Postpartum hair loss: what’s normal and what’s not
If you’ve been pregnant you’d probably remember the lusciousness of your hair; thick, shiny, long.
This was thanks to the high amounts of circulating oestrogen and progesterone, this helps keep our hair in the ‘growth’ phase compared to the ‘loss phase’. So our normal hair loss rate of approximately 100 strains per day is reduced - hence those hair goddess feels.
Then we arrive at postpartum and enter a new hormonal state. And the shedding starts!
WHAT’S NORMAL HAIR LOSS AFTER BABY?
It’s often around the 4-month mark that most mums notice the hair loss begins. Yet for some, it’s closer to 6 months. This becomes most noticeable when brushing your hair or washing it in the shower.
This shedding is diffuse throughout the head but is often obvious at the front and sides of the hairline. It becomes noticeable for a couple of months from when it begins, then it should slow down. Soon after those common postpartum ‘baby hairs’, aka baby bangs, appear!
These new hairs eventually catch up with the rest of your hair growth and the overall loss should slow down to your normal rate of hair loss pre-pregnancy.
WHAT’S NOT NORMAL HAIR LOSS AFTER BABY?
If the above has occurred as described, but instead of slowing down after the initial 2-3 months of the noticeable hair loss, it continues.
And/or you begin to lose chunks of hair that leave you with noticeable bald spots. And/or your hair never seems to fully recover or regrow and it remains thin, with easy breakage.
CONSIDERATIONS
As a Naturopath, the most common factors I see that contribute to ongoing hair loss are:
Iron deficiency: When the body lacks sufficient iron it can lead to a condition known as telogen effluvium. This disrupts the hair growth cycle and increases shedding. The good news is that hair loss related to iron deficiency hair loss can be reversed if you get your iron levels back to normal. Blood tests that include Full Blood Count and Iron Studies are required here.
A thyroid issue (eg. postpartum thyroiditis): An underactive or overactive thyroid gland can lead to hair loss. Blood tests required to fully assess your thyroid function are TSH, T4, T3, Thyroid Antibodies and Reverse T3.
Inadequate nutrition; in particular quality protein, essential fats, zinc, and iron - daily. I see the intake of these nutrients below optimal more often than not. In particular with breastfeeding mothers who have increased needs.
Stress/exhaustion/depletion (aka motherhood)
If you’ve been experiencing ongoing hair loss after baby, or you’ve even noticed some bald areas on your head (months or years out from baby) these can be red flags for underlying issues that need to be investigated and addressed.