Tips For Dealing With Postpartum Hair Loss
If you’re losing hair since giving birth, there are some things you can do about it:
- Get the right nutrients. Keep your hair healthy by eating well and continuing to take your prenatal vitamin supplement.
- Go easy on your hair. Be extra gentle to prevent excess hair loss after pregnancy. Shampoo only when necessary , and use a good conditioner and a wide-toothed comb to minimize tangling.
- Choose the right accessories. Use scrunchies or barrettes to put hair up instead of elastic bands and don’t pull hair into tight ponytails.
- Turn down the heat. Skip blow-dryers, curling and flat irons if you can.
- Take a break from chemically based treatments. Put off any highlights, perms and straightening sessions until the shedding stops.
- Talk to your practitioner if your hair loss is excessive. When it’s accompanied by other symptoms, hair loss after pregnancy could be a sign of postpartum thyroiditis.
How Much Hair Loss Is Normal And How Much Is Expected During Postpartum
Leyla says, While many women experience improvement in their hair quality during pregnancy , the majority experience hair loss after they have delivered their baby.
She adds that, on average, men and women lose about 50-100 hairs each day. However, during post-partum new moms can shed approx. 400 hairs a day. In general, it takes around three months for your pregnancy growth to fall out, so many women start to notice hair loss at this stage. After approx 3-6 months post-partum, hair loss should regulate and return to normal levels. If the shedding does not slow down after six months, it could be signaling other health issues, so be sure to tell your doctor. For example, pregnancy can change your ferritin levels and, therefore, can disrupt your thyroid levels, which need to be monitored closely by your doctor.
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Faq: Does Breastfeeding Cause Postpartum Hair Loss
Postpartum hair loss is a normal and temporary postpartum change that is unrelated to breastfeeding. Most women will return to their usual hair growth cycle between 6 and 12 months after birth.
Many new moms notice hair loss sometimes quite dramatic around three months postpartum. This is a normal and temporary postpartum change that is unrelated to breastfeeding.
Following is how the hair growth cycle works:
All hair has a growth phase, termed anagen, and a resting phase, telogen. On the scalp, anagen lasts approximately 3 years, while telogen lasts roughly 3 months, although there can be wide variation in these times between individuals. During telogen, the resting hair remains in the follicle until it is pushed out by growth of a new anagen hair.
from Telogen Effluvium by Elizabeth CW Hughes, MD
Normally, around 85-95% of your hair is in the growth phase at any point in time, but the hormonal changes during pregnancy stimulate an increase in the percentage of hairs in the growth phase. As a result, many women enjoy thicker hair during pregnancy, as more hairs than normal are growing and fewer than normal are resting/shedding.
With the birth of your baby , a larger number of hairs than normal enter the resting phase. Since the resting phase is followed by hair shedding , new mothers will experience greater than normal hair loss once the resting phase ends.
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How To Prevent Postpartum Hair Loss
Can you stop postpartum hair loss? Probably not, but you might be able to control it. According to Dr. Shah, good nutrition is essential after giving birth, and it can help keep your hair strong, healthy, and intact . Don’t skimp on your protein and iron intake!
That said, if the shedding seems out of the ordinary, you may want to check with your doctor. They may test you for thyroid disorders or other health issues.
Things You Can Do To Reduce Hair Loss
Take care of yourself, physically and mentally. The postpartum period is so incredibly wonderful but also tough!
Lack of sleep and hormonal changes can wreak havoc on your mind, health, and spirit. Baby blues often appear during this time and while you may not feel that you have any second to nurture yourself, try to!
Accept help from family and friends so you can take a nap, shower, or just have 20 minutes to focus on yourself for a moment.
- Stress can play a part in hair loss so make sure to take some time for you each day!
- Get in the habit of going outside each day for a walk being in nature boosts your mood and energy
- Continue to take your prenatal or postnatal vitamins
- Dont wash your hair every day
- Use scrunchies instead of tight elastic bands
- Avoid coloring or bleaching your hair until the shedding stops
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Permanent Diffuse Hair Loss Until Correction Of The Cause
Numerous imbalances can cause permanent hair loss, such as iron deficiency, an underactive thyroid, other hormonal imbalances, some medications, continual stress, liver or kidney problems in fact, any imbalance that reaches the hair through the blood can cause this type of hair loss.
The only way to treat this is to correct the underlying imbalance. Once addressed, the hair loss will slow after two or three months, before fully recovering.
When Should I See My Healthcare Provider
Talk with your provider if you continue to lose hair for more than six months. You might have another condition that causes hair loss, such as iron deficiency or thyroid disease.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Adjusting to having a new baby can be stressful. Postpartum hair loss can cause additional stress and anxiety. But hair loss after childbirth is normal and very common. And while you cant prevent it, the right hair products and hairstyle can help while youre waiting for your hair to grow back. By your babys first birthday, your hair should be full again.
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How To Prevent Hair Loss After Pregnancy: The Ultimate Postpartum Hair Loss Guide
If your hair is falling out in clumps it can be nerve-wracking and cause you to panic.
Hair loss after pregnancy is common, but that doesnt mean you have to put up with it.
This article will provide you with tips on how to prevent hair loss after pregnancy and help you maintain its healthy state.
How Can You Treat Postpartum Hair Loss
“Rest assured, with time, hair mostly returns to normal, without intervention, expensive lotions or potions,” points out Dr Dhoat. “There is no compelling evidence for specific hair oils or serums, although if they provide the confidence pep you need, they do no harm.”
Sharing her “top tips to feel good whilst your hair regains its equilibrium” the expert advises using volume-enhancing shampoo and conditioner, as well as looking for conditioners that are formulated for fine hair this should be “applied primarily to the ends, to avoid weighing your hair down.” Dr Dhoat also recommends avoiding tight hairstyles and chemical or heat treatments as this adds “further strain”.
This article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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Reduce Stress And Make Time To Relax
Being a mom is stressful, especially if this is your first baby. You go from having all your spare time being just for you to juggling work and parenthood. Free time and a good nights sleep often is a thing of the past.
Even though youre deeply in love with your baby, its stressful for both your body and mind. Try to get your partner on board with giving you a little bit of relaxation time, even if its just 30 minutes so you can enjoy a long hot bath. Or ask them to give you one of those scalp massages we mentioned earlier!
What To Do About Postpartum Hair Loss
You can’t prevent postpartum hair loss. It’s a normal part of the recovery from pregnancy. There aren’t any treatments to stop telogen effluvium or to speed up new hair growth. Doctors recommend eating a healthy and balanced diet. This may help hair grow after the shedding phase ends.
The hair you shed after having a baby will grow back over time. However, you may notice that you have a lot of new hairs that are much shorter than the rest of your hair. These are the new strands growing in, and they are a normal part of the postpartum hair growth process.
You may not like the look of your hair during the shedding and regrowth phase. In that case, you can use styling products or techniques to improve the way your hair looks. Try lightweight conditioners to avoid weighing hair down and making it look limp. Volumizing products can make your hair appear fuller. A fresh cut or new color can also improve how your hair looks. Your stylist might be able to suggest styling tips that would help as well.
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Why Does Hair Fall After Pregnancy
Apart from your physical changes, your hormones also go through a rollercoaster ride during and after your pregnancy. During pregnancy, most women experience fuller and thicker hair. This is because of a rise in HCG levels. Your estrogen and progesterone levels are also high during this period.
After you give birth to your child, your body experiences a sudden drop of these hormones. This drop occurs because your body is preparing its hormones to come back to normal. The hair that most women didnt lose during pregnancy tends to fall out now. This makes it appear that you are losing too much hair than usual.
Note:
Estrogen and progesterone are female hormones that support the development of the baby in the mothers womb. A fluctuation in these hormones is also the reason why women get their periods.
Hair Loss In Women Is Particularly Traumatic
Postpartum hair loss usually occurs about three to six months after delivery and can last another six months after that, Dr. Jeff Donovan, a dermatologist and president of the Canadian Hair Loss Foundation, said in an email interview with HuffPost Canada.
While most women experience some hair shedding after giving birth, its particularly noticeable in about 60 to 70 per cent of women, Donovan said. This can be extremely distressing, he added.
As humans, the appearance of our hair is closely linked to how we feel about ourselves. Hair loss commonly impacts self-esteem and body image. Women with hair loss feel less attractive and increasingly self-conscious, Donovan said.
Postpartum hair loss tends to happen at a time when new moms are already stressed, adjusting to life with a baby, recovering physically from childbirth, and at risk for developing a maternal mental illness such as postpartum depression. PPD affects up to 20 per cent of Canadian women during pregnancy and the postpartum period, according to the recently updated Family-Centred Maternity and Newborn Care: National Guidelines from the Government of Canada.
And hair loss in women can be particularly traumatic. Multiple studies have shown that a womans hair tends to be more closely linked to how she feels about herself, compared to a mans relationship with his hair.
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Avoid Heated Styling Tools
Using heated styling tools such as hair dryers and curling irons can cause some hair to break off and fall out. This is because the heat from these tools dries out the natural oils in your hair, making it more brittle and prone to breaking.
If youre looking for a temporary fix, consider buying hair extensions. This will give your hair a fuller look and take the focus away from your postpartum hair loss.
Butterfly clips are also a great option for volume. Just clip them in at the roots and style as usual.
Keep A Good Hair Routine
Contrary to popular belief, washing your hair less will not help with postpartum hair loss. Instead try to keep to a simple hair routine of cleansing, moisturising and simply styling your hair. Make sure you use a mild shampoo and conditioner and please avoid chemicals and heat! Why? Well, heat, chemical straighteners or dyes can leave your mane even dry and more prone to damage.
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What Is Postpartum Hair Loss
Postpartum hair loss occurs post child birth. It usually affects the entire scalp and happens due to hormonal imbalances after pregnancy.
A lot of women tend to associate postpartum hair fall with the stress of having a newborn baby. Well, stress can trigger hair fall. However, in this case, it is more likely that you may be experiencing hair loss due to hormonal fluctuations.
Causes Of Post Partum Hair Loss
There is really one main cause of postpartum hair loss. Since that is the case we will take a more detailed look at the major cause and then look at a myth that is some new moms may believe. Because you go so long during pregnancy without shedding any hair it is not out of the ordinary for you to start shedding when the baby is born.
You may not have even noticed that you didnt shed any hair at all during pregnancy but its true. This leads us to the one main reason you lose hair postpartum.
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Choose The Right Products
Since the hair loss associated with TE and postpartum hair loss tends to be a general thinning all over the head, you might be dealing with less density than youre used to.
Products that are geared toward fine hair will help prevent your locks from being weighed down and looking lifeless. To promote your healthy hair growth, nourish your hair with protein by switching to a volumizing shampoo and avoiding intensive conditioners these will only weigh down your hair, said Dr. Okhah.
VEGAMOUR’s GRO Revitalizing Shampoo, which features a fresh bergamot scent, offers gentle yet effective cleansing with the added bonus of our proprietary vegan silk protein Karmatin and a formulation that promotes thicker, fuller-looking hair.
Other tools to consider adding to your volumizing toolkit could include a great-smelling dry shampoo to help add lift to your roots or a multi-purpose hair foam that can add volume and texture.
Avoid Harsh Styling Methods
It is important during this time to be kind to your hair when it comes to styling. Using harsh styling methods during postpartum hair loss will only make the issue worse. Try to avoid blow-drying your hair, straightening, or anything else that involves excessive heat or brushing.
You may miss it for a short time but you spend that time you wont be spending on your hair doing something else, like cuddling that adorable baby.
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What Causes Postpartum Hair Loss And When Does It Start
Hair will most commonly begin to shed about three months postpartum. After birth, hair is usually stable and then the telogen effluvium or intense hair shedding starts around three to four months postpartum, says Dr. Mariwalla. Unfortunately, that often coincides with poor sleep and overall exhaustion from having a new baby in the house.
This combination can make hair loss an emotional event. It can sometimes make new parents feel vulnerable and uneasy.Dr. Mariwalla tells her patients to remain calm during this time. The key thing is reassurance that they will not go bald but it can take almost a year for all of the hair to grow back, says Dr. Mariwalla.
Unfortunately, there are still questions as to why hair loss happens, aside from the hormone fluctuations new parents experience. What we do know is that hair loss is a very real side effect.
Postpartum telogen effluvium remains understudied and is lacking hard data to prove any theory , says Bridgette Hill, founder of Root Cause Scalp Analysis, and a certified trichologist.The theories range from increased levels of progesterone and increased iron intake to nutritional deficiencies.”
Breastfeeding is also a factor for hair loss, since it can be quite taxing on the body.”Breastfeeding can also impact the hormonal and nutritional balances, which can result in hair shedding, Hill notes.
Dont Panic Postpartum Hair Loss Is Normal
It can be an alarming discovery. Youre going about your regular hair-care routine savoring those moments alone where you can tend to your own self-care. When all of a sudden you look down at your brush and find large clumps of your hair tangled in the bristles!
Dont panicpostpartum hair loss is normal. Learn more about what causes postpartum hair loss, how long it lasts, and some postpartum hair loss remedies to help treat it.
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Additional Tips For Healthy Hair
Once or twice a week, try a leave-in serum to help boost hair production and scalp circulation. The PHYTO Phytocyane Revitalizing Scalp Serum for Temporary Hair Loss is a drug-free, hormone-free formula that has amino acids, B vitamins, and silk proteins to encourage follicle stimulation.
If you don’t use any special shampoos or take vitamins, pay attention to something you probably use daily: your hair brush. One that isnt gentle enough can inflame the scalp and cause hair breakage, says Hill. Choose a boar bristle brush or one that has a mix of plastic and boars hair bristles. There are also some good rubber brushes on the market. The idea is to stay away from metal brushes, which can be abrasive to hair fiber and scalps.
In addition to your brush, pay attention to your style. It is important to refrain from too-tight ponytails, braids, and cornrows, which can put excess tension on the hair fiber, and can lead to breakage, adds Hill.