Postpartum Hair Loss: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Hair loss after childbirth is extremely common. Women frequently experience hair loss after giving birth. According to an Indian survey on common postpartum issues, 80-90% of women have significant hair loss after giving birth. When faced with losing hair, ladies are naturally upset and concerned. So, what causes postpartum hair loss in women, and how can you assist your hair “revive”? The article that follows will provide answers to these questions for mothers.

Postpartum hair loss

Postpartum hair loss is a disorder in which women lose a lot of hair after giving birth; data show that up to 30-40% of women have this problem, with mild to severe baldness. The primary cause is hormonal fluctuations in women. Hair loss after pregnancy can linger up to 5-6 months, or even a year.

Hair loss is considered a normal physiological event of the body if it does not surpass 100 hairs per day. However, after giving birth, a significant amount of hair is lost, and the hair becomes thin and even bald. It will be quite difficult to “save” the previously thick, lustrous hair if improvement measures are not implemented promptly.

Women’s postpartum hair loss causes

The body’s hormonal changes

During the painful period of childbirth, the mother’s body undergoes many changes, both physically and mentally, and one of the most noticeable changes in a woman after giving birth is neuroendocrine disorders. If a woman feels strong, shiny hair from the fourth month of pregnancy due to an increased level of female hormone estrogen to protect and nurture the healthy development of the fetus, she is pregnant. After having birth (around 3-4 months), the level of female hormones decreases significantly, which causes hair loss.

Furthermore, the body secretes the hormone Prolactin while nursing, which stimulates the plentiful milk glands, yet this substance suppresses the body’s creation of estrogen. The main reason for hair loss is a lack of estrogen hormone.

Body anemia and iron deficiency

This is a predicament that many mothers find themselves in after giving birth. Anemia reduces blood circulation, and the blood vessels behind the scalp transport 95% of the nutrients that nourish the hair. As a result, if the body is anemic, the hair germ cells do not receive enough nutrients and oxygen to maintain, grow, and develop, causing the hair to become weaker and eventually fall out.

Anemia in postpartum women can be caused by the following factors:

• Because the mother’s body does not supply the body with enough iron during pregnancy.
• The woman loses a lot of blood during childbirth.
• After giving birth, the mother is exhausted from caring for the newborn, lacks sleep, and does not get enough sleep. The diet is abstinent, failing to provide nutritional needs for breastfeeding and restoring health, resulting in a blood shortage in the mother’s body.

Deficiencies in nutrition

Women’s bodies can easily become deficient in key nutrients after giving birth. During nursing, a woman’s body requires more nutrition than the ordinary person, approximately 500 kcal per day. However, many postpartum women who wish to get back in shape believe that they must follow a rigid diet.

Nutritional inadequacies impact not only the quality of breastfeeding milk, but also the mother’s health and, in particular, the “life force” of the hair. As a result, women must eat a balanced diet that includes all four major food groups: carbs, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals. Women, in particular, should increase their intake of vitamins A, B, D… and drink plenty of water. These nutrients not only help the baby grow healthy, but also help the mother keep her hair strong.

Psychological problems

According to specialists, women who have given birth frequently experience serious psychological trauma. Especially women who lack maternity information and expertise with baby care. The family’s finances are in disarray, and they are not mentally prepared for parenthood.

Aside from emotional elements and weariness during pregnancy and childbirth, postpartum psychiatric disorders are caused by abrupt changes in hormone levels in the body, making women’s moods more uneasy and restless. Irritability, rage, and a loss of control.

If not treated promptly, the disease can lead to serious postpartum depression and cause hair to fall out like autumn leaves.

Chemical use

Women’s scalps are frequently greasy and prone to dandruff after giving birth, and using shampoos with powerful detergents increases hair fall. To avoid further hair loss, mothers should limit their hairstyles and avoid using chemical perms and colors after giving birth.

What is the duration of postpartum hair loss?

Normally, after about 3-6 months of abstaining, eating, and resting appropriately, women’s hair loss will gradually diminish. However, because it is dependent on the cause of hair loss and the location of each individual, it is impossible to predict how long postpartum hair loss will remain.

If the postpartum hair loss does not improve after a year, the mother most likely has hair loss from another source. You should go to the hospital right now to seek more precise instructions from a doctor.

Postpartum hair loss remedies

Many women are concerned that their postpartum hair loss will regrow. Yes, the answer is yes. However, quick, healthy, and beautiful hair growth is heavily dependent on both lifestyle and hair care. Please see the following guidelines for thick, healthy postpartum hair:

Reduce anxiety and stress

The major reasons for postpartum hair loss are stress and worry. Furthermore, persons who are frequently anxious or worry about stress have more hair loss than others. As a result, you should try to keep negative thoughts to a minimum. Every day, you can relieve tension by doing yoga, walking, swimming, and meditating.

Do not tie or bun your hair too tightly

Braiding your hair, pulling it up in a ponytail, or braiding it with an elastic band will cause it to fall out quickly. When you tie your hair excessively tightly for an extended period of time, it stretches. Because the hair follicles are constantly pushed, they weaken, and the new hair that grows out is smaller, smoother, and more prone to breakage.

Use a wide tooth comb and avoid over-brushing your hair

Brushing too hard will cause your hair to fall out even more, so brush gently. Wide-tooth combs, in particular, should be used since they assist in reducing friction and pressure on the hair during combing and untangling. This is also an effective method for preventing postpartum hair loss.

Build a nutritious diet

Eating a variety of fruits, vegetables, and nuts is the most effective approach to feed your body with the nutrients it requires. Dark green veggies (which include iron and vitamin C), sweet potatoes and carrots (which contain beta carotene), eggs (which contain vitamin D), and fish (which contain vitamin D) are all good for your hair. omega-3 fatty acids and magnesium). You should increase these foods in the menu every day to soon regain strong hair. 

Take vitamins and supplements

If the foods listed above do not help, talk to your doctor about supplementing with vitamins and minerals including B, E, C, zinc, and biotin. This will encourage hair growth while preventing excessive hair loss.

Proper hair care and the usage of hair growth shampoos

Hair is one of the most fragile parts of the body after childbirth, so be extra gentle when combing or washing it. In addition, to protect your hair and scalp, use a shampoo with gentle ingredients. SAKURA hair growth promoting shampoo, the number one shampoo brand in Japan, is one of them.

It’s no surprise that many people examine and pick SAKURA shampoo. In addition to 100% natural components including Oshima cherry blossom essence, double nut butter, Korean red seaweed, and Japanese Tsubaki flower oil. It nourishes the scalp and hair from the inside out, making it strong, soft, and smooth, while also decreasing breakage and promoting replacement hair development. The product aids in the prevention and treatment of hair problems such as hair loss, dry hair, frizz, itchy scalp, and dandruff. Furthermore, when utilized, the natural aroma of Sakura provides a sense of freshness and relaxation.

SAKURA shampoo, in particular, is taken entirely from nature. As a result, it is fully safe for both pregnant and nursing women, with anti-inflammatory actions and the ability to kill bacteria and agents that cause pathological hair loss. 

This is a product recommended by leading Japanese medical experts because of its safety and high efficiency for users.

Reference source

Clevelandclinic: Postpartum Hair Loss. Link: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23297-postpartum-hair-loss