Experiencing Postpartum Hair Fall? Here’s What You Can Do

Experiencing Postpartum Hair Fall? Here’s What You Can Do

13 Jun 2022 | 4 min Read

Reema Shah

Author | 740 Articles

Are you panicking about the hair fall that you are experiencing post-delivery? The sudden changes in the hormones after delivering a baby and the stress of a newborn can make your hair fall. However, losing a bit of hair during postpartum is common.

Here’s what you can expect along with some tips to stop postpartum hair fall.

What Causes Postpartum Hair Fall?

According to Dr Pooja Marathe, excessive shedding is caused by falling estrogen levels, which is a female hormone.  She says, “Many new moms see noticeable hair loss a few months after having a baby. This is normal — and it is not true hair loss. Dermatologists refer to this condition as excessive hair shedding. Once the shedding starts, the hair loss usually lasts about three months and should slow down after that time. By your baby’s first birthday you should have noticeable improvement.” 

postpartum hair fall
Postpartum hair fall is not permanent so there’s no need to worry about it as it is normal / Credit – Freepik

Is Postpartum Hair Fall Permanent?

The hair you shed after having a baby is not a sign of permanent hair loss. It will grow back to the normal pattern over time. It gets back to its normal growth at the roots by the time your baby turns one year old. However, you may notice that you have new hair that is much shorter than the rest of the hair on your head. This new hair growth is a normal part of the postpartum period.

Tips For Dealing With Postpartum Hair Loss

Hair thinning is normal after pregnancy and you don’t require treatment. There hasn’t been any measure to prevent or slow hair fall post-pregnancy but here are a few steps that you can try.

1. Use Suitable Hair Accessories

Since your hair is not as strong as it used to be during the pre-pregnancy period, it is important that you make some changes to the way you carry your hair. Use silk scrunchies or thick cloth rubber bands to tie your hair, instead of using elastic bands. Avoid tying your hair into tight ponytails and buns.

postpartum
Avoid heated tools and chemical treatments during the postpartum period to reduce the hair fall / Credit – Freepik

2. Avoid Chemically Based Treatments

Normally a woman loses 80-100 strands of hair in a day. But during the post-pregnancy period, she can lose up to 400 strands of hair in a day. So put a pause on your plans of getting highlights, dyes, perms and straightening sessions until the hair fall comes back to its normal. Also, avoid using dryers, straighteners, and other tools as these only cause the hair to get brittle. 

3. Get Nutrients and Follow a Healthy Lifestyle

According to Dr Pooja Marathe, one can prevent postpartum hair loss by maintaining a healthy body and lifestyle in the weeks and months following delivery. “Ensure that you are getting regular, gentle-to-moderate exercise. Consume a healthy diet rich in nutrients to support your changing body and help its postpartum recovery,” she adds.

4. Use a Volumizing Shampoo

While using volumizing shampoo cannot be a permanent solution to hair loss during the postpartum period, you can opt for a shampoo that adds volume to your hair. These shampoos will help to maintain a lustrous look. Certain products like conditioning shampoos make your hair appear thinner so you can steer clear of such hair products.

5. Consult a Specialist

If your hair fall does not get back to the way it used to be during the pre-pregnancy period, you should consider talking to a dermatologist or a trichologist. The specialist will recommend treatment options which can include therapies and medication which can decrease inflammation around the hair follicles. Plus, there are also at-home lasers that help stimulate new hair growth.

Postpartum hair loss cannot be prevented as it is a natural process. However, with some precautions and care, it can be reduced to some extent. 

Ensure that you keep a track of the hair fall pattern and get timely consultation if it still does not get back to normal after one year of the baby’s delivery.

A

gallery
send-btn

Suggestions offered by doctors on BabyChakra are of advisory nature i.e., for educational and informational purposes only. Content posted on, created for, or compiled by BabyChakra is not intended or designed to replace your doctor's independent judgment about any symptom, condition, or the appropriateness or risks of a procedure or treatment for a given person.