Postpartum Hair Loss: What Is It, Remedies, Expert Weighs In

During my pregnancy, my gynaecologist mentally prepared me for postpartum conditions. I was told that no matter what route the delivery takes, I will have to go through some common conditions, urinary incontinence, hair loss, and weight gain to name a few. No matter how prepared I was, I was taken aback when I started to notice the changes in my body. Postpartum hair loss was horrifying, to say the least. I am sure, a lot of new mothers like me must be as worried. So, I decided to speak to a health expert and bring you an explainer on postpartum hair loss.

What Is Postpartum Hair Loss?

Dr. Meenakshi Sauhta, Director, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cloudnine Group of Hospital, Gurgaon, speaking on postpartum hair loss said, "Postpartum hair loss is a common condition often seen in women three to six months after delivery. It is a normal process wherein there is excessive shedding of hair caused by hormonal changes."

The expert further talked about the phases of hair growth throughout our life. She said, "There are three phases of hair growth that repeat throughout our life. The first phase is the phase of active hair growth. The second phase is where the hair follicles shrink and the third phase is the resting phase after the hair falls out. This phase lasts for about three months. After delivery due to the regression of the hormone estrogen, the hair enters into the resting phase and is responsible for the postpartum hair loss."

Is There A Treatment For Postpartum Hair Loss?

When I first started to lose my hair during the postpartum phase, I tried every single home remedy and treatment to keep my hair healthy. Believe me, I prepared many natural oils at home which claimed to boost hair growth but nothing really helped. I asked our expert if there was a treatment for postpartum hair loss. She said, "There is no treatment for postpartum hair loss. This is a natural phenomenon. Women should accept it and keep faith that their hair will grow back soon." "There is nothing you can do to prevent postpartum hair loss. Acceptance of the condition is the only way forward," she added.

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Hair Tips For Postpartum Phase

Dr. Sauhta further shared that though nothing really works for your hair during the postpartum hair loss period, the following tips can make your experience better -

As our expert shared, postpartum hair loss is a temporary condition and it doesn't really have a remedy. However, if you suffer from hair loss after the postpartum phase too, we suggest consulting a doctor to find out if there is an underlying health condition leading to the condition.