What should I do if I have postpartum hair loss? It is believed that most mothers have experienced postpartum hair loss, medically referred to as resting hair loss when hair begins to thin in the months after giving birth. As the saying goes, “When the baby laughs, the hair falls out”, which refers to the phenomenon of postpartum hair loss. Hormonal changes, mental factors, and dietary factors may induce postpartum hair loss. So, is postnatal hair loss normal? What are the causes of postpartum hair loss? What should I do if my hair loss is serious?
Is postnatal hair loss normal?
Postpartum hair loss refers to the abnormal loss of hair after childbirth. Hair loss occurs about 4 months after giving birth and is caused by hormonal readjustment in the body. Pregnancy prolongs the dormant period of the hair follicles, which accelerates into the hair-loss phase right after giving birth. This problem is even more serious if there is a lot of mental stress or if the baby cries at night and doesn’t sleep.
Postpartum hair loss is mostly a physiological phenomenon and will recover on its own 6-12 months after delivery, without special treatment. Postpartum hair is oily and prone to hair loss, as long as it is washed reasonably and does not use too harsh shampoo. If hair loss is serious, you can take vitamin B1 and glutamine under the guidance of your doctor.
What are the causes of postpartum hair loss?
1. Hormonal changes
The speed of hair replacement in women is closely related to the body’s estrogen level. When estrogen increases, the rate of hair loss slows down; when estrogen decreases, the rate of hair loss accelerates. Within 6 months after delivery, the function of sex organs is in the recovery stage, and the secretion of estrogen decreases significantly, causing hair loss.
2. Mental factors
For example, some women are emotionally unstable or mentally stressed before and after delivery for various reasons, which leads to metabolic disorders in the body and insufficient nutritional supply, inducing hair loss.
3. Dietary factors
The pregnancy diet is monotonous, coupled with the mother’s body to a variety of nutrients that need to increase, such as timely supplementation, caused by the lack of protein, calcium, zinc, and B vitamins, affecting the normal growth of hair and metabolism, so that the hair withered and easy to break.
What should I do if my hair loss is serious after giving birth?
1. Pay attention to the skills of shampooing and drying hair
Shampooing:
Use shampoo that is suitable for your hair. Do not rub your hair too hard, and shampoo your hair in a natural downward position. After shampooing, generally use conditioner, plus moisturizer if necessary.
Dry hair:
Wet hair is fragile and easily damaged, so it is advisable to dry hair with a dry towel to press and pat dry, and it should not be rubbed with a towel. The high heat of the hair dryer has a damaging effect on the hair, attention is still dripping and the hair is not suitable for blow drying. It is best to let the hair dry naturally.
2. The correct combing of hair
Choose a wide-toothed wooden or horn comb, do not use a plastic comb that makes it easy to generate static electricity. Follow the natural direction of the hair downward segment combing.
3. Try to avoid or reduce the number of perms and hair coloring.
Perm water (cold perming essence) and most hair dyes damage the hair quality with adverse effects, so it is recommended to try not to burn or not dye, or at least increase the interval, and reduce the number of hairdressing.
4. Pay attention to diet
Postpartum hair loss is mainly a process of endocrine changes, and blind supplementation, resulting in excess body heat, but harmful to health.
5. Other attention
Keep an optimistic mood, do appropriate physical exercise, and avoid hair exposure to the sun.
What is good for postpartum hair loss?
1. Supplement iron
30% of postpartum hair loss is caused by iron deficiency, so the problem of hair loss can be solved by eating more iron-containing foods. Usually, common foods rich in iron are soybeans, black beans, eggs, scallops, shrimp, cooked peanuts, spinach, carp, bananas, carrots, potatoes, and so on.
2. Supplementation of vegetable protein
In addition, iron deficiency can lead to hair loss, if the hair lacks nitrogenous acid, cystine, etc. can cause hair loss. Therefore, for this kind of hair loss patients, in the daily diet may want to eat more food containing methionine, such as soybeans, black sesame, corn, and so on.
3. Eat more vegetables and fruits
If you are a woman who consumes too much sugar and fatty food for a long time, it will also cause hair loss. Vegetables and fruits are alkaline foods, and eating more of these foods can neutralize acidic toxins.
4. Iodine supplement
For some women, although there is no hair loss, the hair is yellow and dry, has no luster, and can be a moderate iodine supplement. Women may want to eat more kelp, seaweed, oysters, and other foods, in addition to the health of hair, but also has the role of preventing hair loss.
5. Supplement vitamin E
To prevent hair loss, vitamin E supplementation can not be less, it has the effect of resistance to hair aging, and promotes hair mother cell division. In addition, it can also promote the growth of hair, so you can eat more fresh lettuce, green cabbage, black sesame, and so on.
How to prevent postpartum hair loss?
The most important thing to prevent postpartum hair loss is to maintain a proper hair care routine. Correct daily hair care habits include the correct shampooing method, the correct combing method, and the correct blow-drying method.
1. The correct shampooing method:
- Before washing hair, use a large tooth comb to straighten the hair, first comb the tips of the hair, and then gradually upward, and finally from the roots to the tips of the hair.
- Shampoo with warm water, and adjust the appropriate water temperature (37-38 degrees Celsius is optimal). Too hot is not good, it will hurt the hair, too cold is not good, because it is difficult to remove dirt.
- Pour out the right amount of shampoo, and massage until foaming before evenly smearing on the head, do not pour directly on the hair.
- Use shampoo to wash out the dirt first. Remember not to scratch the scalp with your fingertips, but gently massage the scalp with your fingertips.
- Two thorough cleanings, to ensure that a little bit no sticky and slippery things, otherwise it will hurt the hair.
2. The correct combing method:
Often combing hair, makes it smooth and neat, removes the dust and dirt attached to the hair, and promotes blood circulation of the scalp, but also the scalp oil to the tips of the hair, so that the hair gets enough nutrition. However, incorrect combing methods can cause mechanical damage to the hair.
The correct method of combing hair is:
- Choose a suitable wooden comb, such as a sandalwood comb, to prevent static electricity while massaging your scalp.
- First, use a large-toothed comb to smooth the hair, then comb the tips of the hair, then gradually upward, and finally from the roots to the tips of the hair; and then use a fine-toothed comb combing, the hair will be smoother.
- When combing hair, from the root of the hair to be slightly harder, comb teeth to contact the skin of the head, to help promote blood circulation, and make the scalp oil reach the hair.
- Choosing the right comb is also important for your hair. Combs made of natural materials, such as horn combs, wooden combs, and hairless friction, can prevent static electricity. Brush made of natural bristles, more root parts of the hair oil to the tips of the hair, moisturizing the hair and increasing the luster.
3. The correct method of blow-drying:
The best way to dry your hair after shampooing is to let it air dry naturally. Blow the hair dryer before remembering to use a towel to absorb excess moisture, hot air blowing still dripping hair, is both time-consuming and hair is also damaged. The hairdryer and hair should be kept at a distance of 20 centimeters, preferably alternating between hot and cold air, to avoid heat damage to the hair.
For prevention, why not start by combing your hair?
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