Pregnancy is a time where you can get vulnerable and tough symptoms, Because of the fact that Pregnancy can carry a lot of weight and responsibilities to the soon to be a mother because of these varying symptoms of pregnancy that can be mild to worse or bothersome in general.
Pregnancy symptoms could include weird and unusual body changes such as ironic huge purse of libido, nightly hot flashes, certain aversion in foods or scent and of course hair loss. But is hair loss a sign of pregnancy or is it something much worse? Read more to find out about hair loss during Pregnancy
Is Loss of Hair during pregnancy normal?
Before we answer the question we must first understand the process of growth and cycle of your hair. Based on studies ⅔ of your hair is actually growing right now! The rest of the thirds are in a dormant phase where there are these potential hair strands just waiting to grow by a signal in your brain.
The hair grows an inch or two every month and every 2 to 3 months the resting hair naturally falls out which then allows the growth of new hair. Simple as that due to the hormonal fluctuations inside a pregnant woman’s body, it may drastically change the way their cells grow in their body – in fact, there are drastic changes in the woman’s DNA during this phase that’s why there must be utmost importance of care to the woman’s health.
Hair loss during pregnancy is normal but not every pregnant woman will experience hair loss during pregnancy, although the shedding of hair is observed. Excessive shedding of hair is a common cosmetic problem by many pregnant women experiencing it.
The excessive shedding of hair is called telogen effluvium which usually occurs one to 6 months coming after pregnancy. Although it is a bothersome disease, it is not serious and most likely temporary.
Hair loss that is directly correlated to pregnancy isn’t usually that common during pregnancy but rather after pregnancy, particularly after delivery. The condition of telogen effluvium during or after pregnancy has no serious damage to the scalp or whatsoever, it does not cause any permanent balding or hair loss.
However, if the condition still persists within 4 months after your baby delivery it could highly indicate that the unusual hair loss might not be caused by pregnancy directly but by big amounts of vitamin or mineral deficiency specifically zinc and Vitamin C deficiency.
Can telogen effluvium or hair loss be a symptom of some serious health issue?
Just like the aforementioned above, Hair loss can be triggered by not getting enough vitamin or mineral sufficiency, sometimes the hair loss can also be a result of hormonal fluctuations which happens a lot during pregnancy. Nevertheless, hair loss is generally known to be caused by anything that involves the balancing of your estrogen hormone in your body.
It is also important to take note that hair loss that you might be experiencing is a result of these following health concerns or situations:
- Miscarriage or stillbirth
- Abortion
- Lack of a healthy and balanced diet
- Stopping the use of birth control pills which affects hormonal levels
Other than that, unless you’re doing chemotherapy, there are no known health concerns regarding hair loss, counterfeit to that it is actually a good thing!
This is because during your pregnancy there is an anatomical increase of estrogen levels which makes your hair more glowy and shiny and aside from that estrogen stimulates the production of newer stronger hair strands.
How to take care of your hair during pregnancy?
- Never stress out your hair strands at this moment because it is relatively easy for them to be pulled out, with that said, avoid doing abrasive hairstyles such as pigtails, tight braids, hair rollers, cornrows and such that can stress the hair out.
- Always maintain a healthy and balanced diet consisting of fruits and vegetables, healthy fats coming from fish or plant-based sources, a good amount of carbohydrates and protein from your choice.
- Take Vitamin C, Vitamin B Complex, Vitamin E, Flavonoids, Zinc and Biotin supplements which are all known to help promote thicker and stronger hair strands and at the same time protect them from hair deterioration. Although it is important to consult your doctor first before trying any of these supplements to make sure your baby is safe.
- Avoid harsh chemicals in your shampoo and instead, use natural shampoos and conditioners that contain silica gel and biotin which helps promote healthy hair. You can also ditch shampoos and opt for natural and organic such as coconut oils, hemp oils and other organic hair cleaned.
- Always consult your doctor every week, especially if you feel that your hair is shedding at an excessive rate, this is to ensure that your body is checked properly.
Read also:
- [Facts and Frills About Lotus Birth]
- [8 Tips on How to Keep Pregnancy a Secret]
- [The Premature Birth: All the Things You Need to Know]
