.jpg)
Dr. Emi Arpa: My beauty column as a mom – treating hair loss.
I am a specialist in dermatology, the founder of my own practice, an entrepreneur with a skincare brand – and a mother for five months. And although I studied medicine, made thousands of scalp diagnoses and advised countless patients, I wasn’t quite prepared for this moment when suddenly there was more hair in the brush than usual. It’s particularly bad when washing my hair. There’s hair everywhere. Really everywhere. Of course, that was to be expected.
Hair loss after pregnancy affects almost every woman. To explain why this is the case, I have to go back a little: Our hair lives in three phases. First of all, the growth phase – medically called the anagen phase – in which around 80-90% of our hair is located. Then the catagen phase, i.e. the transition phase in which around 1-3% of the hair slowly stops growing. And finally the telogen phase, i.e. the resting phase. This is where 8-14% of hair takes a break and eventually falls out. We lose around 50 to 100 hairs every day due to this natural growth cycle. After birth, this number increases – often more radically than we expect.
Hair loss after childbirth: what is it?
During pregnancy, many hairs are in the anagen phase for longer than usual. There are various reasons for this. Estrogen prolongs the growth phase. More blood volume ensures better supply to the skin and hair follicles. The fact that the skin shines so much is due to progesterone. It soothes the skin, relieves inflammation and clears the complexion. Almost like a hormonal “Golden Hour” light – only from the inside out. After birth, estrogen and progesterone drop significantly and rapidly. The pregnancy glow goes away – and so does the hair. 2-4 months after birth, an unusually large number slip into the telogen phase at the same time. This is called postpartum telogen effluvium, or PTE for short. The hair loss is diffuse, so it is not limited to one area that becomes bald, but rather spreads over the entire head – visible and noticeable. The good news: it will pass. However, postpartum telogen effluvium usually lasts between 6-12 months. And is particularly emotionally present as a new mother. Because our hair is often part of our identity. And motherhood is already about breaking habits. Because we have long learned that we should function – while our bodies have just undergone a revolution. And now it feels like something isn’t working.
This helps with hair loss after childbirth
Of course everything is normal. Postpartum hair loss is a biological reset. Not a personal failure. And you can do something about it. In order to curb my own hair loss and get my hair to grow again, I decided on therapy with Minoxidil. However, this is not possible if you are still breastfeeding. I was only able to breastfeed for a short time, which meant that the medication became an option for me a little earlier. Minoxidil is useful if hair loss lasts longer or becomes too severe. It works by increasing blood flow to the scalp. This means more nutrients reach the hair roots. The medication is available in pharmacies as foam and solution in concentrations of 2 and 5 percent from various manufacturers – it doesn’t have to be a specific brand. In the first few weeks you have to be brave. Because minoxidil can cause more hair to fall out. This is because the hair, which would soon fall out anyway because it is already loose in the hair roots, is shed more quickly due to the increased blood circulation to make room for new ones. So don’t be alarmed and just carry on. You don’t have to do this forever if you have telogen effluvium, which can be caused not only by pregnancy but also by stress. Many people think that you have to take minoxidil for life to maintain your hair. However, that depends on the type of hair loss. After the birth, 3-6 months are usually enough for the whole thing to regulate itself again. With androgenetic alopecia – this is hereditary hair loss – things are different. Then you can assume that you will actually continue the therapy throughout your life.
Massages also help because they boost microcirculation and thus improve the supply of nutrients to the hair roots. I recommend washing your hands beforehand and drying them well so that the massage doesn’t cause your hair to become greasy earlier. Personally, I have also found that my hair becomes less greasy if I use a silicone massage brush, which is available in every drugstore, instead of my fingers. However, you should definitely use it on a dry scalp because otherwise it can strain your hair and scalp. I do it morning and evening. And particularly persistent before washing your hair. As a shampoo, I recommend a mild, pH-neutral product. A healthy scalp is the basis. That’s why you should also try to avoid strict braids and aggressive hair treatments such as hair coloring and bleaching after childbirth so as not to put additional stress on the scalp.
Speaking of stress: managing stress in the reality of being a mother is of course difficult. Self-care mantras and spa days are now unrealistic. Breathing breaks are often underestimated, but also effective. If possible, try to hand in assignments. Allow yourself sleep wherever and whenever you can find it. And be gentle with yourself. Cortisol (that is the stress hormone) is a hair loss booster – the hair also feels small reliefs. I also bought Priorin capsules from the pharmacy. Because this helped me once when I had stress-related hair loss during my state exam. In general, before supplementing, it makes sense to carry out a laboratory analysis to see whether all the values are correct or where a nutritional supplement makes sense. A blood test can reveal real defects. In this context, the thyroid and, if necessary, autoimmune parameters could also be reduced. There are also practices that carry out precise micronutrient analyzes and prescribe adjusted nutritional supplements. A balanced and, if necessary, adjusted diet can help to strengthen hair growth. Proteins are particularly important for hair follicles and metabolism. 1-1.5g protein/kg/body weight is recommended to start with. If you can’t do this through a balanced diet (it’s really a lot), you could try protein shakes occasionally. Iron, vitamin D, zinc, vitamin B12, folic acid and omega-3 fatty acids are also important. I also specifically aim to cover my daily protein needs with protein-rich foods such as lentils and legumes, low-fat quark or white meat. I also eat natural sources of iron: whole grains, lentils and beans, dark leafy vegetables (e.g. spinach and kale). But the most important thing is patience. Nature works. Even if it doesn’t feel like it right away.
What I want to tell you as a dermatologist and as a mom is: You are not alone. You are not to blame. And you don’t have to be ashamed if you’re concerned about hair loss. Her body has supported, birthed and nurtured a life. He may now need time to get back into his own rhythm. And your hair? It’s coming back. Fine first. But it’s coming. See you soon – and be gentle with yourself.
More topics on VOGUE.de:
