Postpartum Hair Loss

If you are a new mother, you must have seen strands of hair on your pillow after you wake up or a bundle of hair near the drain after you take a bath. Postpartum hair loss is a very common occurrence in women, and is considered quite normal too. Let us know the reason behind this, how long does it last, followed by the treatment for the same.

Causes

To understand the causes behind postpartum female hair loss, we have to first of all know about the cycle of hair growth in a normal person. In an average person, up to ninety-five percent of the hair is in a growing stage, and the rest are in the resting stage. Post resting stage, the hair begins to fall out, when the person combs or washes his hair. This hair is later replaced by a new growth of hair. On an average, a woman sheds around 100 hair in one single day. This was about the hair growth cycle in a normal woman. Now, let's see what happens in a pregnant woman.

When a woman is pregnant, the estrogen levels in her body increase considerably. The high estrogen levels, extend the growing phase of hair, resulting in lesser number of hair at a time in the resting phase. That's why, when the resting stage gets over, fewer hair fall out of the head. However, after the delivery, when the estrogen levels fall, a large number of hair enter the resting stage. And when this phase gets over, the woman sees lots of hair coming out of her head, when she shampoos or brushes the hair. This usually lasts for a period of one year, post the delivery. After this period, the woman gets her normal hair back.

Treatment

Although, preventing hair loss after pregnancy is not possible as hormonal changes during the pregnancy are bound to happen in a woman, yet there are a number of steps which a woman can take to minimize or control the hair loss. Here are a few remedies.

Diet
One of the ways to treat hair loss and stimulate the growth, post pregnancy is to take a healthy, balanced diet. Foods such as nuts, avocados and fish, which are rich in omegas, are especially beneficial for hair growth. Flaxseed oil and fish oil, if eaten regularly can minimize hair loss too.

Vitamin Supplements
Taking vitamin supplements such as silica, biotin, zinc and calcium, helps in promoting hair growth and thus, prevents hair loss.

Massage
Taking scalp and hair massages with essential oils such as olive oil and lavender oil, on a regular basis, increases the blood flow to the hair follicles. This increases hair growth and is quite beneficial to treat as well as prevent postpartum hair loss.

Yoga and Exercise
A pregnant woman who is totally stress free and healthy, is much more unlikely to suffer from prolonged hair loss. So a very useful way to prevent and control postpartum hair loss, is to exercise regularly and do yoga. Meditation and breathing exercises prevent stress and the resultant hair loss to a great extent too.

Besides incorporating the above mentioned changes in one's lifestyle, a pregnant woman can make a few practical changes, such as cutting her hair short and switching to a mild, herbal shampoo from a chemical based one, in order to prevent and treat this condition.