How To Cure Postpartum Hair Loss

August 4, 2022

0

How To Avoid And Treat Postpartum Hair Loss:

HOW TO MAKE CLOVES OIL || Remedies For Hair Loss || Postpartum Hair Loss

Are you struggling with postpartum hair loss? Or worried that you might one day soon? Lets break down what causes hair loss postpartum, and how to avoid and treat postpartum hair loss.

Hair Loss Hormones
Non-Hormonal Causes of Hair Loss
Avoiding Postpartum Hair loss
Supplements for postpartum hair loss

How Hormones Affect Your Hair Growth

In pregnant, postpartum and menopausal women, estrogen is the leading hormone that affects your hair growth.

During pregnancy, your body increases the amount of estrogen it produces which signals more follicles to enter the growing phase than the resting phase of the hair growth cycle. During this time, you may experience fuller, thicker hair. You may also notice that your hair grows significantly faster during pregnancy than it did before you were carrying your little one.

Following childbirth, estrogen levels drop , prompting the hair follicles to enter the resting phase and fewer hairs to grow. After about 100 days in the resting phase, the hair begins to shed.

In addition to the estrogen and progesterone changes in the postpartum period, stress and nutrition impact hormone levels, which and can also influence hair growth.

Thyroiditis, caused by inflammation of the thyroid gland, results in an imbalance of thyroid hormones which can also affect your hair growth.

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

Can I Use Natural Hair Regrowth Methods With Other Treatments

Naturally regrowing your hair often requires a multidirectional approach, which means you may have to combine different approaches for the best results.

If youre currently under a physicians care for hair loss, and you want to combine natural methods with your medical treatment, talk with your doctor to make sure there are no concerns or possible contraindications.

Hair Care And Styling Tips

When youre experiencing significant shedding its important to be extra gentle with your hair. Scott Ade, senior hairstylist at Larry King Hair, says to avoid all chemical services, the use of high heat when styling, and even brushing as much as possible. When you do brush your hair, always start at the ends and work your way back towards the root, he suggests. If you start at the root and comb down towards the end you will compound tangles and theyll be even harder to get out. This can result in further, unnecessary shedding. I highly recommend using a Tangle Teezer, he says.

In addition to this effective detangling brush, to prevent knots Ade says to try the Larry King Liquid Hairbrush, a brilliant, lightweight detangling conditioner, followed by Redken One Unitedspritzed through your mid-lengths when the hair is damp if you have mid-to-long length hair. Go easy on sticky or heavy styling products such as mousse, wax and gel, he adds.

If the loss leaves your hair looking significantly thinner or patchy, a root concealer is a good temporary solution to replace some lost density. Try a product originally designed for those experiencing hair loss like Manes Hair Thickening Spray, applied along the hair line and parting, while your hair regrows.

Don’t Miss: How To Curl Thin Hair

How Your Hormones Change During Pregnancy And Postpartum

During pregnancy, your hormones change dramatically.

One of the first to spike is human chorionic gonadotropin, or hCG. Thats the hormone your pregnancy test measured and its rising levels indicated that you were pregnant. Pregnancy also causes several other hormone levels to rise, including estrogen, progesterone, oxytocin, and prolactin. Your blood volume also rose during pregnancy, to as much as 50 percent greater volume than normal by your due date.

Immediately after your baby is born, several of your hormone levels drop quickly, including estrogen and progesterone. Those hormones will be almost back to normal levels within 24 hours after birth, although prolactin will stay high as long as youre breast-feeding.

Your blood volume also decreases, but its drop is more gradual. It gets back to normal a few weeks after your baby arrives.

Signs Of Postpartum Hair Loss

It is common to lose around 50-100 hair in a day due to the shedding phase of hair cycle. But after delivery you may see a lot more hair falling out each day. Some signs of postpartum hair fall include

Chunk of hair coming out every time you comb your hair.
Lots of hair seen on your pillow when you wake up in the morning.
Clumps of hair clogging the drain each time you wash your hair.
If you run your fingers from your hair, you would see a lot of hair coming out.
Even a mild amount of pressure can cause lot of hair to fall out

Also Read: Hair Loss Treatment

Read Also: How To Get Rid Of Hair Loss

Tips For Handling Postpartum Hair Loss

While postpartum hair loss is an expected part of the postpartum period, it can still be devastating and difficult for those experiencing it.

During this time, treat your hair gently and use strengthening and conditioning products to help keep the hair soft and supple to prevent breakage, says Dr. Yates, adding that changing your hairstyle to a shorter cut will also help it look thicker during the shedding and subsequent regrowth phase.

Its also important to monitor your nutrition to make sure you are getting enough vitamins and minerals to support you during this exciting and challenging change in your body and life, says Dr. Yates.

While theres no specific medical treatment for postpartum hair loss, Dr. Roskin says a volumizing shampoo can be a great option, as can avoiding heavy conditioners. Its better to use products for fine hair since they will be less likely to weigh down hair.

What Causes Hair Loss After Pregnancy

Postpartum Hair Loss Growth Tips | Ambrosia Malbrough

It can be scary to see your hair falling out in clumps or to feel like youre possibly going bald. During pregnancy, your hair was probably thicker and fuller, with a lustrous shine, and then suddenly, after baby, its all falling out. This is due to your hormones rebalancing themselves. In essence, your body is going back to normal.

If you didnt notice, you actually experienced decreased hair loss during pregnancy. This is thanks to the high estrogen and progesterone levels in your body during pregnancy. However, after giving birth, your progesterone and estrogen will drop back to normal, pre-pregnancy levels as quickly as within 24 hours of delivery.

So all of that hair that your body was hanging onto for nine months will suddenly begin falling out. For some, its all at once, in a short period, and for others, it may last several months. Every woman is different, and even every pregnancy is different. What happened with your first child might not happen with your second or third.

When Should You See The Doctor About Postpartum Hair Loss

If you notice that your hair loss is particularly severe, for example, if itâs patchy or youâve been shedding hair for longer than about six months or so, it might be time to see your doctor.

In some cases, a thyroid issue such as having an overactive thyroid may be causing the hair loss. Some thyroid conditions are also linked to pregnancy or the postpartum period. If your doctor diagnoses a thyroid condition, he or she will be able to recommend treatment.

Another possible cause of hair loss is an iron deficiency. If untreated, this can lead to a condition called iron deficiency anaemia, which can lead to other symptoms like

heart palpitations

Your doctor will be able to investigate the reasons for the iron deficiency and â if necessary â prescribe iron tablets to remedy the lack of iron in your blood.

Natural Remedies For Hair Loss Include Jojoba Oil

A scalp that has experienced severe and prolonged dryness often results in dandruff, poor hair lustre and increased hair loss. One of the most effective natural remedies for hair loss involves using jojoba oil to moisturize the scalps hair follicles, which makes new hair healthy and strong. The oil may also help hair cells reproduce faster, and fortunately doesnt leave behind any greasy residue after being washed out. To use this natural hair loss treatment, warm a few drops of the oil in your hands, massage it into your roots and then wash out after 10-15 minutes using your usual shampoo and conditioner.

Also Check: What Is The Best Thickening Shampoo For Thinning Hair

Don’t Miss: What Medical Conditions Can Cause Hair Loss

Is There Treatment For Postpartum Hair Loss

Taking care of a newborn is a stressful, exhausting time and can put a lot of strain on your body, as can breastfeeding. Start by ensuring your blood sugar, iron, ferritin, zinc and vitamin D levels are normal. Next, do as much as you can to minimize stress , eat a healthy diet with plenty of protein to aid the hair growth process, and dont be afraid to shampoo frequently. Its commonly thought that not shampooing as often will minimize hair loss, but the truth is, the frequency with which you wash your hair will not affect the amount of hair you lose, says Salinger. The hair that is ready to fall will fall.

If youve ascertained that your blood work is normal, consider talking to a dermatologistor certified trichologist. Treatment options can include medication, therapies to reduce inflammation around hair follicles and at-home lasers that stimulate new hair growth.

The bottom line: Though losing clumps of hair feels anything but normal for most women in their child-bearing years, it really is. Its almost a mom badge of honour, says Midey. I ended up wearing headbands, and strategically parted my hair to cover bald spots. I even used hairpieces at times. But my hair is growing back steadily now. Even if I had to go completely bald in order to have my children, it would still be worth it.

What Can I Do About Postpartum Hair Loss

Many patients wonder, how to treat postpartum depression. While the condition cannot be prevented, there are several ways to minimize or hide the symptoms of postpartum hair loss. These haircare methods are simple life style changes that can help to retain hair or reduce the visibility of hair loss.

Hair Care Products: When trying to strengthen your hair, you can turn to a volumizing shampoo. Volumizing shampoos often contain ingredients such as biotin, which coat the hair to strengthen the hair follicle and make your hair look fuller. Other products that keep your hair moist, such as a mousse, can also help to make your hair look fuller. You need to be careful avoid conditioning shampoos or any other intense conditioners. These conditioners can way down the hair, which further speeds up the process of hair loss. Instead, seek out a conditioner for fine hair, as those conditioners will be gentler on the hair follicle and not weigh down your hair.

Recommended Reading: What Treatment Is Good For Thin Hair

Want The Full Story On Postpartum Hair Loss

This article contains some great tips for combating postpartum hair loss, but if you want to learn as much as possible, check out my brand new ebook called Hair Rescue: How to Grow Thicker, Stronger Hair Naturally. In it, youll learn how I went from having clumps of hair fall out in the shower to having the thickest, strongest hair ever.

Importance Of A Balanced Diet

A balanced diet can be a blessing when you’re going through postpartum hair loss.

Eating a balanced diet can boost hair regrowth by rebalancing hormones. Add to your shopping list some fresh leafy greens, seasonal fruits, healthy fats and whole grains to grab from the grocery store, or even better, your nearest farmer’s market.

These foods are packed with essential vitamins and minerals like iron, Vitamin C, magnesium and Omega-3 that help combat hair loss and improve your hair health.

Read our blog post on the 10 Food to Promote Hair Growth here!

Handle Hair With Care

How I Coped With Extreme Hair Loss After Pregnancy I Mom Bod

After childbirth, it takes some time to form a schedule as there are plenty of responsibilities to take care of. This often makes you neglect your hair and, ultimately, your hair ends up in very bad shape.

So, the first step toward hair loss prevention should actually be proper hair care.

Wash your hair gently but with a good shampoo, 2 or 3 times a week.
Dont comb, brush or tie up your hair when it is wet. Try to keep it loose until it is fully dry.
Avoid using blow-dryers and other heated hair instruments.
Be gentle when brushing and dont brush more than once a day.
Avoid pigtails, braids and any tight hairstyles that cause excessive pulling.

Read Also: Does Synthroid Cause Hair Loss

Why Your Hair Is Falling Out

To understand why we lose our hair after giving birth, we must first understand the hair growth cycle. Normally, 80% to 90% of your hair is in anagen, or the growth phase, while 1% to 2% in catagen, the transition phase, and 10% to 15% in telogen, or the shedding phase, says Dr. Sejal Shah, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. So shedding is a normal part of the hair cycle.

During pregnancy, higher levels of estrogen and progesterone cause the number of hair follicles in the growth phase to increase, which reduces shedding. After delivery, the hormone levels return to normal, allowing the hair cycle to also normalize, explains Dr. Shah. However, a larger amount than normal may be triggered into the telogen phase when the hormone levels fall, so the normal hair loss that was delayed during pregnancy may fall out all at once.

Powerful Home Remedies For Reducing Hair Loss

Thick, full, and glossy tresses are every womans dream. But, several factors may lead to massive hair loss, which can be really embarrassing in the long run.

We all may be hunting for a quick fix to this problem, but if you want to walk the natural path, know that most home remedies work great in reducing hair loss but they do it gradually.

So, before stepping into the homemade solutions scene, arm yourself with patience, as you may need several weeks to months to notice real results. Also, before diving into the topic of our post, letâs take a look at the top symptoms and causes of hair loss.

Also Check: Does Rogaine Work For Thinning Hair In Front

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.

Postpartum Vitamins For Hair Loss

One of the best things you can do to combat postpartum hair loss is to take a postpartum vitamin specifically formulated for hair growth. These vitamins are specifically designed for women who have just given birth and are formulated to support postpartum hair growth. Our favorite is Baby Blues Postpartum Hair Vitamins.

Several studies have shown that certain postpartum hair loss supplements can help to improve hair growth and reduce hair shedding. For example, a study published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology found that postpartum women who took a daily supplement containing biotin, folic acid, iron, and zinc experienced significantly less hair loss than those who did not take the supplement.

Another study, published in the International Journal of Trichology, found that postpartum women who took a multivitamin supplement containing biotin experienced improved hair growth compared to those who did not take the supplement.

These studies suggest that postpartum hair loss supplements can be an effective treatment for this condition.

Recommended Reading: How Does Minoxidil Work For Hair Loss

Previous articleHow Do You Reverse Thinning Hair

Next articleIs Zinc Good For Thinning Hair