I knew postpartum hair loss was a thing but I wasn’t quite convinced just how much of a thing it was… until it was.
This particular postpartum symptom is not talked about enough and it can be rather shocking to all of a sudden start losing large amounts of hairs. In my case, I was losing clumps of hair, mostly along my hairline, which brought on all of the feels.
The other day I was detangling my hair and literally pulling out strand after strand with each comb stroke. The horror set in as the pile of hair kept growing. It was depressing looking at the thinning bald spots in front of my head and sideline.
Postpartum is tough! After going through 9 months of pregnancy to taking care of my mental health to adjusting to body changes, it’s a lot. I feel like once I get through one stage of something, another something pops up.
So, I dug deep into the whys and hows of postpartum hair loss. This is what I came up with:
What Causes Postpartum Hair Loss?
Postpartum hair loss is a normal part of postpartum. About 40-50% of women will experience hair loss around 3-4 months postpartum.
During pregnancy, I proudly rocked my big hair don’t care. It was so full and thick. I knew this was a result of the prenatal vitamins I was taking. But it was also because during pregnancy your hormones keep hairs from falling out.
Each hair follicle has four stages of hair growth. Anagen: growing phase; Catagen: transition phase; Telogen: resting phase; and Exogen: shedding phase. We normally shed on average 50-100 hairs a day.
Due to the hormonal changes during pregnancy, an increased number of hair follicles remain in the anagen (growth) phase. About 3 months into postpartum and the drop of hormones, the hair follicles move into the telogen phase and eventually the exogen phase resulting in the excessive shedding and loss of hair.
So, basically, the hair that would normally fall out daily but didn’t because of pregnancy hormones are now falling out all at once because of the drop of hormones. So fun!
How Long Does Postpartum Hair Loss Last
The experience of postpartum hair loss is different for everyone. For some, it can last up to a year. For others, it may be 3-4 months. Don’t panic. Your hair is just getting back into its normal cycle as your hormones are leveling out.
However, there are of course other possible reasons why one may be experiencing hair loss such as thyroid issues or illness. So, be sure to consult with your doctor if you feel your hair loss could be the result of something other than postpartum symptoms.
Can You Stop Postpartum Hair Loss?
Unfortunately, there isn’t much we can do to stop postpartum hair loss as this is a side effect of hormonal changes. However, there are things you can do in general that help stimulates hair growth:
- Maintain a healthy diet rich in fruit and vegetables to restore necessary minerals and vitamins.
- Include protein in your diet. Hair is mostly made of protein so be sure to include lean meats, beans, fish, and dairy products into your daily meals.
- Vitamins contribute to healthy hair growth. Supplement your diet with Vitamins B complex, C, E, Zinc, Folic Acid and Biotin. If you are taking prenatal vitamins, continue! Most contain all of the vitamins our bodies need.
- Be gentle with your hair. Keep a low maintenance, low manipulation routine: wash your hair less frequently, no heat, no tight hair dos, use a scrunchy not an elastic band.
- Use shampoos that are fortified with biotin and silica. Hair when wet is at its most fragile- consider drying hair with a t-shirt instead of a towel.
- Downgrade your stress when possible. A side effect of stress can be hair loss. Incorporate meditation and/or breathing exercises when needed.
- Exercise to increase and stimulate blood circulation.
- Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated.
Consult with your doctor if you need more information or feel like your hair is not getting back to normal after an extended period of time.
RELATED: 8 Best Tips to Drink More Water
Remember, it is Temporary
Like so many other things on this pregnancy, postpartum journey, just as soon as you are figuring it out your body will move out of this phase and on to the next. Postpartum hair loss is a phase that I won’t be missing. But for now, I’ll wear my thinning hairline like a badge of honor, a right of passage.
Do you have any postpartum hair loss whispers to share? Drop a line below. I’d love to know what works for you.
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