Hair loss due to pregnancy

Between 40-50% of all women who have given birth experience some form of hair loss post-delivery. It is known as telogen effluvium and occurs as a result of elevated oestrogen levels. This is only temporary and does not need medication. It occurs as a result of the stress endured by the body during pregnancy.

Why does hair loss occur during pregnancy?

There are four stages within the hair growth cycle:

1. Anagen phase – where the hair is growing, typically lasting from one to seven years.
2. Catagen phase – a short period lasting one to three weeks where the follicle begins to reduce in size.
3. Telogen phase – a resting period for the hair follicle. This is the period where telogen effluvium occurs, and extreme levels of stress can force up to 70 per cent of hair follicles to inadvertently enter and become stuck at this stage.
4. Exogen phase – where hair is shed from the scalp, and new growth begins.

With telogen effluvium, the hair follicles get stuck in the ‘telogen’ or resting phase as a result of the high levels of the hormone oestrogen in the body during pregnancy, and this can lead to patches of thinning hair around the centre of the scalp.

This usually occurs in the first four months after the baby is delivered, but there are often cases where patients begin to lose their hair before the birth.

The condition is not solely linked to pregnancy, as it can occur to anyone who has undergone a form of physical trauma such as a serious accident. Luckily, the condition does not require any medication, and over time the hair will eventually move into the ‘exogen’ phase of its own accord and fresh hair growth will occur.

How long will it be before my hair returns?

The time it takes for the hair to return can depend on the patient. However, the general consensus is that their hair will return as soon as oestrogen levels return to normal – usually within six to twelve months after giving birth.

Is there anything I can do to limit the severity of postpartum hair loss?

Luckily, there are some pro-active steps you can take to reduce the amount of thinning during and after pregnancy:

• Be gentle with your hair styles. The use of tightly styled pigtails, weaves or braids can stress your hair, increasing the likelihood of shedding.
• Make sure that your GP tests your hormone levels throughout your pregnancy.
• Modify your diet to include more fruits and vegetables, as these contain flavonoids and antioxidants that can help hair growth.
• Use special hair products that contain both silica and biotin.
• Try to avoid high heat settings on your hairdryer, as these can damage your hair.
• Choose an effective multi-vitamin that contains the vitamins C, E, B-Complex, as well as zinc.

If you are worried that you are suffering from hair loss as a result of pregnancy, it is always advisable to visit your GP to discuss the options that are available to you. However, we will always be available to provide additional support and offer a number of different therapies to help you recover from hair loss due to pregnancy such as our bespoke perm-a-graph system, so please book a consultation with the Hair Growth Studio if you’d like advice from a different perspective.

How Our Perm-A-Graph Helped One Of Our Clients

We take a sample of your hair and have it sent off to be re-created and put onto a skin membrane.  We then attach the skin membrane to your scalp and pull through your existing hair so it looks natural.

Worried And Need A No Obligation Chat?

If you are losing an excessive amount of hair we would recommend that you go to your GP for advice as there may be some other underlying issue causing your hair loss. If this has been inconclusive we may be able to help you get your confidence back with our non surgical hair replacement solution.

You can get in touch by filling out our online contact form or by calling 01706 620 353 to have a no obligation and confidential chat with one of our friendly team.