Anyone who has been pregnant knows how weird pregnancy can be on your body. One of the strangest and most unexpected things I experienced post partum was a change in my hair. Not only did I loose a lot of hair but the texture of my hair changed (it went from curly to straight after having B). And don’t even get me started about how weird it is when your hair starts to grow back and is all only about an inch long. So weird. .Thankfully there are options available to help. That is why I am excited to share with you all a guest post today from my friend, Hailey, all about postpartum hair loss and what you can do about it.
Congrats, Momma!
After pregnancy, a female may experience some form of hair loss. This hair loss may be extreme (in clumps) or may just be slightly thinning in some areas. Postpartum hair loss is a side effect that some new mothers face after giving birth to their new baby. Mothers can lose their hair for up to a year post delivery. With everything a new mom is trying to adjust to, this is not something you want to have to worry about.
A new mom’s first reaction to this is most likely stress. Try not to do this! I know you are thinking, “Easier said than done”. Yes, I know this, but it is very important! Luckily, there are devices on the hair growth market that are here to help you through these struggles. If you are a new mom and suffering from hair loss, follow along below. I am going to discuss a little bit about postpartum hair loss and how you can use laser caps to help you.
Postpartum Hair Loss: What Is It?
Postpartum hair loss is very common among moms after giving birth as already mentioned. This refers to hair loss post pregnancy. There are a lot of factors that go into this, but the main thing is your hormones and how they affect your hair growth cycle.
The hair growth cycle consists of three main stages. Each has their own function and purpose to keep your hair healthy. The three stages are the anagen, catagen, and telogen stage. The anagen stage is where your hair is growing and thriving. The catagen is the transition stage and is very short. This stage transitions your hair from the anagen to telogen stage. The telogen stage of the hair growth cycle is the resting/shedding stage. This is where the hair essentially dies and falls out. The average individual loses anywhere between 80-100 strands of hair each day.
Not new moms! They rarely lose any hair throughout their pregnancy. This is because your hormones are extremely high, especially estrogen. This hormone keeps your hair follicles in the growing stage of the hair growth cycle for longer than normal periods of time. Did you notice your hair was thicker and maybe even healthier while you were pregnant? This is why.
After you give birth, your hormones almost immediately go back to their normal levels. By immediately, I mean within 24 hours. Amazing right? Well, maybe not considering you might be losing large amounts of hair at one time. This is partly due to the estrogen level drop in your hormones. All of those hair follicles that were in the anagen stage of the growth cycle for 8-9 months are going to reach the telogen stage. Unfortunately, this can all happen around the same time so you may notice clumps of hair coming out together in certain areas. It has been reported that some women lose up to 400 strands of hair postpartum.
Treatment for Postpartum Hair Loss
Although it can seem like the end of the world while you are losing your hair, keep in mind this is temporary ladies. Your hair should return to normal within several months to a year following childbirth. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case for all moms.
Even if you did get your regrowth in some areas, you might have baby hairs flying all over the place. Or, your hair grew back much thinner than it was before you got pregnant. If this is you, then you might be able to benefit from a laser cap.
Laser Hair Growth Caps
Laser caps for hair growth are high-tech, upscale devices that emit low level light therapy through medical grade laser diodes. LLLT is an acronym that can also be used to discuss this technology. LLLT helps stimulate blood flow in the scalp to regenerate hair follicle cells on the head. This encourages new hair growth in areas that are thinning and promotes healthy growth in areas that already contain hair.
How Do Laser Caps Work for Hair Growth?
As previously mentioned, laser caps are FDA-cleared devices on the market specifically designed for individuals struggling with hair loss and or thinning. The upscale technology embedded in these caps is used to reverse hair loss and cause hair follicles to regrow healthier and stronger. However, individuals can also use this technology to help improve the conditions and health of their already existing hair.
Laser caps are worn every other day. These treatments are done every other day because your scalp needs a day of rest in between treatments. Treatment time varies, but it will be no longer than 30-minutes out of your day. Good news is, these caps are completely portable, so you do not have to be stationary while using them. Perhaps one of the largest advantages of these devices is that they can be worn in the comfort of your own home and at your own convenience.
Results- How Long?
With directed every other day use, results will be seen anywhere between the 4-8-month mark. It depends entirely on the individual and results can vary with the amount/type of lasers in the cap. With more lasers comes quicker and more effective results. Compared to LEDs, medical grade laser diodes have been clinically proven to be more effective and produce better results.
Conclusion
Although postpartum hair loss can be extremely stressful, embrace the technology available to help you! LLLT and laser caps have been clinically proven to improve hair growth on the scalps of both men and women. This is the perfect time for you to be able to put one to use!
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