Anyone experience severe postpartum hair loss?

Monica - posted on 05/28/2013

I'm almost 2 yrs postpartum and I still have bald spots on my temples and my hair continues to fall like crazy !!!!!! I hate myself sometimes because of this my hair is very thin and I'm depressed because of it!!! Is there anything to do about this or how to regrow hair

Laila - posted on 02/06/2013

Jaimie...Our situations sound different. The only thing that sounds the same is that we both lost hair after giving birth. I started losing hair at 4 months. My hair mainly fell out at the temples (bald spots at temples only) and grew back within a few months. I did not feel burning or any sensation you describe.

It is best to ask someone who has gone through what you are going through now as I may not be the best person to compare things to. Ask your dermatologist tomorrow if there is another person that you can contact or if the dermatologist themselves can give you more direct feedback as to whats going on with your hair loss and approximately how long does it take to grow back. The only thing I can say is to not give up hope and ask as many questions as possible to your primary Dr. and Dermatologist.

Sorry I cannot offer more sound advice other than to turn to the people that can provide a treatment specifically for you and to not lose hope. Listen to their suggestions and hope you find comfort in applying what they tell you to do.

Wishing you the best tomorrow on your appointment. Good luck!

Jaimie - posted on 02/05/2013

Oh ya and my scalp feels like it is on fire most the time..I to ba k to dermatologist on Friday.. I swear I feel the bair falling.. I find it ever where..it is constantly falling..thanks for taking the time to respond

Jaimie - posted on 02/05/2013

Laila..question..how long did yours last and when did it come back..like how long? Did you breast feed..I did for 8 months with 2nd child..14 months with 1st child. Just quit 3 months ago..and was yours thin all o er or just at temples..mine is all o over. Pretty devastating. Freakkng out

Laila - posted on 02/05/2013

Hi Jaimie, sorry to hear that it is difficult right now. I completely understand. I felt the same way and had to cover up as much as possible until I saw a hair stylist to show me how to use the rest of my hair to style. She reassured me that it is the hormones and hair grows back. If the blood work comes up with no alopecia than time is the best remedy. If you are still worried maybe consider seeing another person.
Not sure what your hair style preference is but head bands, pretty scarves, and stylish hats are a lot of fun! Maybe try to see how that goes? I hope this helps. Hope things get better very soon!

Jaimie - posted on 02/05/2013

Laila..I had scalp biopsy.. no alopecia..over $1000 worth blood work..nothing..maybe it is just the hormones.. but sure is scary. But when yours went on..WS it just at temples or all over..mines temples crown..all over .I swear i can hold up hair at crown and count the hairs..very hard to style.. so u don't see completly threw

Laila - posted on 02/05/2013

I recommend looking into a scalp specialist. Search online for someone close to you...there is help out there!

Jaimie - posted on 02/03/2013

really wanting to now a year or 2 later...how many moms are still suffering from this? Did anyones continue? As mine did right on threw my second pregnancy..I have and my scalp is burning and itching...and still thinning fast wiht minimal new growth. Can anyone help me?

Laila - posted on 01/28/2013

There is light at the end of the tunnel! I posted at the end of November with two very noticeable bald spots at my temples. I am super happy to share that the hair has grown back.

I think that taking my prenatal vitamins daily and following the Nioxin treatments steps really helped my hair come back in a short period of time. I do not shampoo or condition every day...I wait 3-4 days to wash and remember to brush my hair from the bottom to the top. Also, I made an appointment with a scalp specialist to ask if there was any damage to my scalp and she reassured me that hair loss after giving birth is very normal hormones. It is all hormonal related so learn some new hair-dos during this time.

As I was eagerly waiting for my hair to grow back I wore my hair in scarves or down by gently placing the hair from the back to the front to cover it up so it looked "normal". Whatever normal is!

I still lose hairs every day and when I brush or shampoo but thankfully I no longer have bald spots and can wear my hair up again! There is light at the end of the tunnel!!

Taya - posted on 01/28/2013

I have a 11 month old daughter and i nursed her for almost 10 months and all the time i was nursing my hair would fall out. I had to brush my hair like 5 times a day!!! Even though it's been almost 1 1/2 months since I've stopped my hair still falls out, not as much as before, but it still falls out!!!! It will stop!!!! I heard b-12 vitamin works!!!! i took that while I was pregnant, it helped a little bit only cause i was pregnant. Now that i'm not i still continue to take it and it seems to help with the hair loss

Colleen - posted on 12/30/2012

It has been 3mths since I had mine and my hair is falling out bad.this is my 3rd child and I never had this much hairloss. The top of my head is almost bold. I to have sensitive sculp and I can feel my hair fall out. Hope its over soon. Its scary...... but reading on here has giving me hope I'm glad I'm not the only one. Has anyones hair come back when its severe like this.........

Nili - posted on 12/19/2012

Ask me abt it!!! for my 1st pregnancy i lost quite some hair but the 2nd pregnancy was a nightmare. use nutricap hair loss shampoo and capsules for 3months. i used them and the hair loss has reduced considerably

Lisa - posted on 12/17/2012

Heather Tom...Phew, glad Im not alone!!! This to shall pass!!! Now that I know it is pretty common I feel better, but before I did the seasrch I was a bit freaked out to say the least!!! No one ever told me about this part of PP?!!!!

Jaimie - posted on 12/16/2012

I wish everyone would post 1-2 years after babies and let us know if u are still suffering frim.it as i am

Lisa - posted on 12/16/2012

I am now having hair los as well it started at about 3 months PP! but no one has mentioned there scalp being more tender than usual?! Has anyone else experienced a sensative scalp when the hair loss really became more severe?!!!!

Heather - posted on 12/07/2012

Wow! Going through the same thing.. The top of my head literally hurts and I can feel the hair falling out. I have tiny bald patches and light hair to boot. So I was literally panicking until I seen these posts. My baby is 3 months and she is my 3rd. I've noticed hair loss after my other pregnancies but nothing like this.

Laila - posted on 11/29/2012

I can totally understand how devastating it is to see all that hair gone. I also have bald spots at my temples. I started using Nioxin and honestly can feel a difference. Even though this product does not magically make hair grow overnight it is supposed to help the scalp and hair to appear thicker. Even though my hair is pretty thin it feels thicker after a weeks worth of following the Nioxin steps. I also purchased the follicle hair booster and like how it feels.



I just hope that the bald spots stop losing hair and that my hair will grow back. It is super refreshing to read that other moms experienced the same thing and their hair grew back. I am still puzzled by how long it takes to grow back?? Any body??

Marilyn - posted on 11/19/2012

Yes...I have the same thing happening right now. Hair loss occurred with my first child too but it seems more severe this time around. However, my hair was much thicker during this recent pregnancy so it stands to reason why more is falling out. I too have some alarming and concerning thinned out areas specifically at my temples and center part on the top of my head. From what my doctor tells me.....its normal. She said around 6 months it should stop falling out and 12 month should new growth and hair thickness. I know its alarming but try not to worry. I have one side that is much worse so I'm having to do a comb over like Donald Trump. lol.

Chanda - posted on 10/02/2012

yes, Chelsea is right...I've had 3 babies now, and the SAME thing happened each time...and over time I noticed my hair volume returned, though never the same as when I was pregnant. I'm 4 months post partum with my 3rd child and it's all over the place!!! I am a supplement junkie and no matter what I take, doesn't matter...it's just a part of being a postpartum mom. Relax into it, eventually it evens out, you won't be bald forever lol.

Ana - posted on 08/30/2012

Hi Lynnette! I would suggest that you take Biotin Supplements. Biotin is recognized for promoting blood sugar stability and is an important component of nutritional health. When used daily, Biotin is a key component in maintaining healthy blood sugar and has been linked to cosmetic benefits such as reducing hair loss and repairing brittle nails. For more details please visit - http://www.herculesvitamins.com/product_...

Christine - posted on 07/14/2012

I am so glad to see everyone's post! My hair is falling out like CRAZY! I am now 3 months postpartum and all of the sudden my drain is clogged with all of the hair. When I wash my hair I have a fistful of hair every time I put my hand through my hair. I am afraid that I will have NO HAIR left in a few weeks. I am finding hairs everywhere in the house, on me, and my son! Does cutting your hair shorter help? Vitamins help? I don't want to be Kojak! Please help!!!

Chelsea - posted on 12/08/2009

i am having the same problem, i seriously thought i was going to go bald!! ive been to the doc, iron levels and thyroid are fine... its just a part of having a baby! my mother in law found this info online, it will hopefully make you feel better about the situation!!

Many new moms are surprised to find themselves shedding more hair than usual in the first few months after giving birth, but it's perfectly normal. And there's no need to panic: You won't go bald. In fact, your hair should be back to normal by your baby's first birthday.

Here's what's going on. Normally, about 85 to 95 percent of the hair on your head is growing and the other 5 to 15 percent is in a resting stage. After the resting period, this hair falls out — often while you're brushing or shampooing it — and is replaced by new growth. An average woman sheds about 100 hairs a day.

During pregnancy, increased levels of estrogen prolong the growing stage. There are fewer hairs in the resting stage and fewer falling out each day, so you have thicker, more luxuriant tresses.

After you give birth, your estrogen levels take a tumble and a lot more hair follicles enter the resting stage. Soon you'll have more hair coming out in the shower or on the brush. This unusual shedding will taper off and your hair will be back to its pre-pregnancy thickness about six to 12 months after you give birth.

By the way, not all women notice dramatic changes in their hair during pregnancy or the postpartum period. Among those who do, it tends to be more obvious among women with longer hair.

What can I do about it?
You won't be able to stop the hair from falling out, but you can experiment with different hairstyles or products (such as hair thickeners or mousse) to give your hair a fuller look during this transition period.

Many moms, tired of scooping hair out of shower drains or sweeping strands off the bathroom floor, find that now is a good time to go for a short cut. Plus, a short, wash-and-go hairstyle can be easier to take care of when you have a new baby in the house and you're strapped for time.

A note to new moms with long hair: Strands of hair can end up tightly wrapped around your baby's tiny appendages, including his fingers, toes, wrists, ankles, and penis. This is called a hair tourniquet, and it can be quite painful for your little one. If you find him crying for no apparent reason, check carefully for tight bands of hair.

Himani - posted on 12/08/2009

its the same with me, plus i have got split ends now, i hear that coconut oil massage is good for halting the hairloss

Tenisha - posted on 12/07/2009

My hair started shedding realllly bad too and my baby is 4 months old. My hair stylest told me to eat lots of green veggies!!!! and I breastfeed so I'm still taking vitamins. You may need some.

Grace - posted on 12/06/2009

wow, i thought there was something wrong with me, hair falling everywhere, vacuuming the carpet almost everyday is starting to get very annoying! i've had to cut my very long locks short so that hair thinning wasn't so obvious!

Christina - posted on 12/06/2009

yeah, i have had the same problem totally. ppl just say it will stop eventually but i was thinking of visiting my gp.

Tiffany - posted on 12/06/2009

I'm in the same boat too. I am almost 5 mos postpartum after my second child in 2 yrs. I found a site that might help some of you.
http://www.thelaboroflove.com/articles/w...
Also this site.
http://www.parents.com/pregnancy/my-body...

Jessica - posted on 12/06/2009

My hair dresser says that the worst time for hair loss postpartum is between 4 and 6 months. My hair has been falling out by the fist full and I've been clogging the shower drain, but I haven't noticed any bald spots yet. She said that the same thing happened to her though getting really thin around the temples. Hers obviously grew back.

Evan - posted on 12/06/2009

I have been having a lot of hair come out too. My twins are 4 1/2months and I have been told it is a mixture of being postpartum and stress. I was also told that i still need to be taking my prenatal vitamins and that can help. Try taking some time to relax and continue w/ vitamins. I think mine is starting to slow (i didnt take the vitamins after I had my boys kinda wish I would have).

Kirsty - posted on 12/06/2009

hiya,i have had the same thing exept mine started from the day my son was born,all i do all day long is pick up hair from all over the house it gets evrywhere!when i wash my hair and brush it after you would honestly expect me to be bald the amount that comes out.its perfectly normal some woman lose more than others so i wouldnt worry about it at all x

Sarah - posted on 12/06/2009

Yip its normal but do have your iron levels check, taking iron pills can make the hair loss not so bad.

Janna - posted on 12/05/2009

Just as many others have said, the hair loss is total normal... even up to 500 hairs per day (100 hairs can be normal for non-post baby individuals).

TO AVOID THE EXTREME LOSS AROUND THE TEMPLES, don't pull ponytails "up" and rather wear a low, loose pony if you pull your hair back. Also, think about cutting some bangs or semi-bangs to hide the loss.

Take care!

Rita - posted on 12/03/2009

I had major hair loss going on too starting about 2 pp. I'm now 5 months pp and it's still falling out but not as much as before but still a lot. It gets a little better in time but will go back to normal in about a year or so.

Jerrica - posted on 12/03/2009

Oh yes i believe that i have especially around the front of my head i just thought i was going crazy but i really believe that i am losing my hair

Leslie - posted on 12/03/2009

well you should take prenatal vitamins when you still breastfeed. its written on the bottle

Leslie - posted on 12/03/2009

i don't have a solution, but I too have losing hair like crazy. And Mine thick and beautiful! I could have been in a pantene commercial... but its so thin.. and dry and I breastfeed... not sure what to do, I take my meds, etc...but it comes out in handfuls.... we both need a solution...

Laura - posted on 12/03/2009

My hair has been fallilng out in clumps too, I'm 4 mos 3 weeks. Don't worry, it's normal...although not always attractive! I have noticably small bald-ish areas on the crown of my head and above my temples and forehead area. It will grow back...I hope!! I try to use volumizing products. Don't know if they actually work but hey, it makes me feel better.

SILVIA - posted on 12/03/2009

I´m in the same circunstances, and the only I do is take it easy!, I don´t worry, it will grows, I hope!!

Donna - posted on 12/01/2009

i have noticed alot of my hair coming out when i brush or wash it. my hairdresser said it takes a year for your hair to go back to normal

Melissa - posted on 12/01/2009

I am 4 months pp with my 3rd child...I've had hair loss with each pregnancy, but this one is definately the worst. Like alot of you my hair loss is to teh point where I'm clogging the drain when I shower...it's gross! I've mentioned it to my Dr who suggestied increasing my dietary fats. Also, if your hair loss is extreme, it's not a bad idea to have you thyroid and parathyroid levels checked as hair loss is a symptom of an underactive or overactive thyroid...pregnancy can bring on thyroid changes, so diagnosis of thyroid issues after pregnancy is not uncommon.

Danielle - posted on 12/01/2009

I was experiencing (and still am for that matter) massive amounts of hair loss for the past few weeks now. BUT now I've started having the worst itchy scalp of my life. I assumed it was new hair growing and causing this burning/itchy feeling so I'm wondering if the two (hair loss and itchy) are related. anyone else having this issue?

Amy - posted on 11/30/2009

I'm also brestfeeding, but I don't think that matters either... It must be the iron thing... I think I'll try that too until I see the dr.

Amy - posted on 11/30/2009

OMG!!! I have never even heard of it, but that is EXACTLY what is happening to me! I am the same as you... My son just turned 4 months and I've been losing my hair for about the same amount of time... And I've noticed it in the same areas (mainly my tmeples).... That's crazy... I have a dr. appoinment after christmas and I plan on asking about that, but I don't know what's going on. I'm not happy it's happening to you also, but I'm glad to know I'm not the only one with this problem!

Nykee - posted on 11/29/2009

I had two babies 12 months apart, and my youngest is 4 months old now and my hair is falling out like crazy... when I wash it, I end up with hands full of hair... The baby will reach for my hair and without even pulling, end up with it all in her hands. It's so gross, but I have no idea how to make it stop. Perhaps just vitamins? Fiber? Sorry I don't have a solution. My mom insists that it's partially just the season, but it's never happened before!

Jaimie - posted on 11/24/2009

I AM ALSO BREASTFEEDING THOUGH. SO I WAS WONDERING...IS IT WORSE IF YOUARE BREASTFEEDING. AND DOES IT START TO COME BACK AFTERWARDS.

Jaimie - posted on 11/24/2009

OMG ME TOO. TERRIBLE. I AM GETTING REALLY SCARED AS WELL. IT IS VERY NOTICABLE. AND I DID NOT HAVE MUCH TO LOOSE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

Deb - posted on 11/23/2009

I've noticed the same thing and, unfortunately, I haven't found anything to stop it. My hairdresser said he sees this with most women after they've had kids- your hair thins out around your hairline. Again, he didn't know of any way to stop it- it's just a fact of life I guess... I hope someone else knows of a way to stop it. I get annoyed at having to clean out the shower drain EVERYDAY now.

Janie - posted on 11/23/2009

I also am four months postpartum, mine was falling out like crazy but I did not have bald spots forming. I went to a salon and had my hair trimmed, treated, and Ive been using a shampoo that adds volume. ive noticed the hair does not fall out as much anymore. If your worried, you can see if your doc will check you out.

Jennifer - posted on 11/21/2009

yes, can was more serious for me.it became a thyriod problem

Lissy - posted on 11/21/2009

When I was pregnant, my hair dresser said "your hair is think and full now but just wait till a few months after you have the baby. It will all fall out"! I thought it wouldn't happen because I am breastfeeding and still on prenatal vitamins. Well she was so right. I am loosing hair like I have never seen before. I went back to her last week and she said "well I see it is happening". She said it comes back in after a while. She has had many clients that have gotten bald spots too. She said all of her clients who have had the bald spots have all had their hair grow back in. I will be 4 months postpardam next week and my hair loss is starting to slow down now. I was always told this was due to hormone issues.