Postpartum Hair Loss: When It Starts, Why It Happens & How to Manage It

If you are reading this postpartum, you are probably noticing more shedding and thinning of your hair. This postpartum hair loss might hit hard, especially after a period in your pregnancy when you had thick, lustrous hair with no shedding concerns.

Fret not, hair loss after pregnancy is a normal and expected course of events and is due to the fluctuations in your hormone levels.

What is postpartum hair loss?

Postpartum hair loss or thinning is a common condition that typically begins around 2-3 months postpartum and can last for up to 12 months.

Studies have documented that over 90% of women experience hair loss after pregnancy.
It can be a distressing and stressful experience for many moms, with studies showing a direct correlation between postpartum hair loss and postpartum anxiety, but fortunately, it is largely a temporary condition.

Keep in mind that postpartum hair loss can seem monumental after months of minimal hair fall and lustrous hair when you were pregnant.

Also, if you have long hair, the amount of hair loss might seem much more noticeable than it actually is.

It can happen to varied groups of people!
Hair loss after pregnancy is a form of telogen effluvium, a condition characterized by diffuse, often acute hair loss triggered by physiological or psychological stress, hormonal changes, illness, medications, and nutritional deficiencies.

Thus, this can affect not only women who are postpartum but also women who had a miscarriage or stillbirth.

Why does postpartum hair loss happen?

Scalp hair grows in four cycles:

Anagen or growth phase
85-90% of the hair is at this stage
Increased estrogen levels during pregnancy keep hair in this stage longer, resulting in a full head of hair.

Catagen or regression phase
1-3% of hair is at this stage
Hair growth stops, and the hair follicle shrinks.

Telogen or resting phase
5-15% of hair is at this stage.
As the estrogen levels drop in the postpartum period, a large number of hairs (instead of the normal 5-15%) shift to this phase, resulting in hair loss and thinning.

Exogen or shedding phase
The hair in the telogen phase is shed (~50-150 per day)

(* All the hairs do not go through these stages at the same time, but rather hair growth is an asynchronous process, meaning each hair is in its own growth cycle. This ensures we do not lose all our hair at once!)

As you can see above, a fall in estrogen levels during the postpartum period triggers hair loss, and you might even notice more hair on your shower floor than on your head.

How long does it last?

Hair loss typically starts 2-3 months after delivery, peaks at about 4-5 months, and, in most instances, stops by the time the child is a year old.

Does the hair grow back?

Yes! The hair always grows back.

Hair loss after pregnancy is not a permanent situation, and as the hormone levels taper off, hair loss reduces, and new hair also grows.

During the regrowth phase, the new hair might seem thinner, but generally returns to the pre-pregnancy thickness.

How to manage it at home?

Irrespective of what all the targeted ads may tell you, there is no treatment for postpartum hair loss.

You can, however, tweak a few things to make your hair look fuller and prevent further loss and damage:

• Choose a shampoo and conditioner that will add volume to your hair.
  This might need some experimentation to see what works best for you, but generally, products for fine hair and those meant for adding volume work best.
• Wash your hair regularly. A scalp full of buildup, oil, dirt, and hair products is not an optimal environment for growth. Regular washing also increases the hair volume by removing the greasy buildup and makes hair easier to manage and style.
• Take it easy on your hair.
  No tugging or rubbing the scalp harshly while washing and combing hair.
  Avoid tight ponytails and braids.
  Use soft scrunchies, not rubber bands, to tie your hair.
• Consider a new hairstyle like short hair that not only gives a fuller appearance, but is also relatively easier to manage with a baby around, and also hair fall seems less in volume as the hair length reduces.
• Accessorize!
  Bring on the scarves and the headbands. Have fun experimenting with your look.
• Consider gentle hair massages with natural oils to boost blood circulation to your scalp and hair follicles
• Avoid harsh hair treatments like straightening or highlights
  Cool off the heat and skip things like curling irons or straighteners.
• Absolutely avoid herbal supplements! This has no proven benefit, but it is also an unregulated industry that can cause more harm than good.
  (Nutritional supplements or a sucker’s delight?) If you must take any supplement, speak to your physician first.
• And don’t forget to eat a healthy, balanced diet to ensure your body (and hair!) is getting all the right nutrients.

When to seek professional help?

• If your hair loss is causing you excess anxiety and seeing a professional will reassure you and improve the quality of your life, absolutely go for it!
• If your hair loss lasts beyond 12 months postpartum.
  Expect that the hairfall will stop by the time your kid turns one. If it doesn’t, there could be an underlying cause like thyroid disorders or nutritional deficiencies.
• You start seeing bald spots on your scalp, and not just a generalised thinning
• Any accompanying scalp issue, like itching, redness, or sores.
• Other symptoms, like extreme fatigue or weight changes, could signal an underlying health concern

How to prevent postpartum hair loss?

Unfortunately, there is no way to.
This is a natural phenomenon that is due to tapering hormones post childbirth, and will run its due course. However, being aware of the condition and knowing how to care for it are beneficial.

What I did?

I just made sure I washed my hair regularly and kept it in a loose ponytail.
That is all! It ran its due course, as expected, and by the time my kid was a year old, it had settled down.
And yes, I have my original hair volume back!

I was also off any postnatal supplements by then and did not indulge in any special hair supplements or special hair products that are flooding the market and probably your social media feed too!

Does Rogaine or Minoxidil help with postpartum hair loss?

By increasing blood flow to the hair follicles and helping them enter the growth phase faster, Minoxidil (Rogaine) can stimulate hair growth, but it is generally not recommended for temporary postpartum hair loss, especially while breastfeeding, due to the following reasons:

1. Although not entirely contradicted while nursing, caution is advised as it gets excreted into the breast milk and side effects in the breastfeeding child have been reported.
   For more information: Can You Use Rogaine or Minoxidil While Breastfeeding?
   
   
2. Minoxidil is not really meant for short-term use and is rather a long-term treatment for hair loss. Once a person stops using it, the condition of the hair reverses back to its original state. Postpartum hair loss is a short-term and self-limiting condition that will normalize in due course of time.
   
   
3. Topical minoxidil takes a minimum of 2-4 months of consistent use to start showing results. By this time, you might be on your way to recovery from postpartum hair loss.

It also causes initial shedding when you start using it, so you may suddenly notice more hair falling out.

However, if you must try it, do not just start using it without consulting your doctor.

Takeaway

• Postpartum hair loss is a normal phenomenon that occurs at about 2-3 months postpartum and stops by the time your child is a year old.
• There is no treatment for it. General measures like being gentle with your hair, washing hair regularly, choosing volumizing hair products, etc., are helpful
• If hair loss continues after 1 year postpartum (i.e., after your child is 1 year old), you have bald spots, or you have other symptoms such as scalp inflammation, extreme fatigue, or weight changes, professional help should be sought, as it may indicate an underlying health concern.

Trivia

Jewelry or mementos made of hair were a popular and sentimental custom in Victorian England, especially in relation to mourning. The hair of the deceased was incorporated into lockets, rings, and braided jewelry, and served as an intimate memory of the deceased.