Hair Loss After Pregnancy
Hair loss after pregnancy, while distressing, is almost always a temporary condition. Yet and still, for a woman who is trying to readjust to her post pregnancy body, this particular form of shedding can be one of a long list of things that are cause a new mom to succumb to the baby blues.
But there is really no need to fret.
Hair loss after pregnancy usually stops once hormones are regulated once more. The more women are educated about why pregnancy hair loss occurs, the better they may feel about at least this aspect of post pregnancy fallout.
Pregnancy delays normal hair loss
Telogen effluvium, the technical name for hair loss after pregnancy, refers to the hair shedding experienced for one to five months after giving birth.
Why does this occur?
During the pregnancy, a surge of hormones can occur, many of which are responsible for the added thickness and luster of your hair. Instead of falling out at the usual pace of 100 hairs per day, more hairs stay in the resting phase. When your baby is born, the return of your hormones to their normal level causes the resting hairs to move into the shedding phase.
Hair can even fall out all at once since the hormones that had kept the hair from shedding during the gestation period are no longer there.
How much hair is lost after pregnancy
Usually 60% percent of the hair is shed from 2-5 months post delivery. The may take six to twelve months for the feminine hair cycle to reinstate itself. At that time, if you don't see a noticeable improvement in your hair thickness, you should check with your doctor for underlying causes of follicle damage and subsequent hair loss.
Female hair loss and hormones
A few women may find that even after five months they are still exhibiting signs of hair loss. This can be an indication of a mineral or vitamin deficiency. It can also be the result of an under active thyroid, which can make the hormones stay off balance.
There are numerous reasons outside of hair loss during pregnancy that can contribute to female pattern baldness and shedding issues. A dermatologist can evaluate you to see what the source of the problem is. At that point, treatment options can be discussed. Whatever direction you decide to go in regards to the treatment of hair loss after pregnancy, be sure it won't affect a breastfeeding child—no matter what, the health of you and your newborn should always come first.
