Hair Loss During Pregnancy: Why It Happens & What To Do About It
Many moms find immense joy in their pregnancy hair. For some, it gets thick, illustrious, gorgeous, and strong. For others, however, it gets thinner, dried out, and appears to be falling out as evidenced by those bald patches at their temples or all over their scalp. Hair loss during pregnancy is definitely a real thing that doesnt get talked about enough. We always hear about the gorgeous pregnancy hair, but not if your body decides to go the opposite direction. For moms who may be feeling left out of the glowing, growing, and thriving mane part of pregnancy, heres what you need to know about pregnancy hair loss. Why does pregnancy hair loss happen, and most importantly, does it grow back?
Hair Accessories Are Your Friend
Thank god for Lululemon headbands, posted beachhouse2, and that seemed to be a rallying cry in the threads.
But if you dont want to shell out $12 to hide baby hairs, try But_piccolos enterprising hack: I use sports pre-wrap to make a headband and clips to try to pin down the leftover random frizzies.
For occasions when an athletic band wont cut it, Redditors sang the praises of pretreated bobby pins for keeping fuzz in place. If you throw them on a paper towel, spray them with hairspray and let them dry before using them, they work much better, notes aureisum. My hair is so blasted fine that I have to do it with every pin or they just dont work. I spray all of my pins at once so that I dont have to do it each time I put my hair up.
Whatever you do to smooth out the hairline of your ponytail, make sure youre using something gentle to secure it in order to prevent further breakage. I started using claw clips instead of hair ties, offered MrsToneZone.
Another alternative from Jodie182 is something called an Invisibobble, which doesnt tug on the hair.
How To Discover And Prevent Excessive Hair Loss After Pregnancy
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Make Changes In Your Diet
Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is key. These types of food contain flavonoids and antioxidants, which are important for protecting hair follicles and stimulating further hair growth. Eat more whole foods, including healthy meats and eggs, while also limiting your intake of sugary, processed, and junk foods.
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Hair Loss During Pregnancy: What You Should Know
If youre pregnant, you might have been told that youre “glowing”and many women even notice that baby magic spreading to their scalps, with their hair getting thicker and more luxurious while theyre expecting.
Hormones cause a lot of changes in your body during pregnancy, but could they also cause you to experience hair loss? Read on to uncover what happens to your hair follicles while you’re pregnant, and learn how you can support optimal hair wellness throughout your pregnancy.
What Causes Hair Loss After Baby
The body experiences soaring estrogen and progesterone levels during pregnancy, says Salinger, which causes hair to remain in an ongoing stage of growth, creating thicker, more lustrous strands. Then your hormones level out in the months following childbirth. Hair remains in this resting stage for approximately three months before it falls out and new growth shows itself, says Salinger. Typically the regrowth is in the form of baby bangs appearing along the hairline.
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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.
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How To Keep Your Locks Lovely
We know that a lot of our hair loss is inevitable but there are some things we can do to help it not get so out of control that it brings on more stress.
Continue taking your prenatal vitamins every day. The extra nutrients that were so beneficial to you during pregnancy will continue to support you after especially if you are breastfeeding.
Consume a diet rich in nutrient-dense whole foods and control your blood sugar. Foods that spike your insulin will stress your body. Overtime, too much insulin can increase your testosterone levels which cause facial hair and male pattern baldness.. No, thank you!
Pass on those processed foods, pasta, and bread. Instead consume your carbohydrates in the form of vegetables like potato, sweet potato, and yucca or cassava.
Limit your sugars by removing refined sugars and eat some delicious fruits as your sweets. It is amazing how sweet a strawberry can truly taste once your taste buds have healed from sugar damage.
Consume lean meats like chicken, turkey, and fishes. These are great for balancing hormones and satiating you throughout the day. During your first month with a newborn, it is hard to find time to even eat. Consuming rich and sustaining foods will carry you through your day without any unnecessary sugar crashes.
Try to remove the stressors you can and learn to manage the ones you cannot remove.
Hopefully, your postpartum journey is without funny ponytails and clogged shower drains.
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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.
What To Do If The Hair Does Not Grow Back
If the situation with hair loss does not change after a full year from childbirth it is time to take action. First of all, check the condition of hormones and scalp. Then, guided by the recommendations of experts, go one of three ways:
Taking hormonal drugs After childbirth, progesterone rapidly decreases, because of this, the activity of estrogen decreases. A combination of tablets, injections, and ointments can balance these hormones.
Physiotherapy Procedures of external influence on the scalp, which treat and tone the dermis. The most common are cryo and electro massages. In the first case, with the help of low temperatures, the hypodermis layer is restored and the hair nuclei are stimulated. The second procedure is aimed at activating the sleeping bulbs.
Transplantation Invasive hair transplantation from other parts of the body to the scalp. This operation is quite expensive and does not give a 100% result.
In order not to start the situation before such a case, it is worth paying attention to preventive practices. Proper nutrition and meditation will help to cope with the passage of pregnancy and childbirth with dignity and beauty.
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Prevention Of Hair Loss
In most cases, the problem of hair loss early pregnancy can be solved if the cause of the occurrence is identified and eliminated. This principle works with iron deficiency or lack of sleep. Sometimes you just have to wait to fix the situation. This behavior will work in the case of birth control pills or hormonal activity.
Prevention is the most effective remedy for any situation. Regular implementation of the following practices will improve not only the quality of hair but also life in general.
Proper hair care Weakened curls require a very caring attitude. Recommended: low blow dryer temperatures, comb only dry hair, and minimize the use of chemicals. Owners of long hair should avoid tight hairstyles. This can lead to unwanted stress on the follicles.
Vitamins Preparations of this category can be taken only in agreement with the therapist. A balanced diet filled with beneficial elements can eliminate the need to go to the trichologist.
Meditation The practice of psychological relaxation minimizes the negative effects of stress. Calm work of the nervous system has a positive effect on the general condition of the body. You can do meditation not only in the lotus position. This is possible while dancing, walking, listening to music, or even cleaning. The key is to focus on the positive.
Does Pregnancy Affect Your Hair
In short, yes.
Pregnancy can affect your hair in all sorts of different ways including making it thinner or fall out.
And thats all thanks to your hormones.
When youre pregnant, your estrogen and progesterone hormones start pumping hard.
Thats because they help support your fertility and make a nice comfy home for baby, firstly.
But these hormones do other things too.
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They help your fetus to develop, loosen your joints, and give you that pregnancy glow.
But many women will notice the effect on their hair.
Lots of mamas-to-be get much thicker hair thanks to these hormones.
Some report their straight hair going curly and vice versa.
Others notice more body hair than usual.
Anythings possible, mama. And yep, unfortunately that also includes hair loss.
117 womenare talking about ‘pregnancy hair loss’ on Peanut. Download the app to join the conversation.
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How Does Hair Grow
Hair grows from small pores in the skin on your scalp called follicles. Your hair is continuously growing and shedding. This cycle of hair growth has three phases that repeat throughout your lifetime:
- Anagen phase is the phase of active hair growth. It can last between two and six years. Most of your hair is in this phase at any given time.
- Catagen phase is a short, transitional phase where the hair follicles shrink.
- Telogen phase is a resting phase that lasts about three months. After, the follicle releases the hair and the hair falls out.
Another name for postpartum hair loss is telogen effluvium.
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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Does Lactation Contribute To Hair Loss
The Australian Breastfeeding Association notes that there is no relation between nursing and postpartum hair loss.
There are three main stages of hair growth: growth, apoptosis-driven regression, and quiescent state. People also refer to the growth stage as the anagen phase.
According to a 2016 retrospective review , 4 months after giving birth, lactation had an influence on the anagen phase.
However, the authors also note that the total number of people in the research was too small to make an assumption regarding the effect of lactation on the health of a persons hair.
Vitamin Or Mineral Deficiencies
Making sure youre getting adequate daily nutrition is importantboth during pregnancy and after. Iron deficiency is one of the most common mineral deficiencies seen in pregnancy and can affect hair growth and loss. Iron deficiency anemia occurs when you have a lower than normal amount of red blood cells, the cells that deliver oxygen to different tissues in the body, due to lack of iron. It can cause hair thinning along with other symptoms such as headache, general fatigue, weakness, irregular heartbeat, and shortness of breath with activity.
Pregnant patients have a higher risk of developing IDA. This is especially true if theyre pregnant with multiples, their pregnancies have been close together , or they are dealing with severe morning sickness. IDA is diagnosed with bloodwork and is typically monitored throughout pregnancy as part of routine prenatal testing. Hair loss in these situations is also not permanent, but hair thickness may not return to its baseline until the mineral deficiency has been returned to normal ranges.
Other vitamins and minerals that can affect hair loss include biotin and zinc. Switching to a prenatal vitamin that contains these can sometimes help to manage hair loss symptoms.
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Hair Falls Out For Many Reasons
Many new moms experience excessive hair shedding after pregnancy. Hair shedding usually peaks about four months after giving birth. By their childs first birthday, most women regain their normal hair growth. If your hair does not regain its normal fullness after one year, you may want to see a dermatologist. Something else may be causing your hair to fall out. People lose hair for many reasons, and an accurate diagnosis is essential for effective treatment.
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What Are The Common Causes Of Hair Loss In Women
What causes hair loss?
- Hair style: Your style of hair can cause hair loss when your hair is arranged in ways that pull on your roots, like tight ponytails, braids, or corn rows. This type of hair loss is called traction alopecia. If hair follicles are damaged, the loss can be permanent.
- Vitamin deficiency.
- Over processed scalp hair .
What causes anagen effluvium hair loss?
- Toxic substances, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy and some medications. These cause sudden hair loss that can occur anywhere on your body. It happens to hair in the growth stage. Sometimes, this type of hair loss can be permanent if your hair follicles are damaged.
What causes telogen effluvium hair loss?
- Extreme physical stress or shock to your body: This causes temporary hair loss. This category includes events like losing a lot of weight, surgery, anemia, illness and having a baby.
- Extreme emotional stress: mental illness, the death of a loved one, etc.
- An abnormal thyroid.
- Medications and supplements: blood pressure medicines, gout medicines and high doses of Vitamin A.
- Hormone changes caused by pregnancy, menopause or birth control pills.
What causes FPHL ?
- Genes: Your familys genes can cause thinning of hair along the top of your head.
- Aging: Hormone changes as you age can cause balding.
- Menopause: This type of hair loss often gets worse when estrogen is lost during menopause.
There are also some conditions that affect hair loss:
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Take Care Of Your Hair Follicles
One preventative measure you can take to avoid normal hair loss is eliminating any bad maintenance habits. Examples of such habits include biting, pulling, and twisting your hair. These actions promote hair loss during pregnancy.
Also, do not use tight hair rollers. They create tension between your hair follicles and your head, thus hindering the growing phase. You want your hair to remain in a telogen resting state.
