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The shock of childbirth can take a physical toll on your body. After delivery, your body will experience many changes. One change you'll see is the temporary loss of hair.
Statistics
According to the American Pregnancy Association, 40 percent to 50 percent of women will experience hair loss one to five months after the birth of their child.
Cause
Also called telogen effluvium and postpartum alopecia, postpartum hair loss occurs when the body experiences a sudden hormone shift after childbirth, causing the body to shift the hair follicles to resting mode. This mode lasts about three months and then the hair sheds.
Time Frame
The loss of hair is temporary; expect your hair to return to its regular growth cycle within six to 12 months.
Treatment
Postpartum hair loss requires no treatment. Your hair will start to regrow on its own.
Considerations
Avoid brushing your hair too much. This will increase the rate your hair sheds, speeding up your hair loss.
Source:
American Hair Loss Association: Effluviums
American Pregnancy Association: Pregnancy and Hair Loss
American Osteopathic College of Dermatology: Telogen Effluvium Hair Loss
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