Childbirth-A Common Cause of Hair Loss in Women

Most women are familiar with the concept that their hair may be more beautiful than ever during pregnancy, but many women are not as familiar with the effects that childbirth can have on their tresses and some of the effects may come as a surprise.

During pregnancy, many women experience a fuller, more luxurious head of hair due to an increase in estrogen levels and the effects of taking prenatal vitamins.  After childbirth however, hormones begin to fluctuate as they slowly return to normal levels and this can cause once luxurious locks of hair to become thin and brittle.

There are a few things that new mothers can do to ease their hair through the transition of fluctuating hormones found in the postpartum months.  Good nutritional habits, along with supplements containing iron, zinc, magnesium and vitamins A and B will help support the hair as it gradually returns to normal.  According to an article in Fox News, foods such as tomatoes, garlic, french beans and sweet potatoes are high in both A and B vitamins and can help to mitigate hair loss in women.

Busy moms need to be gentle with their hair.  Rather than simply pulling up their hair into a ponytail which can cause breakage, a simple, short haircut may be more effective in reducing damage to the hair and will require little maintenance.

Some women still struggle months after the birth of their baby with hair loss and breakage.  In these cases, a visit to a dermatologist may be in order to rule out any underlying causes.  Although hair loss treatments like minoxidil are generally not recommended during pregnancy or while breastfeeding, women can discuss whether or not minoxidil may be safe for them to use at some point.

For more information about our minoxidil products, please contact us.