What is postpartum hair loss?
Postpartum hair loss is the excessive shedding of hair a few months after you give birth. It’s caused by hormone changes that occur during and after pregnancy.
Advertisem*nt
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
How does hair grow?
Hair grows from small pores in the skin on your scalp called follicles. Your hair is continuously growing and shedding. This cycle of hair growth has three phases that repeat throughout your lifetime:
- Anagen phase is the phase of active hair growth. It can last between two and six years. Most of your hair (85% to 90%) is in this phase at any given time.
- Catagen phase is a short, transitional phase where the hair follicles shrink.
- Telogen phase is a resting phase that lasts about three months. After, the follicle releases the hair and the hair falls out.
Another name for postpartum hair loss is telogen effluvium.
How does postpartum hair loss occur?
Pregnancy hormones cause many hairs in the growing phase (anagen) to suddenly enter the resting phase (telogen). A few months later, you lose that hair.
You typically have 80,000 to 120,000 hairs on your scalp and shed up to 100 hairs per day. In postpartum hair loss, you lose more than 100 hairs daily.
Advertisem*nt
How long does postpartum hair loss last?
Though it may be distressing to lose hair, postpartum hair loss is only temporary. The shedding should last less than six months. Your hair should regain its fullness by the time your child turns one.
How common is postpartum hair loss?
It is a very common type of hair loss in women and people assigned female at birth. Most people notice some hair loss after childbirth.
