Q I'm in my 30s working night shifts in Dong-gu, Incheon. My sleep is irregular — could this affect alopecia areata?
A Lack of sleep and irregular sleep weaken the ability to regulate the immune system and can worsen alopecia areata. Finding a regular sleep rhythm is important for improving treatment results.
Detailed Answer
During sleep the immune system reorganizes and growth hormone is secreted, allowing the follicles to recover. When the sleep rhythm collapses due to night-shift work, immune regulation declines and the autoimmune reaction becomes more readily activated. Even if it is hard to avoid shift work entirely, small habits help — refraining from smartphone use before bed, keeping the sleeping environment dark, and maintaining a regular bedtime.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
Overwork and lack of sleep rapidly deplete Qi and blood. In Korean medicine, Blood Deficiency with Wind-Dryness tends to improve quickly when sleep quality is raised. Combining herbal medicine to replenish Qi and blood with correcting the sleep rhythm keeps treatment results more stable.
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