How To Avoid Postpartum Hair Loss

How Can You Prevent Postpartum Hair Loss

While the condition may not be entirely controllable, maintaining a healthy, well-balanced diet, as well as supplementing with a decent multivitamin , can reduce shedding. Treating your mane with a little extra care can also keep strands intact. Try to brush gently, use a wide-comb, and avoid yanking a stiff brush through it while itâs wet. Also, avoid using heat tools and tie it back with soft accessories like scrunchies or coil hair ties. Youâll want to avoid elastics or *gasp* rubber bands. See? Not having time to brush or style your hair because you have a newborn may have its benefits after all!

Check out the best postpartum hair loss treatments below.

Treatment Options And Prevention

There are no clinically proven treatments for postpartum alopecia. The good news is, it usually resolves on its own. Since postpartum hair loss is tied to natural changes in hormone levels after pregnancy, theres unfortunately no way to prevent it.

However, some women have a slower recovery of their regular hair cycle. If your hair loss is bothersome, here are some tips that may help :

• Avoid excess brushing or styling, especially with appliances that emit high heat
• Take advantage of volumizing shampoos
• Avoid intensive conditioning shampoos
• Experiment with hairstyles that make your locks look fuller

Other things that could boost hair recovery time include keeping up with prenatal vitamins after childbirth and eating a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables.

Postpartum Hair Loss Oils

Have you ever heard of neem oil? Itâs a safe organic and biodegradable oil that is said to help stimulate hair follicle growth. Plenty of Amazon reviewers have had success with this particular neem oil, stating âI left it on for an hour then continued with my normal routine of shampoo and conditioner. No other product, prescription, otc, natural or otherwise, has left my scalp feeling this refreshed and scab-free after the first use. I will continue to use on a weekly basis.â One con? It does have a particular smell to it, but plenty of customers have found workarounds, like including peppermint in the mix. Since plenty of people have found success, itâs a mere small price to pay. As a bonus, it can also help control acne breakouts.

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Modify Your Hair Care Routine

You may find that modifying your hair care routine can help stop further hair loss. Try using a postpartum hair loss shampoo that is fortified with biotin and silica and a deep-moisture conditioner.

Hair is more fragile when wet so brush gently after you wash your hair or wait for it to dry. Set your hairdryer to a cool setting and avoid using hot rollers or straightening irons to prevent further damage that can be caused by excessive heat.

Your hair may also benefit from other specialty products that a dermatologist can recommend, like scalp sprays and hair masks.

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.

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Avoiding Heating Or Over

Most of us dont realize how much we put our hair through on a daily basis until it starts falling out! Using heat on your hair will dry it out and leave it brittle, causing even more hair to fall out. If you absolutely have to dry your hair, use a heat protection spray or serum and avoid using the highest temperature setting.

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What Are The Causes Of Hair Fall

Women usually enjoy good hair health during pregnancy. This is because, normally, 90% of our hair grows at a given point in time while the other 10% is resting. After the resting phase, the hair falls off and is replaced by new strands of hair. During pregnancy, the majority of the hair is in the resting phase, resulting in thicker hair. The pregnancy hair fall, to an extent, is much lesser compared to the aftermath of postpartum. After pregnancy, the Estrogen levels come down to normal, and the hair cycle comes out of the resting phase, leading to hair fall. This is known as Telogen Effluvium and usually persists for three to six months after delivery. However, certain external factors such as lack of sleep and stress of handling a newborn baby can make it worse.

But, dont worry, ladies! With some good care and persistent efforts, we are sure youll get those beautiful locks back in no time.

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Causes Of Postpartum Hair Loss

Eva Proudman, MIT IAT from the Institute of Trichologists, explains that during pregnancy, Raised levels of estrogen help to keep your hair in the anagen for longer. With hair in the growing phase for a more prolonged time, the hair which would normally shed isnt lost, which is why many expectant mothers notice their hair seems thicker and healthier during pregnancy.

However, Estrogen levels drop quite quickly after giving birth, Proudman points out, so the hair that has stayed in the growing phase moves into the shedding phase, leading to hair loss.

Furthermore, like any form of stress, the physical stress of labor can also trigger hair loss. According to Iain Sallis, MIT Trichologist at Hairmedic, Blood loss and the shock of the labor can also cause the hair to go into an early shedding phase, which occurs approximately 8 weeks after childbirth.

With conditions ranging from simple postpartum hair loss, postpartum shedding, or even postpartum alopecia, its no wonder that the postpartum regrowth battle feels like an uphill climb for many women after giving birth.

Beware Of A Hair Tourniquet

New mothers also should watch out for hair tourniquets. A hair tourniquet forms when a strand of hair falls out and wraps around a babys toe, finger, or other body part. A single strand can wrap so tightly that it cuts off circulation or causes an infection.

Dont panic. The likelihood of your baby getting a hair tourniquet is very rare. Knowing what to do, however, can be helpful.

If you see a shed hair wrapped around your baby finger, toe, or other body part, you must remove it. Here what you should do:

• Look for a loose end and gently unwind the hair.

• Sometimes you will not see a loose end, so youll need something to gently cut the hair, such as a small knife or scissors.

• If you cannot remove the hair because it is wound too tightly or enmeshed in your babys skin, you need to get medical help. Call your babys doctor or take your baby to the emergency room. Sometimes a doctor has to remove a hair tourniquet.

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Do I Be Worried About Hair Loss After Pregnancy

No, you should not be worried until there are severe signs of persistent hair loss even beyond the first year post delivery. Hair loss after pregnancy is normal and it is not like the actual hair fall, rather dermatologists call it as a phase of hair shedding which is triggered by a fall in oestrogen levels. And it is not a worrisome condition, as most women recover within a years time. But if at any point you feel you are experiencing an unusual hair loss, check with your gynaecologist immediately and take this ahead to a trichologist for treatment

Hair Supplements And Postpartum Hair Loss

Its best to get the nutrients you need for hair health by eating a balanced diet. You should speak to your doctor before taking any supplements during pregnancy or after the birth.

Certain vitamins are important for hair growth. If your hair loss is thought to be caused by something other than hormonal changes after pregnancy, your doctor may do blood tests for iron, B12 or folate, and suggest a supplement if your levels are low.

Some other vitamins, including zinc, biotin and selenium, have also been linked to hair loss, but theyre not usually tested for.

If you don’t think youre getting all the nutrients you need from your diet and youre not breastfeeding, you could consider taking a multivitamin that contains a balanced amount of these nutrients. If youre breastfeeding, you could try a supplement thats designed for breastfeeding mothers.

Unless recommended by your doctor, its best not to take a large amount of any 1 nutrient, as occasionally this can lead to you getting too much, which can be harmful.

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Treatment Of Postpartum Hair Loss

There are times when hair regrowth after childbirth does not occur as quickly as one would like. It is important to continue taking prenatal vitamins and check other vitamin levels and hormones, to make sure that the pregnancy hormones have returned to normal. Dr. Green will do a proper assessment of your hair, scalp, and medical history, to ensure that the cause of your hair loss is not related to any systemic disease, such as lupus, or other autoimmune diseases.

If you are not breast feeding, Dr. Green may suggest other treatments for your hair loss such as topical minoxidil , or Platelet Rich Plasma to thicken your existing hair and to help encourage new hair growth. A healthy life style, proper hair health, and rest, are all important in allowing the new hair to grow. Avoiding hair styles that can pull your hair or affect your scalp should also be avoided during this time.

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Does Postpartum Hair Loss Happen To Everyone

While postpartum hair loss does not happen to everyone, it is a very common condition. Almost half of all women who have given birth experience hair loss postpartum. As everyones rate of hormonal changes is different, the severity and amount of time the condition lasts varies from person to person.

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Treating Postpartum Hair Loss

A few months after having a baby, new moms commonly see significant hair loss. While it is quite shocking, this natural process is normal and not true hair loss. Hormonal changes during pregnancy stimulates an increase in hair growth. As a result, many women enjoy thicker hair during pregnancy, as more hairs than normal are growing and fewer than normal are resting/shedding.

Postpartum hair loss is referred to as excessive hair shedding due to falling estrogen levels. The shedding is temporary and most women regain their normal fullness by their childs first birthday, noted Dr. Shilpa Sawardekar, board-certified dermatologist with Forefront Dermatology. Hair shedding usually peaks about four months after giving birth. If your hair does not regain its normal fullness after one year, you may want to see a dermatologist. At that point there may be an additional underlying cause of your hair loss.

Postpartum Hair Loss Tips

If you are struggling with the temporary thinner hair, follow the suggested tips until your hair regains its fullness:

Try a new hairstyle that will make your hair appear fullerContinue with a daily vitamin and eating a balanced diet to promote healthy hair growthAvoid using a brush or comb that pulls on your hair, removing additional hairAvoid putting your hair in a ponytail while wet, or tightly this may result in additional breakage

How Do I Get Started Today With Treatment For My Postpartum Hair Loss

Dr. Michele Green is an expert in hair loss, whether it to postpartum hair loss or hair loss related to hormonal or metabolic changes. If you are experiencing hair thinning or new hair loss, please consult Dr. Green at her private discreet NYC dermatology office today. Dr. Green is a specialist in hair loss, and hair loss treatments, including Platelet Rich Plasma for hair loss. It is important to address the first signs of hair thinning early on, in order to prevent excessive hair loss, which cannot be treated. If you are experiencing postpartum hair loss or other types of hair loss, please contact Dr. Michele Green today at or contact her online.

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Postpartum Hair Loss: How To Deal With It

Tips on getting through this phase in your life.

Have you ever seen a pregnant woman with a luscious set of locks only to lose a lot of it after delivery? This is whats called postpartum hair loss after pregnancy. Many moms and moms-to-be pray and hope to skip the whole postpartum hair loss journey. Some would go great lengths to avoid it altogether, and others are lucky not to experience it at all. We know hair falling out postpartum isnt easy to deal with. Its hard not to panic at the sight of clumps of hair , especially if you dont know when its going to stop or how to deal with it. Here weve explained the causes of losing hair postpartum, and how to prevent and treat it post-baby.

What Can Be Done To Treat Hair Loss

In most cases, hair loss is just a temporary condition that will stop after six months maximum however, there are treatments available if your doctor deems them necessary: low-level laser therapy , topical minoxidil solutions, and even oral contraceptives to help balance hormonal fluctuations.

Both topical minoxidil solution and low-level laser therapy are quite effective in cases of temporary hair loss however, they can take up to six months or even longer start showing results.

Lastly, your doctor may prescribe oral contraceptives if you experience prolonged postpartum hair loss that lasts more than a year however, they can cause side effects such as weight gain, headaches, and abdominal bloating.

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Is Postpartum Hair Loss Normal

Yes, it is. In a study involving 98 patients, 88.7% experienced hair loss within 8 to 16 weeks after delivery . It continued for 4-6 months, and later, the hair growth became normal.

Although hormonal changes mainly affect the scalps frontal area, there is no evidence that it is the primary affected area in postpartum hair loss. The study also found that out of 98 patients, 59.1% experienced hair loss at the back of the scalp, 20.4% throughout the scalp, and only 11.2% had frontal hair loss . Now, the question is, how long does it last?