Tress Stress – Post Partum Hair Loss

During pregnancy you may have been thrilled with your thick and lustrous mane of hair. Except for some dryness (which a little deep conditioning takes care of) you may have thought that pregnancy has finally given your hair some life! But then once you have your baby you're alarmed, even shocked, to find that your hair seems to be falling out.

Here's what's going on. Normally, about 85 to 95 percent of the hair on your head is growing and the other 5 to 15 percent is in a resting stage. After the resting period, this hair falls out — often while you're brushing or shampooing it — and is replaced by new growth. An average woman sheds about 100 hairs a day. During pregnancy, increased levels of estrogen prolong the growing stage. There are fewer hairs in the resting stage and fewer falling out each day, so you have thicker, more luxuriant tresses.

After you give birth, your estrogen levels take a tumble and a lot more hair follicles enter the resting stage. Soon you'll have more hair coming out in the shower or on the brush. This unusual shedding will taper off and your hair will be back to its pre-pregnancy thickness about six to 12 months after you give birth. Not all women notice dramatic changes in their hair during pregnancy or the postpartum period. Among those who do, it tends to be more obvious among women with longer hair.

What can you do about it?

• Keep your hair healthy by eating well and taking vitamin supplement as suggested by your doctor.
• Be extra-gentle during your shedding season to prevent excess hair loss after pregnancy. Shampoo only when necessary and use a good conditioner and a wide-toothed comb to minimize tangling.
• Get a hair-cut with an easy to manage hair style that makes you look good without much to bother about.
• Skip blow-dryers and curling and flat irons if you can and put off any chemically based treatments until the shedding stops.
• Talk to your practitioner if your hair loss is excessive. When it's accompanied by other symptoms, hair loss after pregnancy could be a sign of postpartum thyroiditis.