Losing Alot of Hair When I Wash It...

Hi S.,

I had a similar problem, but not even related to pregnancy or recent childbirth. I went to a dermatologist and she did a hair pull test and also bloodwork for thyroid. By the time I went to her, I had lost a lot of hair.. it was mostly evident by the little hairs growing back (it almost looked like breakage, but wasn't). My thyroid bloodwork came back fine. I was diagnosed as coming out of a phase of "telogen effluvium" (basically a temporary increase of hair loss). There can be many causes of hair loss, from hormonal change, to stress, to certain prescription medications... sometimes it's diesease related, but sometimes the cause is unidentified. My doctor recommended I take Biotin 5000 mcg., which I get at a health food store. I also discovered the Phyto hair product line, which has helped me. It's available at Sephora and also at Sharla's in McKinney. Phyto has a supplement I take and I rotate between the phytodensium products and the phytocyane. It's not cheap, but I have noticed a big difference and I am happy to say that my hair grew back. I had a short phase recently when we were on vacation that my hair started coming out a lot in the shower again (it lasted about a month, and started when I stopped using phyto while on vacation). I'm not sure it's related, but when I got back home, I started phyto only (back to the phytocyane) and my hair is not falling out. It is very scary (and stressful) to have significant hair loss and I was so self-conscious. Definitely see a doctor to rule out any medical condition. Dermatologists specialize in skin, hair and nails, so it's place to start. Best of luck to you. Hopefully it is nothing serious.

2 moms found this helpful

Right after my pregnancy in 1994 I noticed some fallout. I too have thick hair but it bothered me. My stylists told me to take the supplement Biotin.

I have taken that regularly and it is great for hair and nail health.

Good luck.

2 moms found this helpful

Ha! I just posted about this very issue a few weeks ago. I ended up going to a beauty supply store and bought Nioxin shampoo, conditioner and spray treatment. It was packaged together and cost $30. A bit pricey, but the alternative was going to chop my hair off (I was totally frustrated). I've been using it for about 3-4 weeks now and I do notice a change-mostly in the texture of my hair. I've seen a new hairdresser since buying the products and he said he always recommends this brand to clients with thinning hair. Good Luck! Gotta love those crazy hormones right?

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HEllo!

I am a hairstylist and your hair shedding is normal after having a baby. Your body is getting back to its normal hormonal state.
If you are using any chemicals I would make sure that they are done by a professional. A good over the counter protein treatment would be Aphogee which may be found at any beauty supply store. Good Luck!

2 moms found this helpful

You know what, it may be nothing, but going to the doctor is only going to cost you a co-pay. Have your thyroid checked. I lost clumps of hair and finally talked to the dr about it and was diagnosed with Graves Disease (hyperthyroid) in 2 days.

I wish you well, M.

2 moms found this helpful

Although I'm a lot older than you and I know this does come with aging,,,,,I was told to try zinc. I did and now I won't go a day w/o it. Works pefect and stops the hair loss. You can get it any where vitamins are sold.

2 moms found this helpful

My Doctor told me hair loss was normal for up to a year after giving birth!! The things us mommies endure for our little cupcakes!!

1 mom found this helpful

Yes, it is normal. Remember those prenatal vitamins you took? Your hair got thicker and your nails got stronger? That all stops after you stop taking the vitamins. Your hair will go back to the way it was although the texture may change. Your nails may not be as strong either. Don't freak out. Ask your doctor about it if that will make you feel better. I still lose hair when I get stressed. Your hair and nails will also show the first signs of poor eating habits. Take a good multi-vitamin and vitamin A to help with the hair & nails. One more thing, my hairdresser says not worry if your hair comes out when you wash it or brush it. It's when it is on your pillow that you need to worry.

1 mom found this helpful

It could be a medicine you're taking. I think you're supposed to lose a hundred hairs a day. Mine falls out alot if I keep it up in a ponytail holder alot. Just a thought.

1 mom found this helpful

I had a very similar problem after the birth of both of my children. I read about it in a pregnancy book. You usually lose a little hair all the time. In pregnancy that stops. After the baby is born, you lose a lot at once. I would get handfuls in the shower and think I was going bald! My youngest is 15 months now. My hair is growing back. I think yours will too. You could ask your doctor just in case it could be something else. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

go get your thyroid checked. Also, avoid simple carbohydrates and see if that helps,too.

1 mom found this helpful

My hair did the same thing for about a year with my older daughter and now that my younger daughter is 4 months old it is doing it again. I heard it has something to do with your hair not shedding as much during pregnancy and once your hormones start to get back to normal you lose all the extra hair you didn't while you were pregnant.

1 mom found this helpful

Hi S.!
I would suggest getting your thyroid checked and make sure you are telling your practitioner ALL your symptoms. Take a good look at your day to day and make sure you aren't missing something else abnormal that could be an indicatator. Also, this could be stress. Our bodies react very strangely to stress and hair loss is a normal symptom of stress overload.

Make sure that your practitioner is running the necessary blood work to ensure that you are covering all of your bases. I was losing hair a few years ago to find out I was having a health issue that could have very easily been overlooked had I not been persistent and possibly could have cost me my life. Not to say that yours is anything that dramatic. But, better error on the side of caution when dealing with our bodies.

Take care hun!
A.

1 mom found this helpful

You might want to have your thyroid check out. That is one of the symptoms of a thyroid problem. I hope you find out whats going on! :)

K.

1 mom found this helpful

Two things come to mind: could be regular post partum fallout or thyroid disorder, which is common in post partum phase. I'd see the doctor and get tests run to be sure.

1 mom found this helpful

I am so glad you posted this. My daughter is 6 months old and I too am losing a whole lot of hair - more in the last month or so than ever before. I will be following your responses carefully, but I do think it is probably normal. I asked a nurse about it and she told me that it is most likely a post-pregnancy thing and not to worry about the literature that says it should be over by now!

1 mom found this helpful

B vitamins should help. Get a good B Complex.

1 mom found this helpful

Hi S.,
I have a six month old too and I'm also still losing hair. It started at around the four month mark and it's still going strong. I also have very thick hair, so I'm not really concerned about it because you can't really tell. I think our hormones are just still trying to even out. I'm not losing as much as I was at the four month mark, but I'm definitely still losing a lot of hair. Though, not sure about you, but I didn't lose any throughout my entire pregnancy and the typical person loses somewhere around 100 hairs a day. Maybe we're just playing catch-up? :)

take care,
H.

1 mom found this helpful

It could be post pregnancy hormones. It also could be thyroid (which can go haywire after pregnancy) and it could be related to your diet. Iron deficiency can cause hair loss as can some other vitamin deficiencies.

I would go to the doctor and have some bloodwork drawn but I wouldn't stress too much about it. It might be nothing.

Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

Before being diagnosed with Celiac Disease I had this problem. I had a blood test and found out I'm gluten intolerant and I went gluten free and two years later my hair is normal again. Its worth looking into. I have a friend that had this problem after child birth and she's not Celiac so I am not sure what really causes it. Maybe its just hormonal or something in your case, I would definitely call the obgyn or regular family dr and try to find out though.

1 mom found this helpful

Dear S.:

You have gotten lots of good advice. I just wanted to add my two cents because when I went to the hairdresser, she panicked and refused to cut my hair. As a first time mom I was under alot of stress. It seems like I still lose alot of hair. I'ma teacher, and my students even noticed it, but I still always seem to have some left (it is not noticably thin - and my son is almost 17). I hope this eases your mind.

Jen

1 mom found this helpful

This is normal. It happened to me with after I gave birth to all 4 of my babies. It even happened after I had a miscarriage. It will stop eventually.

Enjoy your new baby!

1 mom found this helpful

See? It's a proven fact that kids will make your hair fall out! I would ask the doctor and maybe get your thyroid checked or have a hormone panel taken. Maybe you're just temporarily out of whack!

1 mom found this helpful

More then likely its post prego hormones, but I found that taking a B complex vitamin really helps my hair loss. Give it a try.

1 mom found this helpful

In my experience, it's still a post-pregnancy thing. I lost loads of hair when my DD was 3-6 mos old. It then slowed down a lot, and some of it's growing back, which means I now have little ringlets around my face that I drive me crazy! So it may be annoying, but I do think it's normal.

1 mom found this helpful

Hi S.,

My son's 4 1/2 mnths old and for the first time in my life, I've noticed more hair coming out when I shower. I run my fingers through my hair and can pull out approx 5 strands each time I do that. It's happening daily so I started to get concerned as well. I have no health insurance after having the baby so I haven't been to my doctor about it but my mom said it's hormone related. I unfortunately have no idea how to make it stop. Good luck on finding a source that works so keep us updated.

~N.~

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I didn't start to lose any hair after my children were born until about 6 months later.

1 mom found this helpful

From my personal experience, that can be as a result of stress or hormones or both. Have you had your thyroid levels checked (with a blood test)? Or, if you are already taking thyroid medication, perhaps stress in the near past has upset the balance of the "T3 levels. Once, while I was taking a synthetic thyroid medication and had stress, I still experienced losing hair. My doctor said that if your T3 level is low, stress can cause you to lose hair and that Armour Thyroid (natural hormone type) might help. Bottom line is always ask your doctor for reasons or tests when your body does something it doesn't normally do...

1 mom found this helpful

My baby is five months old and my hair continues to fall out. I have gobs of hair also so it really doesn't show but I can tell when I brush my hair or wash it.

1 mom found this helpful

S.-
I have always lost a little bit of hair, even before I had a kid. After my pregnancy, the usual amount of hair came out that "they" say you will lose...that was almost 8 years ago. About 4-5 years ago I was under a lot of stress and really have been since then and I have been losing a lot more hair. It comes out in clumps and the bulk of it is when I wash it. My hair used to be almost triple the thickness it is now. Upon moving to Texas from Utah 1 1/2 years ago I found a new hairstylist and talked with her about it and she said that most women in their 30's start losing hair...it is a natural occurrance. And she felt that although the stress has probably been a factor, it is not the only culprit. So what she says makes sense since I have gone to two doctors in the last year to have them check my hormone levels and thyroid function, and whatever else they can to see why my hair is falling out. No answers other than it is normal for this to happen. I keep joking with my daughter that her mom is going to be bald, and she replies that she will buy me a wig. :) So unless you have had some blood drawn to have your functions checked, it unfortunately appears to be a normal part of life to lose our hair. Lucky us!
Sorry that was so long-winded. But hope it helps.
T.

1 mom found this helpful

It is completely normal to lose hair for up to a year or even a little more. I also lost tons of hair for at least a year after giving birth. My hairdresser recommended Nioxin (get the kind for your hair type, etc.) and trimmed my hair often. I washed it every 2 days, massaging the scalp each time. It is better if you can let your hair air dry. However, I wanted it to look polished and retain the style longer, so I always gave it a good blow out. This will eliminate the need for frequent washings as well! Bottom line: it will grow back! :)

1 mom found this helpful

Have your thyroid checked. I had very thick hair like you and after pregnancy it kept coming out. I complained to the doc here and there, but FINALLY after more symptoms cropped up they decided my thyroid was not just normal low and gave me thyroid pills. My hair stopped falling out, my periods became normal... I slept better too.

I am irritated it took so many years between my first complaint and when I was diagnosed with a thyroid problem, but I really think it's more art than science with the interpretation of the thyroid tests and docs aren't used to art.

So have yours checked.

1 mom found this helpful

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Losing alot of hair when I wash it...
From: S. H Date: Fri. Aug. 22, 2008
For awhile now, I have been losing quite a bit of hair every time I wash it. Luckily I had very thick hair to begin with so I didn't worry much. I thought it might be a post-pregnancy thing. But 6 months later, it's still going on and I'm starting to get concerned. Any experience with this?

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Advice ResponseLosing alot of hair when I wash it...
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To: S. H Date: Sat. Aug. 23, 2008
Message Response Subject Personal Message I would request a thyroid blood test from your physician.
Any trauma to your body either physical or emotional, can knock your thyroid out of whack, and this certainly includes child birth. The test should be taken first thing in the morning, preferably on an empty stomach. Another thing I would emplement would be to refrain washing your hair everyday (every other day is suggested). Before and after towel drying your hair, vigorously stimulate the scalp by scratching/massaging the scalp. If at all possible let your hair dry naturally. I used to work for a dermatologist and losing hair was a frequent concern of many patients. good luck. CP in GP
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1 mom found this helpful

My hair did that to. I had long hair at the time. I went and got it cut short I haven't had any problems since. I am letting it grow out again. right now it is shoulder length and still not having any trouble, my hair is thick hair too.
I am not sure what caused it and neither is my hair dresser.

1 mom found this helpful

My hair did the first thing after my first pregnancy and is still doing it after my second and my daughter is now almost 5 months old. Be glad you have thick hair--my hair is fine and thin and it seems very noticeable to me. I remember starting to get scared the first time around that it was something other than post-pregnancy hormones before it finally stopped. I am tired of the hairs all over the bathroom! It does appear that my loss is finally slowing down. The reason is exactly like others have stated--you lose less hair when you are pregnant. I would not worry about it unless you notice bald patches or breakage of hairs at the hair line. Just give it a little more time.

1 mom found this helpful

It may be a thyroid problem. Just be sure you are getting enough idodine and eating good quality protein. Don't overeat or undereat. I recommend, "LIve right (for4) your type". I don't recommend the other books by Dr.Peter J.D. Adamo, cause their are a few discrepencies among his books. I found it to be a great basic book to start with for maximum health.

Your body is adjusting and if you are under stress and eating foods that are not good for you, that could also suppress your tyroid, maybe causing your hair to fall out.

Are you nursing still?

Hope this helps. Kat

1 mom found this helpful

Happened to me all 3 pregnancies. It used to take up to a year for my hair to even out. Stop shedding and be like it was prior to pregnancy. It can also happen for a lot longer if you are breastfeeding. I may be wrong, but during your pregnancy your body stops a lot of hair loss. I am thinking your body needs all the extra nutrients for the baby, not making new hair to replace what you "normally" would lose. Then, after you have the baby and hormones try to shift back to pre-pregnancy state, your hair starts falling out. It was expired anyways and should have fallen out long before now. I always got a lot of new "peach fuzz" in my hair close to my scalp. I think my ob/gyn told me this but can't be for sure. I just know it made sense. That is why alot of womens hair "bulks" up while they are pregnant. They aren't really shedding it!!
Anyway, as long as you notice new hair growth, and you aren't bald in spots, I wouldn't worry to much. It will be back on an even keel. It just takes a while. In my case about a year. If after about a year, you still feel you are having problems and can definatley rule out any last dregs of pregnancy/hormonal/breast feeding fall-out, then I would definatley see a physician to make sure that something else isn't the problem as mentioned in prior posts. At this time, I would suspect that it is hormone/pregnancy induced. I also wouldn't take any extra supplements if you are breast feeding unless approved by the doctor. I would also consider giving your hair some time to re-grow after you stop breast-feeding (if you indeed are). If after all that you find that your hair still isn't normal and you are losing alot, then I would visit the doctor to be safe and sure.
Good luck,
L.

1 mom found this helpful

Hi S., I lost a lot of hair after my first child 33 yrs ago, seems like yesterday but anyway, I developed a thyroid problem. You might get that checked. I also lost a LOT of hair last year due to medication. I found out that chemo patients are using Zinc to help get their hair back & it helped me. You might give it a try.
Good luck.

1 mom found this helpful

I started losing my hair when i was pregnant w/my youngest which turned 3 in May 2008 which I know is normal but still do this day I still lose my hair which I have a Lot of and it's Very thick and curly. Mine is due to stress. My son's dad left when I was 16 wks pregnant and on bedrest which was very stressful and my son was very sick as a baby and Lots of financial struggles.
i will probably lose it 4ever. lol
Hope it will subside soon.
Blessings
M.

1 mom found this helpful

It could also be caused by stress or certain medications (such as antidepressants).

1 mom found this helpful

Still post pregnancy loss; my son is 9 months and I am just now noticing that the hair loss is tapering down.

1 mom found this helpful

Have your thyroid checked