What You Can Do About Hair Loss After Pregnancy
- Make sure your postpartum nutrition is sound, and eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and adequate protein.
- Make sure youre getting plenty of vitamins B, E, and C, and consider taking zinc supplements as well.
- Avoid braiding your hair or styling it in pigtails, weaves, cornrows, or any other style that puts undue stress on the scalp.
- Avoid blow-drying your hair if you can, but use the cool setting if you must blow-dry it.
Many women feel that prenatal vitamins keep their hair thicker and their nails hard, but more likely this improvement is caused by the pregnancy itself. Taking prenatal vitamins after delivery, which is still a very good idea, may not help to prevent this type of postpartum hair loss.
Body Hair Growth During Pregnancy
Some women may experience hair growth during pregnancy in unwanted places: arm and leg hair may grow thicker and faster, and hair may even appear in new and unwelcome places, such as the breasts, belly, back, or even the chin, upper lip, or cheeks! While this may be distressing, it is perfectly normal. Elevated levels of estrogen, cortisone and other hormones cause this extra hair growth during pregnancy, and these hairs should disappear within about six months after childbirth.
Tips For Dealing With Postpartum Hair Loss
It may be totally normal and completely temporary, but that isnt going to make you feel much better when you look in the mirror. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to make yourself feel more confident until your hair gets back to normal.
1. Eat a well-balanced diet
Of course, any new mom should be trying to eat well, but think of this as added motivation. Eating a diet full of fruit and vegetables and high in protein will help keep your hair as healthy as possible. While it probably wont slow your hair loss, it will keep what you do have looking really great.
2. Get some sleep
Thats easier said than done, we know. But sleep will help your body in numerous ways, including keeping your hair healthy. Bonus: Sleep will also help with those postpartum mood swings. If youre going to be losing your hair, not being so fatigued will at least help you feel a little bit better about it. So take friends and family up on their offers to help so that you can grab a nap.
3. Get a new cut
Some new moms say that getting a shorter cut helped them feel more in control of their hair loss.
I chopped my hair about four months after I had my son, Libby said. It just helped me feel better because I wasnt trying to look like my old self. Plus, my hair kind of grew back all at the same time that way and those little wispy parts were just less noticeable.
4. Try new hair care products
5. Switch up your do
6. Be patient with yourself
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Resists Tangles And Knots
Being a mom includes our little one’s drool covered hands practicing their death grips in our long locks. Even before children, it’s difficult to not acquire our fair share of knots and tangles throughout the day. None of us can have Rapunzel’s locks without also getting at least a handful of knots.
Tangle free hair requires frequent brushing or some serious leave in conditioner when you are always on the go and doing something. Throwing your hair up can create knots in any woman’s hair. Babies are messy as we are all well aware however, with shorter hair there is a much smaller risk of getting drool, hands, food, and spit up stuck in it!
It won’t knot up as easily. It is nearly impossible to rake out the knots when spit up dries in your hair. With less hair, it is a given there will be less knots. There is also the issue of changing body chemistry. Some women with straight hair have curly hair postpartum, and others aren’t as lucky and end up with frizzy, unmanageable hair. Sometimes it is just better off to get a fresh start just as Beyonce did when she traded her locks for a pixie cut.
What Is Hair Tourniquet
If you have long hair, then a strand that falls out may get wrapped around your babyâs fingers, wrists, ankles, toes, or penis. This hair-wrap is called hair tourniquet , which could be painful for the baby. The hair might get wrapped up so tightly that it may restrict blood flow in that area and cause infection.
If you ever see such a strand wrapped around any part of your babyâs body, then try to unwind the hair gently or cut it carefully using scissors. If the strand is tightly strangled, then seek medical attention immediately.
After delivery, it may take some time for the body to get back to normalcy. During this period, the hormonal fluctuations might bring several changes in the body, including hair. If severe hair fall persists months after your delivery, then visit a dermatologist. But, mostly, hair loss after delivery is short term and temporary, so you need not worry.
Do you have any remedies for hair loss after pregnancy? Let us know in the comments section.
References:
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What To Do If Hair Loss Persists
If hair loss has not significantly improved nine months after birth, you should speak to your gynecologist. A nutrient deficit may be the cause, for example. A blood test will show if you are deficient in vitamins, protein, zinc or iron, for example due to pregnancy or breastfeeding. Dont worry, a serious illness is rarely behind the phenomenon of hair loss after pregnancy.
Monitor Your Hair Cycle
While some hair changes are inevitable for many women, there is natural technology that can help keep the hair cycle healthy. Professional activators are topically applied serums that use botanicals such as glycyrrhizin from licorice root, salicylic acid and a blend of botanicals such as sanguisorba and Japanese rose hips that act on the hair growth cycle, preventing excess hair fall and boosting growth. The topical évolis activators can be safely used during breastfeeding and can naturally support a healthy hair cycle, while the companion volume-boosting and fortifying shampoos, conditioners and hair masks have been specifically designed to support during excess hair fall and hair thinning.
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How Can You Stop Or Prevent Postpartum Hair Loss
If the hair loss youâre experiencing is caused by the hormonal changes associated with pregnancy and childbirth, it may simply stop on its own without any treatment at all.
Still, certain vitamins and minerals â such as vitamin A â can contribute to healthy hair growth, so itâs important to make sure youâre getting enough of these as part of a healthy, balanced diet.
Ask your doctor or a dietician if you arenât sure youâre getting all the vitamins you need, and he or she may be able to recommend specific foods to add to your diet.
Certain vitamins and mineral may actually make hair loss worse if you take too much of them, so donât start taking any supplements for postpartum hair loss without asking your doctor first.
Above all, try to be patient. You have lots on your plate right now and there might not be much more you can do than wait it out.
How To Stop Postpartum Hair Loss
Because postpartum hair loss is a normal result of your changing hormones, it is not something that you can immediately stop. However, there are steps you can take to minimize the effects of postpartum hair loss and help promote healthy hair growth.
Here are six things you can try for postpartum hair loss treatment:
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Hair Loss After Pregnancy: What Can I Do
Hair loss after pregnancy is a problem for many women, but dont worry, it is quite normal and will go away quickly.
While hair still grows vigorously during pregnancy, it sadly falls out again after delivery. As a new mom, you dont have enough to worry about you also have to deal with annoying hair loss. But dont worry, this annoying side effect is short-lived. We tell you everything you need to know about hair loss after pregnancy.
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Hair Loss During Pregnancy: Telogen Effluvium
Approximately 90% of your hair is growing at any one time, while the other 10% enter a resting phase. Every two to three months the resting hair falls out and allows new hair to grow in its place. Telogen effluvium is the excessive shedding of hair that occurs one to five months following pregnancy. Hair loss during pregnancy is not uncommon, as it affects somewhere between 40 to 50% of women but like most changes during pregnancy, it is temporary.
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Short Hair Is Totes Cool
Short hair is literally cooler. It is an actual weight off of your shoulders. Lugging around a baby, car seat, diaper bag, and the hundred other things we carry around all day gets heavy, tiring, and HOT. While hormones are out of whack after pregnancy, especially when breastfeeding, body temperatures are all over the board as well.
Many women either complain of waking up freezing or completely drenched in sweat. A shorter hairstyle will be cooler and also absorb less sweat! Shorter hair allows your neck to get a breeze. That breeze will be a giant relief especially in the summer heat. Having a hairstyle that allows a breeze naturally is much easier than trying to juggle a baby and put your hair up in a ponytail or braid.
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 Loss Happen After Pregnancy
After you have given birth, the excess hair that was not shed during pregnancy will be lost. It may seem as though you are losing abnormal amounts of hair, but in actual fact your hair is simply returning to normal.
Its also believed that childbirth can be a trigger for telogen effluvium, a type of hair loss which causes widespread thinning on the head. Telogen effluvium is associated with intense physical or emotional stress.
More severe hair loss, including hair loss that causes patchy bald spots, may be a sign of another problem such as a vitamin deficiency.
Take Care Of Your Hair
When your follicles are in the telogen phase they are in their most fragile state and can be dislodged easily. To avoid premature shedding, be gentle with your hair when brushing, washing and drying, and avoid tight hair styles that place too much traction on the follicles. A silk pillowcase can also help to make sure your hair isn’t pulled out in your sleep. Being kind to your hair will ensure your telogen hairs stay in the scalp as long as possible.
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Why Does Your Hair Get Thicker During Pregnancy
Its thought that excess hair growth in pregnancy is related to oestrogen. During pregnancy the body releases oestrogen, which causes the hair growth and loss cycle to slow down. So rather than shedding hair as normal, the scalp retains it. As a result you may notice that your eyelashes, the hair on your head and eyebrows grow thicker during pregnancy.
Not all women will find that their hair grows thicker and shinier during pregnancy in fact some may even experience hair loss during this time. Hair loss during pregnancy is relatively uncommon, but you can expect your hair to go through several changes over the course of your pregnancy.
When Does Postpartum Hair Loss Start
“Generally with telogen effluvium, there’s some sort of eventin this situation it’s giving birth, but there can be other causes. Basically, a larger amount of your hair than normal is triggered to enter this resting/shedding phase,” says Dr. Shah. It takes about three months for that hair to shed out, she adds, which is why most people notice postpartum hair loss around three months after delivery.
Hair might fall out all around your head, or clumps may come loose when you brush it or shower. Some women simply lose some strands around their hairline, so their mane looks very fine in the front, as if they’re going bald, says Stephanie Scuoppo, a hairstylist at the Elizabeth Arden Red Door Salon and Spa in New York City.
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Hair Loss In New Moms
Hair loss in new moms
Many new moms see noticeable hair loss a few months after having a baby. This is normal and not true hair loss. Dermatologists refer to this condition as excessive hair shedding. The excessive shedding is caused by falling estrogen levels.
If the excessive hair shedding bothers you, these tips from board-certified dermatologists can help until your hair regains its normal fullness.
Many new moms see noticeable hair loss a few months after having a baby. This is normal and it is not true hair loss. Dermatologists refer to this condition as excessive hair shedding. The excessive shedding is caused by falling estrogen levels.
The good news is that this excessive shedding is temporary, and you do not have to do anything to remedy it. Most women see their hair return to its normal fullness by their childs first birthday. Many women regain normal fullness even earlier.
Less Hair For Baby Hercules To Pull
Pretty much from birth on babies learn to pull hair. It is usually a comfort and security thing for newborns and infants as a way to ensure mom is still there. That does not make it any less painful though. Should you find yourself at the mercy of your baby’s Herculean like grip, you’ve maybe considered cutting your hair.
In some situations, babies hold onto their mother’s hair to assure they do not get put down. It is a clever yet painful little trick they learn. Unfortunately, hair pulling is an issue some children do not grow out of until they are toddlers. Chopping your hair means it is no longer in your baby’s reach and preventing it from getting yanked.
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How Long Does Postpartum Hair Loss Last
Postpartum hair loss is a temporary phase, and it’s unlikely that your hair will go from extra-thick to barely there. That said, everyone’s hormonal shift will manifest differently. “It’s a very natural process,” Dr. Shah says.
Don’t fret if your hair starts feeling extra thin. While there are exceptions, Dr. Shah reassures that most of the time, hair loss will spontaneously normalize. “The time to recovery varies. In some people it’s three months, in some people it’s six months. Occasionally it can last a year,” she says.
What Causes Hair Loss Post Delivery
A hair growth cycle comprises two phases, namely anagen and telogen . Around 90% of the hair grows at any given time, while about 10% remains in the resting phase and eventually falls . On an average, an individual loses around 100 strands of hair every day .
During pregnancy, a spike in the estrogen level extends the growing phase and halt the resting phase. This means the growth of hair increases and the shedding of hair decreases as the resting phase comes to standstill. This, in turn, could make the hair look fuller and lustrous.
After delivery, the estrogen level comes back to normal, causing more hair follicles to enter the telogen/resting phase. This might lead to excessive hair fall post delivery . This condition is short-term, and you may regain your normal hair growth six to 12 months after pregnancy.
Loss of hair may dishearten you, but hair fall after pregnancy could be managed. But you can overcome hair fall after pregnancy.
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When Should You Contact Your Doctor
Chappelle says you shouldnt worry about your hair loss until after the one-year mark, even if you have bald patches. After one year, your hair follicles should have reset and, even if your hair isnt quite as thick or as long as you would like it to be, you should no longer be seeing the excessive loss. However, women who have a history of female alopecia in their family may want to discuss it with their doctor.
If you cant seem to shake your worries about the hair loss and are experiencing other concerning symptoms such as weight loss, anxiety and a rapid heart rate, you should check in with your general practitioner to make sure that youre not at risk for developing postpartum thyroiditis.
