Women are Prone to Hair Loss after Pregnancy

Pregnancy can be a big factor involved in female-pattern hair loss, say researchers from Atlanta, Georgia. Actually, losing hair just after giving a birth is not a pathological condition, as it was believed before, but a totally normal phenomenon. According to studies, postpartum hair loss represents a regular part of the hair growth cycle.

Individual hair shafts emerge from hair follicles and undergo cyclic periods of growth with subsequent replacement. Anagen, or the period of active hair growth, usually lasts from 3 to 6 years, after which it is followed by catagen, a transition period of several weeks. During the catagen phase, the hair shaft stops growing and preparing for the next phase. The last, third phase, also known as telogen, completes the hair growth cycle. During telogen, the old hair falls off and the new anagen phase begins, giving birth to a new hair growing from the same follicle. When many hair shafts enter their telogen phase, people notice accumulations of hair on their combs and brushes and start worrying about excess hair loss.

How long each phase of the hair growth cycle will last depends on many factors. Pregnancy is known to cause numerous hormonal changes and nutrient deficiencies in the woman’ body. Especially pronounced are deficiencies in iron and folic acid, both of which are needed for the healthy growth of the baby. During the postpartum period, the lack of vital nutrients combined with hormonal fluctuations can make many hairs enter the natural telogen period, thus saving minerals and vitamins within the woman’s body for more important physiological needs.

If your suffer from hair loss related to recent pregnancy, try to restore the health of your hair by switching to a nutrient-dense diet and by using natural herbal remedies designed to restore hair growth. The right diet and topical application of herbal oils and tonics should cure postpartum hair loss within less than a year.

Stefani Robbins