Table of contents:
- What causes hair loss after childbirth?
- Medical conditions that cause hair loss after childbirth
- Can I wash my hair after giving birth when my hair is falling out?
- How to deal with hair loss after childbirth?
- 1. Avoid using hairdryers and straighteners first
- 2. Eat nutritious foods
- 3. Use shampoo and conditioner that add volume to hair
- Avoid shampoo with the writing of conditioning shampoo
- Avoid conditioners with writing intensive conditioners
- Use conditioner that makes hair smooth
Hair loss problems seem to be common to anyone, including women. For mothers who have recently given birth, the problem of hair loss may feel more severe than it has been before. Actually, what are the causes and how to deal with hair loss after (post) childbirth?
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What causes hair loss after childbirth?
It is important to first understand what causes hair loss after childbirth before finding out more about how to deal with this problem.
The body undergoes significant hormonal changes during pregnancy.
The hormones estrogen, progesterone, oxytocin, prolactin, HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin hormone), and hPL (human placental lactogen) are various hormones that increase during pregnancy.
Estrogen, one of the increased hormones involved during pregnancy, turns out to not only provide various benefits for pregnant women and babies.
According to the American Pregnancy Association, an increase in the hormone estrogen during pregnancy can stimulate hair growth.
That is why, during pregnancy you may feel that your hair looks thick and falls out less frequently.
However, if you feel that during pregnancy, the amount of hair loss increases, it could be because your hair is deficient in vitamins and minerals.
The problem is that the increase in various hormones, including estrogen, will return to its normal level as soon as you give birth.
This automatically makes your hair, which was originally lost, will return to its pre-pregnancy state.
Yes, after giving birth, you are again faced with hair problems that fall out easily.
In fact, hair loss that was delayed during pregnancy can be replaced in this postpartum period.
In other words, you may find that you lost twice as much hair as it did before you became pregnant.
This condition is known as telogen effluvium or excess hair loss which can last for 1-5 months after delivery, reports from the Cleveland Clinic.
Peak hair loss usually occurs about 3-4 months after delivery. However, you don't need to worry because hair loss is temporary.
Hair usually returns to normal within 6-12 months postpartum.
Even though it can return to normal, it doesn't hurt to keep doing various ways to deal with hair loss after childbirth.
Medical conditions that cause hair loss after childbirth
The total amount of hair loss may not be that great.
However, the effect of decreasing pregnancy hormones after childbirth can make you feel as if your hair loss has become too much.
Hair loss after childbirth is normal and can be given the right way to deal with it so that it does not get worse.
Even so, there are several medical conditions that can actually contribute to hair loss after childbirth, such as thyroid disease and anemia.
Immediately consult further with your doctor so that you get the right treatment and hair loss can be overcome.
Can I wash my hair after giving birth when my hair is falling out?
The short answer, of course you can. Mothers who have just given birth certainly need to maintain personal hygiene and health.
This includes being diligent in cleaning the body, shampooing, and applying normal post-delivery care, and post-caesarean section care.
Mothers who just gave birth normally need to do perineal wound care.
Meanwhile, mothers who have just given birth to a caesarean section need to undergo treatment for a cesarean section so that the cesarean scar will heal quickly.
Washing with shampoo and conditioner is the right way to deal with hair loss after giving birth can be done at any time.
However, it is important to recognize self-readiness in the recovery period after normal delivery and undergoing a cesarean section.
Make sure the mother keeps the stitches used for normal and caesarean birth always clean and dry.
How to deal with hair loss after childbirth?
So far there has been no effective way to prevent hair loss after childbirth, except by dealing with it when this problem has already occurred.
If the amount of hair loss after giving birth is bothering you, here are some remedies you can try:
1. Avoid using hairdryers and straighteners first
Give your hair heat through hairdryer or the straightener can further damage the hair, risking it to lead to hair loss.
You may have to be patient for a while by not styling your hair for a while.
It's good to let hair dry naturally after shampooing so that hair loss is gradually reduced as a way to deal with hair loss after giving birth.
Likewise, when combing your hair, you should avoid combing too hard because it can also cause more hair loss.
Comb gently and avoid combing when the hair is still wet because it is easy to fall out.
2. Eat nutritious foods
Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables is the best way to get your body all the nutrients it needs.
That's why it's important to eat a variety of foods after giving birth, especially since you are breastfeeding.
Foods that can improve hair health include dark green vegetables (which contain iron and vitamin C).
In addition, there are also sweet potatoes and carrots (containing beta carotene), eggs (for vitamin D needs), and fish (for omega-3 and magnesium needs).
You can also accelerate new hair growth and reduce hair loss by nourishing it from within with the following nutrients:
- Biotin from meat, dried nuts, seeds
- Vitamin B6 from meat, nuts, seeds
- Omega 3 fatty acids from salmon, whole grains, macadamia nuts, walnuts
- Copper from whole grains, dried fruit, almonds, vegetables
- Zinc from whole grains, vegetables, meat, seafood
3. Use shampoo and conditioner that add volume to hair
Using shampoo and conditioner may not stop hair loss and make hair thicker.
However, using shampoo and conditioner that add volume to your hair is expected to make your hair look fuller.
This is because the shampoo, which is claimed to give volume to the hair, contains ingredients in the form of protein that can coat the hair so that it looks full.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association there are various recommendations for choosing a shampoo and conditioner for hair loss.
Here are some things to consider when choosing a shampoo and conditioner as a way to deal with postpartum hair loss:
Avoid shampoo with the writing of conditioning shampoo
Shampoo with the label "conditioning shampoo"Aka" conditioner shampoo "does seem compact and economical because you no longer need to buy a separate shampoo and conditioner.
It's just that, it turns out that the conditioner content is inside conditioning shampoo it is too heavy that it can weigh on the hair and make it look limp.
Avoid conditioners with writing intensive conditioners
As well as conditioning shampoo, conditioners that are labeled "intensive conditioner" or "intensive conditioners"Can also give the illusion of heavy pond hair.
This will certainly make your hair look limp and thinner.
Use conditioner that makes hair smooth
We recommend choosing a conditioner that is formulated to leave hair feeling smooth.
This type of conditioner usually has a lighter formula so it doesn't weigh down your hair.
Also pay attention to how to use the right conditioner if your hair is loose and thin.
Try to use conditioner only on the ends of your hair, not your scalp.
Using conditioner from the scalp tends to make hair appear heavier and thinner
Indeed, finding a shampoo and conditioner that is great for hair loss and thinning is not easy so it may take a few tries.
So, mothers need to be patient until they find a shampoo and conditioner that can answer the problem as well as a way to deal with hair loss after childbirth.
