Many new mothers notice clumps of hair in the shower or brush a few months after giving birth. Postpartum hair loss is very common and, for most women, temporary. This guide explains why it happens, what is typical, what helps, and when to talk to a doctor.
Why it happens
During pregnancy, higher hormone levels keep more hairs in the growth phase than usual, so many women notice fuller hair and less shedding. After birth, hormone levels fall and the hairs that were held in the growth phase move into the resting phase together. A few months later, they shed at around the same time. This is a form of telogen effluvium. See telogen effluvium.
What is typical
- Shedding usually starts a couple of months or more after birth.
- It is often most noticeable around the hairline and temples.
- For many women, shedding settles and hair gradually returns to its pre-pregnancy pattern over the following months, though this varies.
If hair does not return to its previous fullness, other causes may be involved, such as low iron, thyroid changes or female pattern hair loss that the shedding has unmasked.
Other factors after birth
- Low iron, which is common after pregnancy and delivery. See iron deficiency hair loss.
- Postpartum thyroiditis, a thyroid inflammation that can occur in the year after birth. See thyroid hair loss.
- Sleep loss, stress and changes in eating, which are part of life with a newborn.
What helps
- Keep up nutrition, and continue prenatal vitamins if your doctor recommends it.
- Handle hair gently: avoid tight styles and heavy heat.
- Consider a shorter or layered cut if thinning around the face bothers you.
- Ask your doctor about iron and thyroid tests if shedding is heavy, prolonged, or comes with fatigue or other symptoms.
A note on treatment while breastfeeding
Several prescription hair loss medications, including minoxidil, spironolactone and DHT blockers, are generally not recommended while breastfeeding, and some must be avoided if you might become pregnant again. Talk to your doctor before using any hair loss treatment postpartum.
Your emotional health matters
Hair loss can be upsetting at a time when you are already adjusting to a lot. If you are feeling persistently low, anxious, hopeless or unlike yourself after birth, those can be signs of postpartum depression or anxiety, which are common and treatable. Please talk to your doctor or midwife. In the US, you can also call or text the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-852-6262, available 24/7.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor for shedding that continues well beyond the first year, patchy bald spots, scalp pain, or symptoms such as fatigue, weight change or palpitations.
Next step
If you are not breastfeeding and want a licensed provider to review ongoing thinning, start your online consultation.
Prescription required for prescription treatment. A licensed provider decides whether treatment is appropriate. Individual results vary. Prescribed Essence currently serves patients in California, Colorado, Florida and New York.
