PREGNANCY AND HAIR LOSS

Your hair normally grows in cycles (growing phase, resting phase, shedding phase: repeat).  We have discussed this in detail in prior blog posts.  Pregnancy hormones cause many hairs in the growing phase (anagen) to suddenly enter the resting phase (telogen). A few months later, you lose that hair.

You typically have 80,000 to 120,000 hairs on your scalp and shed up to 100 hairs per day. In postpartum hair loss, you lose more than 100 hairs daily. During pregnancy, most of the hair stays in the growth phase due to those big changes in your body’s hormones.

But your hormones begin to change (again) after the baby arrives. Estrogen levels will fall, causing your  hair to begin the shedding phase. Because so much of your hair sheds all at once, the volume of hair loss seems far more substantial. 

Postpartum “shedding” doesn’t happen immediately after your baby is born. In fact, this noticeable hair loss can come as a surprise after most other postpartum symptoms have passed. Postpartum hair loss is a common condition that occurs about three months after childbirth and can last up to six months. It’s a normal part of pregnancy and is only temporary. For most people, your hair will grow back to its original fullness.

When should I see a specialist ?  Talk with your provider if you continue to lose hair for more than six months.  Can postpartum hair loss be prevented ? There’s nothing you can do to prevent postpartum hair loss. But it may be helpful to know about it in advance so you’re not surprised if it happens.