Question: My pregnancy was wonderful, and I have a healthy new baby. However, after my pregnancy, I noticed my hair started falling out! I notice more distance between hair follicles than I remember, and general balding all over my head. I’m constantly cleaning up my hair from my hairbrush, bathroom, sink, pillow and shower. Why did I start losing hair after my pregnancy, and what should I do? I’m so busy caring for the baby, I don’t have time for this. I’m frantic and losing my looks. Help!
Dr. Shapiro, Hair Transplant Doctor Answers: Congratulations on the new baby! I am sorry to hear about your post-pregnancy hair loss. Do not panic. Losing hair after pregnancy is not uncommon.
The problem is hormone-related. Hormones ruled your pregnancy, but they are hurting your hair now.
Your hair goes through a normal cycle of growing, transitioning, falling out and growing back again. These stages of the hair growth cycle are called anagen, catagen and telogen. During pregnancy, more of your hairs than usual stay in the catagen phase. After the pregnancy, a backlog of hairs that would have normally fallen out during the prior months enter the telogen phase and fall out. Many new mothers notice this.
For most new moms, the hair eventually grows back. But if the hair loss is severe or persistent, it’s time to check in with your doctor. You may also want to check with a dermatologist or hair transplant surgeon for a workup and diagnosis. It may be possible to balance your hormone levels, or they may balance out on their own. In certain cases, a hair transplant can help women who lose hair after pregnancy.
Look into my All Natural 4-Step Program™ to “fight hair loss and win.” My system is designed to make hair look stronger, thicker, fuller and healthier. I have seen many new moms have come into my office and had great results! This program includes Help Hair® Vitamins, Help® Hair Shampoo and Help Hair® Conditioner and Help Hair® Shake.
Six women with post-pregnancy hair loss were part of my user study on whey protein concentrate-based Help Hair® Shake. They all had improvement in the quality and fullness of their hair while taking Help Hair® Shake each day. Help Hair® Shake and Help Hair® Vitamins should not be taken while you are still nursing your baby or if you get pregnant again.
Be sure to check in with your doctor, and look into my All Natural 4-Step Program™.
Dr. Shapiro
Thanks for asking!
Dr. Shapiro
Dr. Shapiro is a dermatologist and hair transplantation specialist with hair transplant clinics in the Miami, Boca Raton and Ft. Lauderdale areas of south Florida.