What Causes Postpartum Hair Loss?
During pregnancy, higher levels of estrogen cause the growth phase of the hair growth cycle to flourish and the resting (or shedding) phase to shorten. Many women notice thicker hair from the second trimester onwards. It’s not that the hair itself is thicker, but that we lose less hair in pregnancy and the growth phase is prolonged due to the effect of estrogen produced by the placenta. When estrogen levels naturally decline after pregnancy, a large number of hair follicles go into the resting or elimination phase. Many women find that their hair is thinning a few months after giving birth.
How long does postpartum hair loss last?
Most new moms see their hair return to its previous growth on their child’s first birthday. But hormones, stress, and poor nutrition can delay the hair’s return to full length. The length of time for postpartum hair loss depends on each person, their hormonal fluctuations, the thickness of the hair and the amount of loss, in some cases it may last longer for some women with nutritional deficiencies the hair may take a long time more than average to grow back. Many wonder if breastfeeding makes postpartum hair loss worse. As long as you have a healthy diet and take prenatal vitamins or a multivitamin, breastfeeding usually doesn’t affect hair loss.
How can I care for and have healthy postpartum hair?
Biotin and a vitamin B complex are always recommended to improve postpartum hair and nail health. A healthy lifestyle and good self-care always favor a well-hydrated hair growth cycle. Use products customized for your hair type, avoid drugstore products as they have heavy ingredients that may sometimes not help this recovery.
Another tip is to apply the conditioner only to the length and ends of the hair so that the root retains more volume. Although postpartum hair loss is completely natural, if your hair doesn’t return to normal after a year, you can consult a dermatologist.
Source: American pregnancy association
