Does Pregnancy Cause Hair Fall? Myths and Truths: When a woman is pregnant, they undergo a lot of hormonal changes. Many pregnant women have extreme hair loss while some women’s hair becomes thick and beautiful during pregnancy. Hair growth is the result of the body producing more oestrogen during pregnancy. However, It’s not always the case.
40 to 50 per cent of women experience hair fall during pregnancy, although it usually only lasts a short time like most other pregnancy-related changes. If you are having hair fall during pregnancy, here you’ll get to go over the causes of why hair falls during pregnancy.
Causes of Hair Fall During Pregnancy:
Telogen effluvium (hormonal changes)
One of the major causes of pregnancy hair loss is called Telogen Effluvium. This condition leads to stress and shock during pregnancy and causes some women’s hair to thin out or fall out. You typically lose 3 times as much hair per day as you normally do during this time. This is common at this time and mostly around 50% of women experience pain. This condition also leads to severe hair loss that happens one to five months after giving birth.
Deficit in IronÂ
Particularly in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, pregnant women are more likely to develop an iron deficiency/ low iron level, or anaemia. Hair loss is a common symptom of this condition, especially when pregnant. When the body doesn’t create enough red blood cells to deliver oxygen to all of the body’s tissues, iron deficit results. It may also result in symptoms other than hair loss or thinning, such as other health issues.
Also Check: Pros and Cons of Having Alcohol During Pregnancy
Thyroid problems
Thyroid disorders, like hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, are more common, affecting most pregnant women, which can also cause hair fall. Hyperthyroidism, which is characterised by a wide range of symptoms including potential hair loss, may occur if your thyroid gland is hyperactive. The same happens with hypothyroidism, which occurs when your thyroid produces too little of hormones. These disorders can affect women either during or after pregnancy.
Underlying Health Problem
Pregnancy-related hair loss may be a sign of an underlying health problem. Hypertension, gestational diabetes, hyperemesis gravidarum, and vitamin deficiencies are a few examples of this syndrome. These health conditions may depend on the severity, resulting in hair thinning and loss during pregnancy.
Poor nutrition level
If nutrition levels are poor during pregnancy, hair loss may also develop. If you have a vitamin or mineral deficiency might be caused hair loss during pregnancy.
Genetic Issues
Genetics also plays a significant role in hair loss, if it runs in your family history. Genetics or pregnancy may have absolutely nothing to do with your hair fall.
Must Check: Post-Pregnancy Common Health Issues
Causes of Hair Loss Post-Pregnancy
Women may have hair loss during pregnancy, especially after giving birth. In most cases, hair loss peaks four months after birth. A decrease in oestrogen levels and a rise in testosterone levels in the body after delivery will cause hair loss. This is extremely typical and has happened to many women after delivering a baby.
A woman may take steps to reduce hair loss issues; in most cases, this will level out within a year of having a baby. Additionally, you can lessen hair loss by taking good care of your hair. This suggests that women make an effort to consume a healthy diet.
Although these problems don’t cause permanent hair loss during or after pregnancy, your hair may not grow back thick after your hormone or vitamin levels have been balanced.
Consult your doctor to identify medications or vitamin supplements that will restore your levels to normal, if you are pregnant and have illnesses like hypothyroidism or iron deficiency, anaemia, or other underlying health issues. Most women have found that starting to take supplements that are useful in promoting hair growth may be beneficial.
