Menstrual cycles, menopause, puberty, or pregnancy are some of the stages that a woman is continually going through throughout her life. These changes are basically at the hormonal level, which is manifested in many of the female body functions.
These changes are because hormones regulate the body’s different metabolic processes, so the frequent rise and fall of a specific hormone cause variations to exist. During breastfeeding, many of the hormone levels that go up during pregnancy begin to decline again, which can cause increased hair loss. In this FastlyHealarticle, we will explain why your hair falls out when you are breastfeeding, and we will give you some tips on how to reduce this loss.
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Hair growth and loss
Both hair and hair are in a constant cycle of growth and loss throughout our body, which is part of the normal process you carry out to stay healthy. All hair grows in a structure of the skin called the hair follicle, which can stimulate hair growth from the shaft within the follicle.
There are three phases in this cycle. The first phase is the growth phase as such, in which the hair increases its length and which, in general, lasts about five years, although this time can vary between the different follicles, even in the same part of the body. The next step of the cycle is the resting stage, in which it spends four months and then passes to the fall stage.
This cycle is constantly repeated throughout life, changing during the different stages of life. On average, each day, we all lose between 100 and 150 hairs, which is considered normal. We can already speak of accelerated hair loss if this amount is higher.
Hair loss in breastfeeding
Various conditions can cause the hair loss cycle to speed up or slow down, such as:
- Stress
- The aging
- Hormonal changes
The latter is the key to explaining hair loss during lactation.
During pregnancy, women go through a series of hormonal changes, one of which is increased estrogen levels, a hormone that stops the hair cycle just before the hair loss phase. This means that during pregnancy, the woman loses, on average, about 20 hairs instead of the 100 that are usual when she is not pregnant.
After giving birth, what happens is that a woman’s body gradually begins to regain its normal hormonal levels. This makes all the hair that did not fall out during pregnancy fall out during lactation altogether. This is considered normal during breastfeeding, and it does not usually last more than nine months after delivery, although it can last up to two years in some cases.
How to avoid hair loss when breastfeeding
Vitamins for postpartum hair loss
Although hair loss while breastfeeding is a perfectly normal process, there are some steps you can take to reduce the amount of hair you lose per day. The main recommendation is to consume plenty of vitamin B since this vitamin contributes to the strengthening of hair. The best way to get good levels of vitamin B is through brewer’s yeast, although you can also choose to consume supplemental tablets. If you want, you can ask your doctor if you can use vitamin B injections.
Care to avoid hair loss after childbirth
Another beneficial recommendation is to modify the treatment you give to your hair. For example, if you tie your hair in very tight garters, you pull your hair out when you put the band on and take it off. In the same way, using the hairdryer frequently causes mistreatment of the hair, so it is recommended that you do not wash your hair very often so that you do not have to use the dryer.
Using wide brushes for styling is also good, as tighter brushes can pull your hair harder and therefore pull your hair out. The use of the conditioner is also essential, but it is recommended that you apply it only to the ends.
Food against hair loss
Food is one of the most important pillars of our health. From what we eat, the quality and good functioning of our organism come off. If you maintain a good diet, you can prevent and reduce hair loss during this stage of your life. Some of the points that you should keep in mind are:
- Increase your intake of vegetables, fruits, cereals, and dairy.
- Consume products with vitamin B such as avocados, soybeans, oatmeal, or brewer’s yeast.
- Eat foods rich in Omega 3 fatty acids.
- Consume products high in minerals such as iron, calcium, iodine, or zinc, such as chickpeas, peanuts, spinach, or pumpkin.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Why does hair fall out when breastfeeding, we recommend that you enter our Pregnancy and baby health category .
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.