Telogen Effluvium: Say What
Hair grows in cycles. While some of the hairs on your headare actively growing, others are chilling in a resting phase. Eventually, thehairs in the resting phase fall out, and new hairs sprout in their place.
During pregnancy, more of your hair stays in the growthphase, says Dr. McIntosh. Thats nice while it lasts. But as estrogen levelsfall after pregnancy, the hairs finally make their exit all at once. Womenusually shed a lot of hair during those postpartum months, she says.
This increase in shedding is known as telogen effluvium. It usually begins 1 to 6 months after childbirth. While it can last as long as 18 months, most women find their hair bounces back much sooner than that.
Some womens hair will always be a bit thinner than it wasbefore they became a mom. But it will return to normal phases of hairgrowth, Dr. McIntosh says.
Dealing With Postpartum Hair Loss These 5 Ways Can Reverse It
Postpartum hair fall concerns often get relegated as women tend to spend a lot of time regaining their physical strength and toning up their bodies. Here are some tips to care for your hair.
If youre a new mother and it has been an overwhelming journey so far, fret not! This new journey has got its ups and a few ugly downs like postpartum hair loss. Women tend to spend so much time regaining their physical strength and toning up their bodies after all the wear and tear they have gone through, that they often neglect their hair that needs some additional TLC. Postpartum hair fall needs your attention.
If youve been losing too much hair while brushing or washing them since you had a baby, youre at the right place. Dont panic, because postpartum hair loss is normal. This problem is relatively common and is known to affect almost 40 to 50 percent of new mothers. To treat an issue at hand, you must know what caused it in the first place.
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.
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Making The Most Out Of A Hairy Situation
Theres no doubt about it postpartum hair loss can be a tough pill to swallow. It can shake your confidence and make you self-conscious at a time when youre already undergoing so many changes.
But try not to let it get you down too much. Sometimes the best attitude to adopt during times of adversity is gratitude, even when its hard to do. There are worse conditions you could be dealing with, and I tried to keep that in mind when I faced this problem.
Luckily, until your body corrects itself, there are ways to disguise the severity of your hair loss. Use the tips mentioned above, particularly finding a good volumizer, blow-drying your hair upside down, and freshening up your layers or going with a shorter style.
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Things You Can Do To Battle Postpartum Hair Regrowth
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If during pregnancy you experienced luxurious flowing locks, theres a slight chance youre also going to deal with postpartum hair loss. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but its a common annoyance people deal with during the months following birth. Dont be too upset about it, the hair loss may seem never-ending, but it will eventually stop, and your hair will grow back.
Hair loss is normal and is the result of a drop in the hormones that were previously surging during pregnancy. The same hormones that are responsible for your thick hair during pregnancy are the ones that drop after birth, thus resulting in hair loss.
Even knowing that its normal, it can be frustrating to deal with postpartum regrowth. Personally, I lived in hats and headbands for a solid six months as my hair grew in. The flyaways and wisps were out of control. There are other tactics you can turn to as you make your way through the regrowth.
Here are some ideas that can help with postpartum hair loss and may help with regrowth.
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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.
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.
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When To Worry About Postpartum Hair Loss
If your hair loss continues past the one-year mark and you have other symptoms, its time to consider there may be an underlying cause.
You might be suffering from postpartum thyroiditis, which means inflammation of the thyroid, the butterfly-shaped gland in the front of your neck. This condition happens to 5 to 10 percent of postpartum women.
This thyroiditis will sometimes start with high levels of thyroid hormone in the blood before morphing into levels that are too low. Not every woman will experience both types though.
If you have high levels of thyroid hormone, which will usually happen one to four months after you have your baby, you may have:
- Feeling overly tired.
- Decreased ability to handle exercise.
The reason so many moms dont notice their thyroid issue is because many of the symptoms are common for normal new moms. They may think their fatigue is caused by the midnight feedings, and anxiety and irritability can happen to new moms too.
If it is determined youre suffering from thyroiditis, your doctor may decide to put you on medication.
Choose Hairstyles That Hide Postpartum Hair Loss
Since postpartum hair loss happens to a certain degree whether we like it or not, one strategy is to hide it!
Because my hair is naturally wavy, I can wear it curly or straight, depending on the products I use. However, I find that curly hair actually makes the short baby hairs around my face stick out more!
It takes a little extra time to straighten my hair, but doing so actually covers up short fly-aways, as well as smooths them down more.
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Eat A Balanced Diet Concentrating On Protein And Vitamins
Diet can be a great influencing factor on how quickly your hair grows. To maximize your growth, incorporate these foods into your diet :
- Spinach.
- Beans.
- Soybeans.
Eating right will have other benefits than stimulating hair growth. It will help your overall health and increase your energy too. If you avoid eating sugar as much as you can while focusing on these healthy foods, youll also avoid those intense energy crashes that happen as the sugar wears off.
How To Manage Postpartum Hair Loss
Its best to try to limit scalp irritation and inflammation during this time. Try to avoid ingredients like sulfates, parabens, and other harsh chemicals found in shampoos and styling products. They can cause inflammation at the scalp, leading to excess hair loss and weakened new growth, says Pacheco. Use vitamin and protein-rich shampoos, conditioners, and masks. Look for ingredients like keratin and collagen to help fortify the hair.
Dr. Yates has a Daily Thickening Shampoo that helps with fine and thinning hair. It is a volumizing cleanser containing pumpkin seed oil, yucca root extract, and biotin. Its formulated to thicken each hair strand and gently cleanse the scalp by removing residue and DHT build-up. The result is healthier, fuller-looking hair, says Dr. Yates.
Caffeine is another great ingredient to stimulate blood flow. It’s commonly used in skin care and hair care for its antioxidant properties. You can also stimulate blood flow by manually massaging your scalp daily. This can be done manually, simply by moving your fingers around your head in the shower. You could also use a tool like the Briogeo Scalp Revival Stimulating Therapy Massager.
Cédric recommends using silk scrunchies instead of harsh elastics, a microfiber towel , and avoiding hot tools as much as possible to prevent any further breakage or damage on your already delicate hair.
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Read Labels And Select Right Products
Reading labels and selecting the right products is the key in controlling postpartum hair loss and dealing the evolving appearances of hair as the hormones take time to stabilise. Use a volumizing shampoo. These shampoos tend to contain ingredients like protein that coat the hair, making the hair appear fuller. Avoid any shampoo labeled conditioning shampoo as these contain heavy conditioners that can weigh down the hair and make it look limp, Dr Bhatia recommends. When it comes to conditioners, apply it only to your midlengths and ends to avoid lifeless mass of flat strands. Another trick is to use a conditioner formulated for fine hair if you want a fuller scalp, adds Dr Bhatia. These contain lighter formulas that will not weigh down hair. Avoid conditioners labeled intensive conditioners as these are too heavy and will make your hair appear limp, he recommends.
Last but not the least, take some deep breaths and schedule some me-time to relax!
Postpartum Hair Loss: Your Guide To Shedding After Pregnancy
You might notice some excessive shedding soon after welcoming your baby, and thats totally normal. Heres what new parents need to know about postpartum hair loss.
During pregnancy, you might have been blessed with a thick and lustrous mane of hair. After having the baby, however, your locks could start shedding excessively. This normal symptom results from hormonal changes in the body. So how long does postpartum hair loss last, and can you prevent it from happening? Keep reading to learn more.
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When Does Postpartum Hair Loss Take Effect
Postpartum hair loss typically begins 2 to 4 months after childbirth. In most cases, this is totally normal and your hair will restore itself naturally within 6 months to a year. Basically, if it feels like your hair is falling out in large chunks and you think you’re about to go bald sometime soon, don’t worry as this is just your body’s way of recalibrating and your growth patterns should go back to normal in due time.
Loral Magic Retouch Instant Root Concealer Spray
Not just for hiding greys, root touch ups are our secret weapon in hiding a lack of hair around your parting, hairline and temples. By adding extra colour to even teeny tiny baby hairs, itll look like there are more of them. For a natural look, so slow and use sparingly you can always add more.
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Postpartum Hair Loss: What Causes It And How To Cope With It
Having a baby is an amazing experience, but can be a stressful one too, which is why the arrival of postpartum hair loss can feel both disorientating and devastating in equal measure.
Gorgeous baby aside, pregnancy can be a whirl of beauty ups and downs. One minute youre reeling in the youre glowing! compliments and swishing your newly lustrous and bouncy hair from side to side, the next youre wondering how to get rid of dark circles under your eyes, and trying not to shed a tear as you unclog a hunk of hair from your plughole.
Many women notice hair loss during the first month after giving birth, whilst for others it can arrive as late as three months after. Its all down to a surge of hormones during pregnancy. These keep your hair in rest mode, but they actually disappear after giving birth, which causes hair loss.
To help you better understand the cause of this sometimes sudden hair fall, and how best to cope with it, weve chatted to some of the most trusted experts in the industry.
Postpartum Hair Loss Is Totally Normalbut There Are Things You Can Do To Stop It
Your hair is falling out in clumps, and you’re starting to panic. Hair loss after pregnancy is quite common. Here’s when it will stop and what you can to slow down the shedding.
A few months following the birth of her third child, amid the sleep deprivation and endless nursing sessions, 29-year-old Alicia Mideys hair started coming out in alarming clumps. It really started to accelerate three months after I gave birth, says the Chesapeake, Va., mom. I knew it was a part of the postpartum process, but that didnt make dealing with the bald spots around my hairline easier. It was worse than it had ever been with my first two children.
Stephanie Black, a 38-year-old mother of one from Charlton, Ont., had a similar experience, though her hair loss was delayed. In my case, it didnt start until about a year after I had my son, and it happened so fast I thought I was going bald, Black says. My doctor said it was likely pregnancy related, but I was surprised that it took so long to take effect, since I only breastfed for a few months and didnt go back to work until months after my hair started falling out.
Shedding hair at a noticeable rate in the first two to six months after having a baby is not unusualonline parenting groups and social media status updates are full of new moms posting, Is this normal? Im freaking out! But the experience can vary among women.
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