Campaign trail has turned Barack Obama grey!

New York, August 20 : While one may consider serving as the President of the United States to be a nerve-wracking experience, it seems that even campaigning for the presidential elections may leave people with grey hair, as has happened with Barack Obama.

The presumptive nominee of the Democratic Party himself joked about how his hair showing more salt than pepper after 18 months of campaigning for the White House, while addressing voters.

"When I started this campaign, everybody called me a young man -- they're not calling me that anymore," the New York Daily News quoted the freshman Illinois senator, who turned 47 this month, as saying during a recent campaign stop.

"I'm getting gray hair. Running for President will age you quick," he told voters.

Obama's grey hair appeared prominent when he was captured in close-up at Saturday's nationally televised 'Civil Forum' in California.

Barber Zariff, who has been cutting Obama's hair in Chicago for the past 15 years, has revealed that the first time he observed his hair turning grey was about two or three years ago.

"It's been gradual. It hasn't been all of a sudden. It's the norm for his age group," said the barber.

He even revealed that Obama never asked him to snip out the flecks of gray.

"I don't think he's trying to hide anything. He's proud of the few gray hairs he does have. When I was coming up, we were told it was a sign of wisdom," he said.

Meanwhile, a campaign aide has confirmed that Obama has never dyed his hair.

Hank Sheinkopf, a Democratic strategist, said: "It's an absolute benefit for him. Gray hair helps because it makes people look like they're older, and in his case he needs it."

A geriatrician has, however, insists that Obama's grey hair have nothing to do with the rigors of the campaign trail.

"It has nothing to do with stress. It has nothing to with anything, except your genetic milieu. Everybody is programmed to get it at some point in life," Dr. John Burton, professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins University.

Zariff says that Obama's grey might have been more noticeable last weekend because he cut it extra short.

"When it's real shorter, you'll probably see a little bit more (grey). When it's longer, you can't really tell that much," he said.

ANI