Hair loss after delivery: causes and treatment
Pregnancy is a wonderful time, during which a woman is transformed.Many pregnant women with pleasure note that they began to look more attractive: the skin condition improved, the nails became strong, and the hair thick and long.Well, how here not to rejoice?But, unfortunately, many mothers after birth notice how the condition of the skin and nails worsens, and hair and do begin to fall out.What are the causes of postpartum hair loss and how to deal with it?
Reasons for falling outHair after delivery
Hormonal changes after birth
Each hair passes its life cycle from the active growth phase to the phase of loss.Approximately 85% of the hair on the head of a person is in a phase of active growth, the rest in the phase of transition and loss.Hair falls out every day and it's absolutely normal.
The life cycle of the hair is affected by certain hormones.So, estrogens, the level of which increases greatly during pregnancy, stimulates hair growth.It is known that in this interesting period, in the active growth phase, not 85%, but 90-95% of hair may be present.Therefore, during pregnancy, women note how long and thick their curls have become.
However, after delivery, the level of estrogen gradually decreases.Against this background, the hair follicles rapidly pass from the phase of protracted active growth into the phase of the transition, and then the fallout.That is why approximately in the second-third months after giving birth, women notice an abundant hair loss .In fact, during this period all the old hairs fall out, which should have fallen out in due time, but under the action of estrogens lingered in the hair follicles.
It's unpleasant to see how thin the head of hair after delivery is, of course.But you need to understand that this is a natural process of .In the emaciated hair follicles, soon new hair rods will form and the hair will recover.But this takes time.Usually the restoration of normal hair growth occurs within six to nine months after delivery.
Mineral deficiency
It's no secret that the condition of the hair is not least affected by the level of minerals and vitamins in the blood.During pregnancy, many women often take all sorts of mineral-vitamin complexes.In addition, during this period, future mothers try to eat properly, variously.Therefore, the body does not suffer from a lack of vitamins and minerals.
After delivery, the mother's organism is rebuilt in a special way to meet the baby's needs.So, mineral substances from the depot in the mother's body are transferred to breast milk.The newborn receives useful substances to the full, but the woman suffers from a deficiency of these substances .This is manifested by deterioration of the skin and its appendages( hair, nails).
Hair follicles are very sensitive to the level of iron in the blood.With a decrease in the concentration of iron( anemia), increased hair loss is observed.Childbirth is accompanied by loss of blood, and hence anemia.This is another possible reason for hair loss after childbirth.
Pathological hair loss
Hair loss after delivery due to changes in the level of estrogen can be considered physiological. However, pregnancy is sometimes a test for a woman, during which all of her "weak spots" are manifested, that is, predisposition to diseases.So, childbirth is often a trigger factor for the development of thyroid diseases.It is believed that among all pregnant women, 5-9% of women develop postpartum thyroiditis.Symptoms of this disease are weakness, dry skin, hair loss, depressed mood.In the case of a pathology of the thyroid gland, it will be necessary to undergo a course of treatment.
Another pathological factor that can cause hair loss is the stress of .Under the influence of an acute stressful situation, adrenaline is released into the blood.This hormone in turn reduces the muscle fiber that enters the structure of the hair follicle.Because of the contraction of the muscle, the hair bulb squeezes and does not receive oxygen, the necessary substances to the fullest.In such conditions, the development of the hair shaft is disrupted, which causes it to drop out.
With chronic stress, there are violations of the blood supply to the scalp and metabolic processes, which also adversely affects the development of the hair shaft.Of course, the postpartum period is a very difficult time.And if relatives will not help my mother, stress can not be avoided.
How to stop hair loss after childbirth
To start combating hair loss is after finding the cause of this condition. So, if shaving of the head of hair is associated with thyroid gland pathology or postpartum anemia, the doctor will prescribe medicines to eliminate these conditions.But nevertheless in most cases hair falls out after sorts because of hormonal changes.There is nothing to be done, it is necessary to wait patiently for this unpleasant period. And to not aggravate a problem, it is necessary to pay attention to the ration and intensively to look after locks.
Complete nutrition
After giving birth, all attention of a woman is focused on the child.The newborn requires constant care and time for herself from a woman does not remain.Mom fully does not get enough sleep and eats when you have to.In addition, you need to follow a diet, because the use of certain foods can cause allergies in infants.
But with food we get all the necessary minerals and vitamins, the lack of which negatively affects the condition of the head of hear. In the ration of the nursing mother should be present such products:
- Porridge( buckwheat, corn, wheat);
- Fermented milk products;
- Vegetables( potatoes, carrots, cabbage, pumpkin, zucchini);
- Fruit( apples, pears, bananas);Boiled meat and fish.
- .
To raise the level of hemoglobin will help the consumption of fish and meat, liver, eggs, buckwheat.
In some cases, a doctor can prescribe a woman to take vitamin and mineral supplements.Nursing mothers can take vitamins such as Vitrum Prenatal Forte or Multi-Tabs Perinatal.
Head massage
For those who struggle with hair loss, it will be superfluous to do a head massage.This procedure improves the blood supply to the scalp, which increases the nutrition of the hair follicles. Head massage promotes hair growth.
How to do a massage?Begin by rubbing your forehead and temples with soft circular motions with your fingertips.Then, making the same movements, move to the top of the head.Now you need to put your fingers around your neck and move in a circular motion towards the top of your head.It's also worth grabbing the hair at the root between the fingers and pulling them up a little, do not worry, it does not hurt the locks.The massage lasts five to ten minutes. Before the procedure, you can get your fingers wet in vegetable oils, for example, in burdock, castor .Also, massage can be done with a conventional massage brush, doing combing movements in different directions.
The main condition is to do a head massage regularly.With this approach, hair will soon become stronger and healthier.
Proper care of the head of the hair
After giving birth, the woman has almost no time to take care of herself, sometimes even enough to wash her hair.Skin fat clogs the mouth of the hair follicles, which can lead to dandruff and loss of curls.That's why you need to wash your head as soon as it gets dirty.Wash your hair with a towel and allow it to dry naturally.Do not comb wet curls, it hurts them.
In the period of increased hair loss, it is worth paying attention to professional means against hair loss: shampoos, tonics, ampoules. These substances include substances that stimulate the blood supply to the scalp, improve the nutrition of hair follicles and activate hair growth.
You can also use folk remedies.Help strengthen the hair mask with the use of vegetable oils .It is easy to prepare the following folk remedy: pour into the dishes a tablespoon of castor and burdock oil, a teaspoon of wheat germ oil and four drops of butter.The mixture should be heated in a water bath, while it is important not to allow it to boil.The resulting warm composition must be rubbed into the roots of the hair, the remainders distributed among the locks.After applying the product, it is recommended to put on cellophane and a towel on the head.So you need to go for half an hour, and then thoroughly wash your hair.You need to do this mask two or three times a week.
Grigorova Valeria, medical reviewer
