I knew it was an inevitable part of the fourth trimester, but for some reason I was still alarmed when it started. Hair loss, ladies, that is what I am talking about. Lots and lots of hair everywhere! Hair in the shower, on the bathroom floor, in the brush, on the baby! Ugh, so gross. I thought for sure I was going bald! How can this be normal? Well, thankfully, it is.
Postpartum telogen effluvium also known as postpartum hair loss is completely normal. Ninety percent of mothers will experience some degree of hair loss during the postpartum period. It usually begins one to four months after delivery. It is self-limited, so by six to fifteen months after delivery your normal hair growth/loss pattern will usually return.
What is the cause you ask? During pregnancy, the change in the hormonal milieu results in the ratio of hair follicles that are in the growth phase (called anogen phase) relative to the hair follicles in the resting phase (called telogen phase) increases drastically. The result of this change is lusciously full locks by the third trimester. Then once you have had your sweet little nugget, those same hormones change abruptly which affects your entire body, to include your hair. After delivery, the ratio of hair in the growth phase (anogen phase) compared with the hair in the resting phase (telogen phase) reverses resulting in more obvious hair loss. As the hormones balance out over time you will notice that your hair growth and loss returns to its original pattern usually by about 15 months after delivery.
What can you do to encourage healthy hair growth and reduce further damage?
- Eat a healthy diet full of fruits, vegetables and lean meats (such as eggs, chicken, fish).
- Avoid over styling your hair with heat (blow dryer, curling iron, flat iron) or chemicals (improper coloring techniques).
- Avoid wearing your hair up in tight ponytails or buns.
- Get plenty of sleep.
- Continue your prenatal vitamin – especially if you are breastfeeding.
- Reduce stress.
- Gentle scalp massage – encourages blood flow to the hair follicles.
Because postpartum telogen effluvium is self – limited there are no medications that are FDA approved to treat this condition. Your normal hair growth and loss pattern will return on its own. I get a lot of questions about Rogaine. Rogaine for women is not appropriate for postpartum hair loss.
What if your hair loss seems excessive? If you feel like your hair loss is excessive, you are noticing bald spots, or your hair is not re-growing over time, you may have an underlying medical condition that should be evaluated. A dermatologist would be able to evaluate your symptoms, medical history and perform testing to determine the source of hair loss. A few of the common medical conditions that can be associated with hair loss include:
- Anemia
- Thyroid disease
- Diabetes
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome
- Lupus
- Skin conditions such as seborrheic dermatitis or psoriasis
You got this momma!
Originally published at forgottentrimester.com