Working For More Than 52 Hours In A Week Can Cause Hair Fall Twice As Quickly, Says Study

According to a new study, researchers have found out that working for more than 52 hours in a week can cause your hair to shed twice as quickly.

Researchers in Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine in Seoul, South Korea have compiled and compared working hours and hair fall patterns in men simultaneously to reach this conclusion.

The Ladders

Scientists found out that men who work for more than 52 hours a week lost their hair at twice the speed compared to men who work for 40 hours or less.

The research examined more than 13,000 employed men, to specifically check the impact of long working hours on their hair.

Readers Digest

The study also touched areas related to catagen, a resting phase marking the end of the active growth of hair, claiming that stress is the biggest factor that leads you to that stage.

This then leads to the formation of a bald spot after the older hair fall out.

Telegraph UK

The examiners split people into 3 specific groups – those who work equal to or less than 40 hours (normal), those who work more than 40 hours or up to 52 hours (long) and those who worked more than 52 hours (much longer)

Age, marital status, education, monthly household income, smoking, and work schedule were also factored in.

Family Doctor

Ultimately it was found out that long working hours significantly led to the development of alopecia, or hair loss.

Researchers also claimed that stress and other age-related factors damage hair follicles limiting the active growth of hair.

Healthline

The research’s lead author, Kyung-Hun Son said:

Limitation of working hours in order to prevent alopecia development may be more necessary from younger workers, such as those in the 20s and 30s, at which hair loss symptoms start to appear. Preventive interventions to promote appropriate and reasonable working hours are required in our society.

Bio Informant

The research has been welcomed by leading UK hair restoration surgeon Dr Bessam Farjo, who warns stress can often be the trigger for other types of hair loss, too.