of pigmented hair due to an immune-mediated disorder. A case study of a 54-year-old woman demonstrated this syndrome when her hair turned white within weeks without any significant stress or hair loss, despite successful treatment for alopecia areata. The underlying cause of this syndrome remained unexplained, with some experts suggesting a link to the melanin pigment system in alopecia areata.