Hair Loss - Dallas,TX

This happened to me with both pregnancies--much worse with the second pregnancy, I assume b/c it was twins. My hairdresser said to give it 6 mo. but I was really self conscious because it was getting so very thin in the front. I did research and found that Biotin and B vitamins promote hair growth. I took them for several months and was amazed at the new hair growth.

I've had the same thing happen to me. My daughter is 3 1/2 and I've noticed that my hair has been thinning in the same areas as it did postpartum. One thing that helped me was to take a supplement combination of calcium, magnesium and zinc. I take calcium every day so I just bought the combo one. It does make the hair on my legs grow faster too, but it seems to speed up the replacement of the patches on my head. Good luck!

My hair fell out about 3 months after I had both of my sons. When it grew back it stood straight up and I look like I had a lion's mane. It was just hormonal for me.

Hey P.,
I have a "must have" book for every woman. I have read it and continue to study it and recommend it to anyone who will listen.
The book is entitled THE SCHWARZBEIN PRINCIPLE by Dr. Dianna Schwarzbein. She is an endocrinologist and specializes in all hormone systems. She understands the body and educates on how it works-----you will find out all about your hormones and read pages 185-186 which addresses hormonally why the body loses hair: increase in cortisol and testosterone levels. The entire book will help you understand everything!!!!!!!!!!!! Rob a bank if you have to and get that book!
Hope it helps,
Karen H.

Hair loss is a function of protein balance and interruption. Usually women will eat foods that wont provide much protien. However the Amino Acids that make up the two different sub groups of protiens is taken from both foods and the current blood in the body. You might want to increase your Gram intake of protein by about 40 - 50 grams a day. Especially the group known as "essential Protiens". Now some shampoos work well on hair at first but due to their ability to make healthy hair look and feel good also can diminish Hair protien potency over time. So I would recommend switching Shampoo and conditioner and stay away from Pantene. Also I hear this product called "nutri-ox" which can be found at like "Sally's" beauty sotres works well at this.

Anyway hope this helps...

I had some similar hair loss just over a year ago. I thought I was going through some normal cycle of shedding, until I saw the new growth (little spikes of hair - I thought it was breakage). It is scary! I went to a Dermatologist and she looked more closely into thyroid with a more intsnsive lab workup. She also did a hair pull test etc. My "baby" is 8 years old, but my new hair growth looked the same as someone who'd lost a lot of hair after pregnancy. Apparently, hormones go through a change about every 7 years, so this is something that is not uncommon. Anyway, everything came back normal as far as the lab.. no thyroid problem or anything. We just assumed it was stress related, or more likely, a hormonal shift. My Dermatologist recommended I start on Biotin. I also started using Phyto hair care products (and that line of supplements). These are available at Sephora and at Sharla's in downtown McKinney. They have a specific line of products for hormonal hair loss in women. I have had awesome results with these. The products aren't cheap, but it is worth it to me, to get my hair back in good condition. They really work. Good luck.

I have a 10 month old and this as well happened to me. Its JUST NOW starting to really come back in. I lost most of mine around the front hairline so now i have all these lovely little sprouts of hair that stick straight up or out...can't do anything with it!! I guess it was from all the hormonal changes that were going on.

This is happening to me right now!! So frustrating and scary. I feel like I will have nothing left if this continues. I did have this with my first child who is now 3 and other is 3 months. So, I know it will stop but still I don't like it. I'm glad all labs came back normal though!! Good luck!
Randa

Did you have all the antibody tests? if you didn't and you think you have a problem have them re-run.

All my tests are normal, my hair is still falling out. I find mine is a little cyclical. Good luck!

My baby is 6 months old and I just stopped breastfeeding about 3 weeks ago. One week later, my hair is falling out in chunks when I brush it after a shower. Its HORRIBLE! This happened with my 1st and it stopped after about a month. I keep thinking I'm going to go bald...but of course that is ridiculous.
I've started taking high potency biotin vitamins as well as using shampoos with peppermint. I massage my scalp for about 5 minutes when I wash. It stimulates the scalp and increases hair growth.
The falling out is starting to taper off and I'm not sure if it is because of the vitamins or its finally run its course.
I think its pretty normal. This has happened to so many people I know who have had babies. Your body is just freaking out. :)

I have a little boy who is 1 as well. The same thing has happened to me and it is frustrating to see that much hair falling out at a time. I have been using Arbonne's scalp revitalizer and my hair is now thicker than it was before my hair started falling out. My hair stylist has made comments about all the new growth all over my head. As a matter of fact, this last time she cut my hair, she had to thin it! Now that was fun! :-) I'd be happy to answer any of your questions. You can email me at ____@____.com and you can check out my website at www.foravibrantlife.myarbonne.com. Best wishes to you!

YES!! My hair fell out after both of my pregnancies-- worse the first time. I cut my hair really short the first time... it stops after a few months. The worse part is the depression caused by seeing your hair in the brush or on the floor. It shall get better!!

Hi, P.:

This is very typical after having a baby. I have four children and it happened with all but one. It was almost exactly a three-month postpartum period, too. I have heard my hairstylist say it happens as a result of anesthesia, and I've heard it's hormonal. I noticed that when I continued to take the prenatal vitamins after my third child, the hair loss was unnoticeable.

So whether it's hormonal (my personal opinion) or a result of the anesthesia, I think it's pretty typical and it does grow back in time. Like anything else, a proper diet really helps to make the hair grow faster. Blessings to you...

TP

Last year when my youngest was 2, I experienced lots of hair loss. My ob/gyn tested my thyroid and said it was fine. Then, I went to an endocrinologist who asked me hundreds of questions and ran tons of tests. Everything came back normal. So, he decided it was my birth control -- which I had used for years in between pregnancies. I was using Triphasil and one of the rare side effect is hair loss. So I went off birth control completely and I thought it made a difference for about 3 months but now I am back to losing hair again. I am trying to keep better track of it. I am thinking it may be worse during my period. I don't think I am a stressed out person. I haven't had any major stress, just the normal everyday stuff so I guess that could be a possibility. This is all very frustrating because I have thin hair now and I used to have thick hair. I feel like if this continues I won't have any hair left. I didn't see a dermatologist about this problem so maybe I will eventually try that. You definitely aren't the only one out there with this problem. I just wish there were some concrete answers.

Hi P.

Yes, this happens to me also. My hair always falls out in clumps after I have a baby. From what I read it is common after having a baby. But, like yours mine is falling out again and I feel like I'm getting bald spots around the front hairline. I can tell there is fresh hair growing in so I'm not concerned that I will go bald but my hair is much thinner now and noticeably different to me. I don't have an answer but have you been overly stressed lately? I have and a friend of mine said maybe that is why. I am going to keep up with your post & hopefully someone has more to add than I do. I just wanted to let you know you aren't the only one this happens to.

If they only measured your TSH and not Free T3 and Free T4 and antibodies, you cannot be sure it is not a thyroid issue. Also, there are new lab ranges for diagnosing hypo (TSH > 3.0), however few of the labs are actually using the new range. So, unless your doc is very knowledgable about thyroid they could miss this. You could also be borderline (i.e., symptoms are starting before the labs really show whats going on AND the labs are meaningless if you have antibodies).

However, since you have no other symptoms, this is likely due to a nutritional defiency. You don't mention whether you breastfed or not, but nature ensures that the baby gets all the necessary nutrients at the expense of the mother. Thus, nutritional deficencies are not at all uncommon. Hair is the least important thing, so your body will conserve the nutreints for more vital processes. You might ask your doctor (family doctors are usually far more knowledgable in this are) to check your vitamin B status, include B6, B12 and folate. In particular Biotin is important for hair (and nails). Also, vitamin E and zinc. And, also checking iron levels (i.e., ferritin) is not a typical lab run by most docs. So, you should get a copy of your labs and make sure your doctor ordered that.
Also, seeing a nutritionist to evaluate your diet might also be a good idea. A good one can tell you what foods to eat that will help. In addition, whether taking supplements will help. Few conventionally trained MDs know alot about nutrition, since they usually get one course.

Hi P. -

Personally I notice that my hair comes out if I'm stressed about something. Have you done any chemical treatments lately or taking any new meds, any new birth control? Those may all be contributing factors. Also sometime when you wait beyond 6 weeks for your routine relaxer it can have that effect. What I would suggest is seeing a stylist and having a deep conditioning done on your hair.
Good luck with this!!!

Don't worry, this is normal! When you're pregnant your hair stops falling out, I don't know why though. So after you deliver the baby, you go through a stage of all the hair that would have fell out normally starts falling out all at one time. It lasts for a few months, until your hair gets back to it's normal thickness.

Good Morning P. H.

While this did not happen to me, it did happen to a friend of mine and she used Arbonne's Thermal Fusion Hair & Scalp Revitalizer. If you would like to find out more about it please let me know or visit my website www.healthynutrition.myarbonne.com I will be glad to send you information.

P.,
This happended to me & labs seemed normal. I did ask for a "ferratin" level to be drawn. It is an additional iron test that is not routine. It was VERY low..I had been having very heavy periods etc.. Anyhow with iron & hsyterectomy it was built back up. Also occurs about 1-2x per year when I seem to get little areas on my head (seborric dermatitis)..very dry scalp. I use the Arbonne hair care & baby line....& the hair revitalizer. Hair regrowth is quick & AWESOME. It clears up the areas & I now just use it routinely. Let me know if you would like a free sample...but I would check out the ferratin...

TOTALLY normal. Happened to me, and my doctor (and hairstylist!) said the same thing. I've got all this medium-length hair under my long hair now as a reminder. I wouldn't worry unless you're having other symptoms too:)

As a product of a misdiagnosis, I strongly recommend making sure the labs were done right and full complete labs, I actually had an allergist test my hormones separately, more than my ob/gyn had done. Turns out I was extremely low on testosterone and had too much free hormones out of control. My hair is great and falls out normally now :)
M.
www.m3vno.myarbonne.com

Hi P., Your problem has struck a common bond with me! I lost a lot of hair after my son was born and then it just stopped. Then about 1year later it started all falling out agian...it was in small clumps in the shower that I noticed and it got more and more scary each day! I got blood work done with a family D. and all of that came back fine! I went to see my OB which is a specialist for hormonal and menstral problems...she said that it is normal but different for each person and each pregnancy. She also said that about every 7 years we have old skin and hair sluffing off and new growth to come. About 2 month later it stopped! So, try to just be patient and not stress...she said that makes it worse! Hope it all works out for you!

Robin
Mother of my 2 1/2 yr old Boss!

This happened to me but everyone (doctor and other moms)said it was normal. Just a crazy after effect of having a baby.

Hi P.,
This happened to me too and about the same time. It is a crazy hormonal thing. As long as you have new growth I was told you have nothing to worry about. It is pretty freeky though.