QUESTION: My baby is 5 months old.
I started to lose a lot of my hair when he was 4 months old.
My doctor says that this is because of hormones and that it will stop in 6 to 18 months.
Would you please explain why this happens? Is this a common problem with women who have babies, and is there anything I can do now to stop it?
ANSWER: Your are experiencing a problem with the improbable name of "telogen effluvium" which is commonly seen in women after childbirth, and for which the good news is that "this too will pass." Hair growth occurs in a cyclical pattern, with active growth (anagen phase) continuing for from 2 to 6 years. A brief period of regression (catagen phase) then occurs during which a club hair is produced instead of the normal long hair you are now wishing for. Then a rest period of about 3 months takes place (telogen phase).
When reactivation occurs the club hair falls out (telogen effluvium) and new hair growth and a new cycle begins.
Normally about 85% of scalp hairs are in the anagen phase while the remaining 15% are resting.
Hair shedding may follow any type of body stress, such as surgery, high fever, crash diets, acute blood loss and even the use of certain drugs.
But as your doctor correctly advised you, new growth will soon take place and your hair will return to normal. There really is nothing you need do now, for the process will run its course, and there are no means of stopping it once it has begun.
You can best help yourself by using this new understanding to reduce the stress and anxiety that you are naturally experiencing at this time, and turn your energies to your baby.
The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace the counsel and advice of your personal physician.
Promptly consulting your doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical problem.
