Introduction

Postpartum hair fall is a common and distressing phenomenon, especially for first-time mothers. Around half of the women experience postpartum hair fall during and after delivery.

Not to worry. In this article, we will discuss each domain and familiarise ourselves with methods to improve hair care and thus prevent hair fall. Let us go through the guide for preventing hair fall and enrich our knowledge of hair care during and after childbirth.

How hair loss can be prevented

The data for hair loss prevention is quite limited. The following are some ways to control it:

• Nutritious diet 
• Stress management therapies 
• Gentle hair care 
• Medical interventions 
• Social support 

The good news is that hair loss is reversible and most women recover from hair loss in about a year after giving birth.² Let's delve a bit deeper to understand the reason for hair loss.

Understanding postpartum hair fall

The hair growth cycle

The hair cycle consists of four phases: anagen, catagen, telogen, and exogen. The anagen phase is expressed by hair shaft formation from the hair follicle, whereas catagen and telogen describe regression and the resting phase of the follicle respectively. These phases ultimately result in hair shedding.

Hormonal changes in antepartum and postpartum women

Postpartum hair loss commonly occurs 4 to 6 months after giving birth in about half of the women undergoing pregnancy. This phenomenon is relatively common after pregnancy and is quite disturbing for new mothers. While the reasons for hair fall essentially lie in the spike and sudden loss of hormones, there may be other factors to consider including the overall physical and mental well-being of the mother.

During pregnancy, the progesterone and estrogen levels increase many folds. The increase in estrogen levels leads to increased hair growth, hair diameter and anagen/telogen ratio.⁶ However, immediately after childbirth the level of estrogen drops. This sudden drop in estrogen leads to a decrease in the anagen/telogen ratio. Thereby, leading to an increase in hair fall.⁸

Statistics on postpartum hair loss

Although exact statistics are difficult to obtain, some large-scale studies and organisations such as the American Pregnancy Association estimate that 40-50% of new moms will experience hair loss after childbirth.³

Common causes 

Hormonal changes 

During pregnancy, the hormonal surge of estrogen, progesterone, and prolactin are at their highest. But from the start of delivery to the months following, there is a sudden drop of estrogen and progesterone. This drop leads to the loss of hormonal balance and results in hair fall.³

Stress and fatigue 

While stress and fatigue contribute to the productivity of everyday life, it affects the hair fall. Stress significantly increases the chances of hair fall during and after the delivery.^4,5

Low nutritional diet 

The importance of diet and nutrition can not be ignored. Vitamins A, D, C and zinc are of equal importance. The diet contains incomplete nutrients that lead to multiple health conditions including hair fall.¹¹

Genetics 

Genetics does play a role in hair fall. The metabolic disorders including autoimmune conditions can manifest as hair loss as a symptom.¹

Methods to overcome hair fall

Nutritional support 

A good diet ensures a healthy body as well as healthy hair. Foods rich in iron, vitamin D, vitamin C, Omega-3s, magnesium, and beta-carotene improve hair health. These foods include nuts, fruits, vegetables, and high-fibre foods. So grab some nuts and fruits for a good pregnancy.

Vitamins and nutrients are essential for protein production, encouraging hair growth and stimulation either in capsules or through diet.

Hair care practices 

A good hair care goes a long way. It has shown that gentle hair brushing, sulfate-free shampoos, and mindful use of conditioners and shampoo helps to prevent hair fall. Additionally, hair care practices such as gentle brushing, limiting hot ironing, and avoiding hairstyles that cause a pulling effect on hair can reduce hair breakage and hair loss. Haircuts and volumising shampoos can make the hair appear voluminous.^4,9

Stress management

Are stress and hair fall related? 

One can not deny the importance of mental health and well-being when talking about pregnancy-induced hair fall. Hence, you must take care of your mental health by engaging in activities that help calm the mind. These can include exercise, meditation, reading, walking and talk therapy. With the rise of mental health awareness in today’s age, we should seek help to manage stress and anxiety to the best of our ability.² 

Seeking support from family and friends

As new mothers, it is important to seek support from family and dear ones during pregnancy-related issues including hair care. A good social circle and loving family support can boost confidence, help ease the mind, and decrease anxiety. A cup of coffee with an old friend and spending time with like-minded individuals boosts our mood and increases our happy hormones (endorphins). 

Seeking professional support 

It is not uncommon for women to undergo depression and low mood after childbirth. There are plenty of resources to use for fear of being in depression. These include making an appointment with a GP for cognitive therapy where they can talk and listen to one’s concerns and help to overcome depression. Apart from that, they can also prescribe medications if mood swings are frequent.⁷

FAQs

Why does postpartum hair loss occur?

Postpartum hair loss occurs because of changes in hormones during and after pregnancy. This sudden change in hormonal level triggers the hair cycle and causes the hair to be fragile and hair loss occurs.

How to treat postpartum hair loss?

Postpartum hair loss is a temporary condition that does not require treatment. However, try out a new haircut to make your hair appear fuller and help new hair regrowth blend in. Additionally, as we discussed, a good diet and routine help benefit good hair growth.

When to be concerned about postpartum hair loss?

If the hair has not returned to its usual health after one year of childbirth, one might consider other possibilities of hair fall. It's best to consult a doctor for further treatment.

Does postpartum hair loss affect everyone?

Some studies suggest about 40 % to 50% of women suffer from hair loss during childbirth.

Does postpartum hair loss ever stop?

Postpartum hair loss usually begins four months after childbirth. It lasts not more than six to twelve months and should be better when the child is one year old.

How to hide postpartum hair loss?

A good haircut will lead to a voluminous look, hair accessories, wigs can also help.

Is alopecia areata the same as postpartum hair loss?

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease that attacks your body’s hair follicles, causing patchy hair loss. Some medications and therapies can help hair regrow.

Can stress increase hair fall?

Yes, stress is one of the factors that can increase hair fall.

Does meditation help to reduce hair fall?

Practising meditation and exercise can help to reduce stress. This in turn will help to reduce hair fall.

What vitamins and nutrients are needed to boost hair growth? 

Having food and a diet rich in iron, vitamin C, vitamin D, and zinc boost hair growth.

Do genetics affect hair growth?

Yes, genetics affects the hair fall and speed of hair growth.

What is the role of age in hair fall?

Age-related lipid changes affect hair greasiness, shine, softness, and smoothness. The amount of sebum produced varies with the size of sebaceous glands. It is low before puberty, increases at puberty, and remains at a high level until age 50 after which it reduces. The decline is seen to be greater in people assigned female at birth than in people assigned male at birth.¹⁰

Summary 

To summarise, we learned how pregnancy and hair growth are connected. This understanding helps us to do a root cause analysis of the mechanism involved in hair growth and the reasons leading to hair fall during and after pregnancy. 

A nutritious diet that includes nuts, healthy fats, protein, and fibre-rich fruits and vegetables, combined with mindful hair care and avoidance of toxic chemicals and heat, can prevent hair fall during and after childbirth. Good exercise, sleep and routine for relaxing the mind help to make us stress-free and reduce our anxiety and stress levels, thereby reducing hair fall. Lastly, it is imperative to consider mental health as important as physical health. If at any moment one feels that they need mental support. they should reach out to their friends and family for support.