Generality
Hair and breastfeeding are terms that, when combined "one with the other", arouse many concerns in new mothers.
Estrogen and Hair
As mentioned, after childbirth - during the breastfeeding phase - hair becomes weak and brittle, with a tendency to fall out and break easily.
Responsible for this phenomenon are estrogens, hormones that are particularly abundant during pregnancy and subject to a rapid decline after childbirth, returning to pre-pregnancy levels during the lactation phase.
Estrogen acts on the life cycle of the hair by prolonging the growth phase, called anagen. Under normal conditions, a percentage of hair normally variable between 85 and 90% is in a growth phase, while the remaining fraction rests (telogen phase). Once the rest period is over, the hair falls out and is immediately replaced by one. new On average, about 100 hair loss per day is considered normal.
As mentioned above, thanks to the estrogen secreted by the corpus luteum and the placenta, during pregnancy the percentage of hair in the growth phase increases, while the hair loss decreases. Conversely, during the lactation period the decline in estrogen levels causes a greater percentage of hair to enter the telogen phase. As a result, the nurse may complain of an increase in hair loss, generally more noticeable in the case of long hair.
To tell the truth, in these cases - rather than hair loss during breastfeeding - it is more correct to speak of postpartum effluvium. In fact, the drop in estrogen that occurs at the end of pregnancy does not depend on breastfeeding itself. , but from the end of the gestation itself.
In any case, we commonly speak of hair loss during breastfeeding because this phenomenon occurs during this period.
Deepening
For what has been said so far, it is not surprising that the duration of anagen can be pharmacologically increased by topical application of estrogens, in particular estrone sulfate. Estrogens (ethinyl estradiol), together with antiandrogens (cyproterone acetate) are also used orally in the treatment of female androgenetic alopecia. All these drugs, however, are absolutely contraindicated during breastfeeding, during which it is also advisable to avoid taking hair supplements, unless otherwise prescribed.
Treatment
Since the phenomenon of hair loss during breastfeeding occurs due to the return of estrogens to re-pregnancy levels, it is considered completely physiological and does not require special interventions or treatments.
In fact, the fall stops spontaneously and the hair regains its pre-pregnancy aspect within 6-12 months.
In order not to excessively "stress" hair that is already in a state of fragility, it may still be useful to follow the following tips:
- Avoid using products that are too aggressive for washing your hair.
- Avoid drying your hair at high temperatures.
- If possible, avoid using straighteners and hair irons, so as not to favor breakage.
- Avoid, as far as possible, ponytails or hairstyles that could overstress the hair.
- Adopt a healthy and balanced diet.
In some cases, however, postpartum effluvium could manifest itself in a severe form, thus becoming a cause for great concern.
In such cases, therefore, it is advisable to contact your doctor and dermatologist promptly, absolutely avoiding self-diagnosis and do-it-yourself therapies, especially if you are breastfeeding.
The doctor will be able to identify the problem, indicating the most appropriate solution to each patient. If necessary, the specialist can prescribe the intake of food supplements for the well-being of the hair, also providing indications on the possible suspension of breastfeeding.
