Not only during pregnancy the body changes. Women can also experience many a “surprise” afterwards. Numerous women suffer from increased hair loss after pregnancy. The reason for this is the hormonal change after childbirth.
Feathering after childbirth – no reason to panic.
In the course of pregnancy, a woman can be happy not only about her growing child, but also about a lush head of hair. Thus, her hair presents itself shiny and full. Responsible for this is the hormone level in the body, which increases during pregnancy. However, once the child is born, new mothers often find that the opposite is true. Thus, the hair appears dull and is sometimes even lost in clumps. Some women react with great concern to this condition and fear for their personality. However, there is no reason to panic, because this phenomenon is only of a temporary nature and is related to the hormonal changes that occur after pregnancy. Hair loss after pregnancy is a problem that affects numerous women after childbirth, but far from all. In some mothers, the hair presents itself even stronger and more beautiful than before. Those who still suffer from hair loss can take comfort in the fact that the hormone balance returns to its normal level. In addition, there are some ways to promote the growth of hair.
Causes of hair loss after pregnancy
Medical professionals refer to hair loss after pregnancy as postpartum effluvium. Thus, this diffuse hair loss after childbirth is by no means uncommon. However, it manifests itself very differently from woman to woman. The phenomenon is caused by female hormones such as estrogen. The estrogen surge during pregnancy results in hair growth of 85 to 90 percent. This is noticeable in pregnant women by a thick, shiny head of hair. In the postpartum period, however, the estrogen level drops, causing more and more hair to fall dormant. Then, after about three months after pregnancy, their loss occurs. Depending on the woman’s hair structure and abundance, this phenomenon manifests itself differently. Thus some affected women react downright panic and fear a complete hair loss, while others remain absolutely carefree. In the case of anxious women, there is sometimes even a threat of psychological problems such as depressive moods, insecurity and anxiety. However, these fears are unfounded because hair loss is only temporary. Total hair loss does not occur and after about six months this problematic condition returns to normal without any intervention. What the affected mothers cannot see is the regrowth of their hair. Hair growth of about 0.5 millimeters takes place every month, which of course takes some time. Stress is also assumed to be an additional cause of hair loss. However, this thesis is disputed among doctors. Also, the breastfeeding process has no connection with the loss of hair.
What to do against hair loss?
There are some recommendations what the affected women can do against hair loss after pregnancy. For example, the hair should always be worn open, so that they do not get into a constant train. For hair care, you can resort to biotin shampoos. It is important that there are no perfume additives in the shampoos. Another point is a balanced and healthy diet with enough vitamins and minerals to avoid malnutrition, which can promote hair loss. It is also recommended that possible deficiencies in vitamins or minerals such as iron be identified and treated accordingly during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. The application of stinging nettle decoction is considered to be soothing against hair loss. For this purpose, 200 grams of nettle roots are boiled in one liter of water and 0.5 liter of apple cider vinegar for about 30 minutes. After straining and cooling the decoction, the scalp can be massaged with it twice a week. Coconut oil is also considered to alleviate hair loss. In principle, however, hormone-induced hair loss does not require any special treatment. Many doctors advise against the use of expensive miracle cures. For example, most vitamin preparations, conditioners or shampoos have no proven efficacy.Instead, medical experts advise affected women to be patient. Thus, the duration of hair loss is about nine to twelve months.
At what point should you see a doctor?
If hair loss after pregnancy lasts longer than twelve months, it is recommended to see a dermatologist (dermatologist). A hair specialist has the ability to find out the triggering causes most effectively and treat accordingly. Possible causes of permanent hair loss include deficiencies of vitamins, protein or trace elements such as iron and zinc. Iron deficiency is one of the most common triggers of hair loss. It is diagnosed by an iron storage value that is too low. Other reasons for persistent hair loss include discontinuation of the contraceptive pill, dieting or infectious diseases. Diffuse hair loss can also be caused by inflammation of the scalp or thyroid dysfunction. The sooner examination and treatment are started, the sooner the hair will return to normal.
Just be patient – the old mane will return
If hair loss occurs after pregnancy, it is necessary to have patience. Thus, this phenomenon is usually only a temporary condition that disappears by itself over time. For this reason, it is better to enjoy the beautiful time with your child until the old mane returns. A new hairstyle or a shorter haircut can also be helpful.
