Hair Loss During Pregnancy: What to Know

You may have heard that hair becomes thick and lustrous during pregnancy, but this is only true for some women, thanks to high estrogen levels. Many moms-to-be experience hair loss during pregnancy for various reasons.

Some women may experience hair thinning and shedding due to stress or shock. This condition is called Telogen Effluvium and affects a small percentage of women during pregnancy. The first trimester may stress the body as the balance of hormones shifts dramatically to support the growing baby. Stress may put 30% or more of the hairs on your head into the telogen or “resting” phase of the hair life cycle. So, instead of losing the average 100 hairs a day, you may lose 300 hairs a day.

Thyroid disorders like hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism may be difficult to spot during pregnancy. Of the two conditions, hypothyroidism is more common, affecting around 2 or 3 out of 100 pregnant women . Hair loss is one symptom, along with muscle cramps, constipation, and exhaustion. Additionally, around 1 in 20 women experience thyroid problems after the baby is born.

Iron deficiency occurs when the body doesn’t have enough red blood cells to transport oxygen to different tissues. It can cause hair thinning and other symptoms like fatigue, irregular heartbeat, and headaches. Pregnant women are at a heightened risk of developing iron deficiency, especially if their pregnancies are spaced close together, they’re pregnant with multiple babies, or they have severe morning sickness.

It’s important to note that telogen effluvium is typically uniform thinning, but other issues may be at play if you notice patches or more dramatic balding. Various genetic and autoimmune conditions, such as multiple types of alopecia, may be causing your hair loss, which you can learn more about in depth in our blog, Different Types of Alopecia.

Many women experience hair loss within a few months of delivery, generally peaking around four months postpartum. While it may seem like hair loss, it’s actually “excessive hair shedding” caused by a drop in estrogen levels. While seeing 300+ hair shedding daily may be jarring, it typically resolves independently without treatment.

You may or may not be able to prevent hair loss or shedding during pregnancy as it depends on what is the root cause of the hair loss, but you can try:

Hair loss during and after pregnancy may require no special treatment. It generally resolves on its own over time. Topical drugs like minoxidil (Rogaine) aren’t safe to use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding but may be used after you finish nursing. In the case of conditions like hypothyroidism and iron deficiency, working with your doctor to find medication or vitamin supplements that will return your levels to normal should help start the regrowth cycle. Talking to your doctor should be the first step to determining and resolving your hair loss problems during pregnancy.

While scalp micropigmentation treatment is NOT recommended while pregnant or nursing, you can look to SMP in the future if your hair loss does not resolve on its own, our qualified team at SMP INK has helped many women feel confident again by giving them a permanent, non-invasive solution to hair loss. When you’re ready postpartum, book a FREE consultation with SMP INK today!