Hair Loss After Pregnancy

Hair loss after pregnancy, technically called telogen effluvium, is a common and normal occurrence. Pregnancy hair loss can be alarming if you are not expecting it, however.

What causes pregnancy hair loss?

Normally about 90% of your hair is growing, while the other 10% is in a resting phase. After two or three months, the resting hair falls out. During pregnancy, however, due to the increase in estrogen in your body, most or all of your hair keeps growing. That’s why most pregnant women have such thick, full hair during their pregnancies. Hair does not go into the resting phase during pregnancy.

After delivery, though, your hair makes up for the lack of a resting phase during pregnancy. About 60% of your hair goes into a resting phase. A couple months later, you will begin to experience pregnancy hair loss. Hair loss after pregnancy lasts for about three or four months, then stops. It is a general thinning of hair all over the head; it does not cause bald spots.

Does hair loss occur during pregnancy?

Not usually. In fact, most women find their hair becomes more luxurious than usual during pregnancy. That’s because of the increase in estrogen levels.

Can hair loss after pregnancy be prevented?

There is no way to totally prevent hair loss after pregnancy. There are, however, some steps you can take to minimize pregnancy hair loss.

Eat a balanced diet with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. These contain flavonoids and antioxidants, which protect hair follicles and encourage hair growth.

Add the following supplements to your diet to encourage healthy hair growth:

• Vitamin B complex - This encourages hair growth and will help restore lost hair.


• Vitamin C - This improves circulation to the scalp, thereby keeping hair follicles healthy.


• Vitamin E - This also improves circulation to the scalp, and also improves the immune system which helps keep hair healthy.


• Zinc - This improves the immune system, keeping hair healthy.

How is pregnancy hair loss treated?

You don’t need to do anything to treat hair loss after pregnancy. It will reverse itself about three to four months after delivery. Some women, however, prefer to use a hair loss treatment to speed things along. If this is the case, there are a number of options available to you. We’ll give you our top recommendation in a moment.

Do other reproductive issues cause hair loss?

Anything that affects your estrogen levels can cause hair loss. For instance, discontinuing use of birth control pills or other hormone-based contraceptives can cause a drop in estrogen that can trigger temporary hair loss.

Hair loss is also common during menopause. That’s because estrogen levels typically drop during this time. Hormone replacement therapy can help treat hair loss, but you should talk to your doctor and carefully consider the pros and cons before deciding whether or not hormone therapy is right for you. Some women begin to use a hair loss treatment during menopause.

Any other hormonal imbalance can cause hair loss as well. Correcting the imbalance should correct the hair loss problem. Be sure to talk to your doctor if you begin to notice hair loss and don’t know why. It could be a sign of illness, and there may be treatment that will correct the problem.

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