Congratulations to you, Madam. You have become a “mama” and have begun to experience the feelings of motherhood, which are among the most beautiful human feelings, but something is beginning to disturb your happiness. If you started complaining about significant hair loss after giving birth and you feel anxious and frightened by it, you wonder: What are the causes of this loss? And when will it stop? What are the methods of treatment or relief? Rest assured, ma'am; In the following lines, you will find the answers you are looking for.
First: the natural hair life cycle
The hair goes through three stages during its life cycle:
Hair growth stage: The hair remains in the growth stage for approximately 3 years, and grows at a rate of cm per month.
The hair resting stage: This stage lasts for 3 weeks, during which the hair stops growing, becomes stable, and falls out at a rate of only 2% of the hair on the head during this stage.
Hair loss stage: This stage lasts for 3 months, during which old hair falls out at a rate of 50 to 100 hairs per day, and new hair grows in its place.
Second: Causes of hair loss after childbirth
Women's hair falls out after giving birth for the following reasons:
1. Hormonal changes “estrogen deficiency”:
Estrogen deficiency is the main cause of hair loss after childbirth. During pregnancy, a pregnant woman notices that her hair has become thicker and is in better condition than in her entire life. This is due to the increase in estrogen, the “female hormone,” through the placenta, which makes the hair grow without stopping and delays its fall phase, as it is known that every hair has a life cycle.
However, estrogen returns to its normal level after childbirth. Which causes the hair to resume falling out intensely, especially the hair that was in a stabilizing period and did not fall out during pregnancy. Women usually complain of hair loss and breakage about 3 months after giving birth, and it continues for about 3 months as well, at a rate of 2 to 3 times more than daily loss. Normal hair loss, and the loss often stops a year after giving birth when the body regains its hormonal balance.
In addition to hormonal changes, other factors increase the problem of hair loss after childbirth, including:
2. Hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism:
It is a common problem during pregnancy, and one of its most prominent symptoms is hair loss.
3. Iron deficiency:
Women lose a large amount of blood during childbirth and the postpartum period. Therefore, you are at risk of iron deficiency, one of the symptoms of which is hair loss.
4. Diet:
Many women resort to diet or diet after giving birth. This is with the aim of regaining her graceful figure before pregnancy. Which causes her body to lose vitamins and minerals, and causes hair to become weak and fall out.
5. Stress and postpartum depression:
Some women suffer from postpartum depression due to the shock they experience regarding their new lifestyle, the many responsibilities and duties, the state of exhaustion that the woman’s body experiences after childbirth, and the lack of sleep due to the newborn’s sleep disturbance. This increases the secretion of the stress hormone “cortisol” in her, which affects her body’s hormones and causes hair loss.
6. Breastfeeding:
Breastfeeding causes a woman's body to lose many nutrients, and if she does not pay attention to her nutrition during this period, she may suffer from malnutrition, one of the symptoms of which is hair loss.
7. Contraceptives:
Some women may take contraceptives after giving birth, some of which lead to significant hair loss.
8. Hair dyes and exposing it to heat:
Hair dyes are among the factors that increase the chances of hair loss. This is because it contains oxidizing substances that cause harm to the hair, in addition to exposing it to heat (dryers and other hair styling devices).
Third: Treating hair loss after childbirth
There is no radical treatment for hair loss after birth, as it is an inevitable physiological condition that will disappear naturally and without treatment when your child reaches his first birthday. However, the following methods can be followed to reduce the duration and amount of hair loss:
1. Diet:
The woman loses many essential nutrients that nourish the fetus during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Therefore, it is necessary for women to pay attention to compensate for the deficiency in their body by following a diet rich in vitamins and minerals, and based on vegetables, fruits, nutritional supplements, and dried fruits rich in Omega-3, and drinking large amounts of water to maintain the hydration of the body and hair.
2. Taking care of hair:
That is, a woman should take care of her hair by using medicated shampoo, serums to treat damaged hair, oil baths, and moisturizing creams, drying it with a towel and minimizing its exposure to the blowdry, avoiding washing it with hot water but rather with lukewarm water, not combing it while wet, and using a wooden comb with wide teeth.
3. Scalp massage:
Massaging the hair scalp with natural oils (coconut oil, almond oil, castor oil), and aloe vera, then wrapping the head with a hot towel, leaving it for a while, and then washing it, is helpful in stimulating blood circulation and getting blood to the hair follicles. Which strengthens it and helps it grow.
4. Improving the psychological state:
That is, the woman tries to improve her psychological state and protect herself from anxiety and depression by adapting to new responsibilities and pressures.
5. Hair cutting:
Hair can be cut short, and damaged hair can be removed. Which helps him recover faster.
6. Exercising:
It is recommended to exercise, yoga and relaxation exercises for women after childbirth. This is due to its role in stimulating blood circulation, getting blood and oxygen to the hair, and relieving the body of stress and anxiety.
Fourth: The vitamins that hair needs
Hair, like the body, needs many vitamins necessary for its growth and strengthening, which are:
Vitamin C: Vitamin C helps reduce dryness of the scalp and stimulates the growth of new hair. Its most important sources are: oranges, citrus fruits, tomatoes, strawberries, spinach, and kiwi.
Vitamin D: Vitamin D helps stimulate hair growth, and can be obtained from eggs, fish, milk, cod liver oil, and exposure to sunlight.
Vitamin E: Vitamin E stimulates hair follicles, reduces scalp infections, and protects hair from damage. It can be obtained from soybeans, almonds, and vegetables.
Vitamin A: Vitamin A stimulates the production of natural oils in the scalp, which moisturizes the hair and protects it from breakage and split ends. It can be obtained from potatoes, fish, carrots, and leafy vegetables.
Biotin or B7: Biotin enhances hair thickness and strengthens it, and can be obtained from eggs, avocado, salmon, and peanut butter.
Iron: Iron is one of the most important minerals that the body needs to complete its functions, including hair growth. Iron helps deliver oxygen to all parts of the body through red blood cells. Iron deficiency causes anemia, which is one of the main causes of hair loss. The most important sources of iron are: eggs, red meat, lentils, spinach, and oysters.
Zinc: Zinc maintains the sebaceous glands in the scalp, and hair loss is a symptom of zinc deficiency, and it can be obtained through nutritional supplements, lentils, beef, and spinach.
Calcium: Calcium is one of the most important elements that women need after childbirth. This is to compensate for what she lost during pregnancy. Calcium also helps protect her from anemia, and it can be obtained from dairy, cheese, milk, and calcium pills.
Fifth: Natural recipes for treating hair loss
This is a group of natural recipes that help reduce hair loss:
Egg whites: The egg whites recipe is prepared by mixing the egg whites with a spoonful of honey and a spoonful of olive oil, then placing the mask on the hair for half an hour, then washing it with lukewarm water and shampoo.
Fenugreek: Fenugreek is a wonderful herb in treating hair loss. This is done by soaking the fenugreek seeds in a bowl of water and leaving it until the next day, then massaging the scalp with the water resulting from soaking the seeds, leaving it on the head for several hours, then washing it with lukewarm water and shampoo.
Curdled milk: It is recommended to massage the scalp with curdled milk. Because of its countless benefits for the hair, and strengthening the follicles, it is left on the hair for 15 minutes, then washed with lukewarm water and shampoo.
Garlic: Mix 5 cloves of crushed garlic with 5 tablespoons of castor oil and a tablespoon of black seed oil. Place the mixture in a box for two days before using it, then massage the scalp with it, leave it on the hair for two hours, then wash the head with lukewarm water and shampoo.
Cinnamon: Mix a spoonful of cinnamon with two spoons of honey and two spoons of olive oil, massage the scalp with the resulting mixture, leave it on the head for about an hour, and then wash it with lukewarm water and shampoo.
Onions: Mix onion juice with olive oil and aloe vera gel, massage the scalp with the mixture, leave it on the head for about an hour, then wash it with lukewarm water and shampoo.
Apple cider vinegar: Apple cider vinegar helps clean the scalp and increase hair density. Mix half a cup of apple cider vinegar with 1 liter of lukewarm water, then rinse the hair with vinegar diluted with water, then clean with lukewarm water and shampoo.
Rosemary: Rosemary leaves are soaked in water, left for several hours, and the resulting water is used to wash the hair after shampoo.
Sixth: Laughable myths about hair loss after childbirth
We hear from some women, especially grandmothers, some laughable myths about hair loss after childbirth, including:
“Your hair is falling out because your baby is starting to recognize your face among other faces.”
“Your hair is falling out because you're starting to think about having a new baby.”
“Your hair is falling out because you are jealous of the one who gave birth to a boy, in case you gave birth to a girl.”
“Your hair falls out after 6 months because of your sadness about reducing breastfeeding and adopting solid food for your baby.”
“Your hair falls out after a natural birth, but it does not fall out after a cesarean section.”
in conclusion:
As we said earlier, the phenomenon of hair loss after childbirth is a natural physiological phenomenon linked to changing hormones. It does not cause concern or fear, and does not require a visit to the doctor. It will go away on its own, and your hair will return to recovery and growth again, but there is no harm in following advice that reduces hair loss. The severity of its fall; So, Madam, enjoy your motherhood and your new baby, and do not spoil your happiness with unjustified fear.