Pregnancy causes a multitude of changes in your body and even affects the growth cycle of your hair. Although hair loss after pregnancy is not uncommon, some women also experience hair loss during pregnancy. Determining the cause of your hair loss can help your doctor recommend an appropriate treatment for your problem.
The Hair Growth Cycle
Small openings in your skin called hair follicles produce hairs. At any time, 10 to 20 percent of follicles are in a resting, or telogen, state, while the remainder of the follicles are growing hair, according to the American Hair Loss Association. During pregnancy, increasing hormone levels may cause more follicles than normal to enter the telogen phase. When too many hairs enter the resting state, a condition called telogen effluvium results. As hormone levels decrease after pregnancy, hairs in the resting stage begin to fall out. In some cases, however, hair may fall out during pregnancy, rather than after.
Symptoms
Thinning of the scalp hairs occurs when you have telogen effluvium. Although your hair will not look as full as it normally does, you won't lose all your hair. You may notice more thinning on the top of the scalp, rather than on the sides and back of the scalp, according to the American Hair Loss Association.
Causes
While rising hormone levels are often to blame for hair loss that occurs after pregnancy, a mineral or vitamin deficiency may be the reason that you are experiencing hair loss during pregnancy. Hair loss may also occur if you have a tendency to develop androgenetic alopecia, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Androgenetic alopecia causes thinning hair due to a problem with the conversion of the hormone testosterone to dihydrotestosterone. Too much dihydrotestosterone can affect the ability of the follicles to produce healthy hairs. If you develop androgenetic alopecia during pregnancy, you may notice that the part in your hair looks wider than usual.
Treatment
Taking vitamin and mineral supplements can help reduce hair loss if your problem is caused by a deficiency. The American Pregnancy Association suggests eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables and recommends taking vitamin and mineral supplements. Check with your doctor first before taking any vitamin or mineral supplements. If your condition is caused by androgenetic alopecia, your doctor may prescribe topical or oral medication at some point after your baby is born. Hair loss medication is not recommended for pregnant women.
Considerations
While hair loss during pregnancy can be distressing, you can take steps to make the problem less obvious. Creative hairstyles can help disguise thinning hair. Treating your healthy hair gently and avoiding tight hairstyles can help ensure that you don't lose any more hair. The American Pregnancy Association recommends using shampoos and conditioners that contain silica and biotin and using the cool setting when blow drying hair.
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