PostPartum Hair Loss

During pregnancy hair growth increases dramatically in most women. This increases the usual percentage of hair normally growing on the head. Therefore, after childbirth there may be an increase in hair loss due to more hair follicles than usual entering the rest phase. This effect may be aggravated by the trauma of childbirth.

This temporary excessive loss of hair usually occurs between one and three months after childbirth and is quite normal; it should balance out a few months after childbirth at most.

Similar syndromes may occur after ceasing birth control pills or switching types of birth control pills, or after traumas such as major surgery, severe stress, severe chronic illness, or chemotherapy. Telogen Effluvium is the general term for sudden, diffuse hair loss following a trauma