You did it! You made it through the unwanted postpartum hair loss stage. You are feeling good.
It's going to get better from here! You are finally sure of it, and then...(cue dooming dum dum dum)... it turns to fall.
Seasonal Hair Loss:
If you have started to notice more hair on your hairbrush again, or on the bathroom tile, this may be more than just the remnants of postpartum shedding.
As summer comes to an end in most parts of the world (Hawaii and the Bahamas you can just ignore this), and fall/winter fast approaches, so does seasonal hair shedding.
Studies show that seasonal hair loss affects more women than men, and typically occurs during the fall months like September and October.
Why Does Seasonal Hair Loss Occur?
There are a few differing theories as to why seasonal hair loss occurs.
A dermatologist out of Miami (Roberta Del Campo), shared recently with Allure Magazine, the idea that hair sheds in the fall to make way for thicker hair to grow in the winter... also adding, that the holiday season tends to be a higher stress time for most, and stress additionally contributes to the hair shedding.
A second dermatologist based in Massachusetts (Emily Wise Shanahan), shared the thought that in the summer months we hang on to more hair to provide protection from the sun, then a few months after as we shift into late fall and early winter, those hairs we held onto transition into a shedding phase.
This then results in more shedding than you are used to.
A third opinion comes from NYC based dermatologist Jeremy Fenton. Fenton shared with Allure, a study that we have the highest number of hairs in the telogen phase in July. Because hair typically falls out 100 days later, that takes us into the fall when we see an uptick in shedding.
Similar to Shanahans findings, Fenton mentions the idea of hair created in the summer, to protect the scalp. Then, shedding occurs during the winter as the body minimizes the need for it in the cooler months.
Additionally, he suggested an idea related to changes in daylight hours.
A belief that the body responds in some hormonal way to changes in the amount of daylight, which triggers shedding as the daylight decreases.
Can We Do Anything to Minimize Seasonal Hair Loss?
If you are going through postpartum hair loss as we enter the fall months, you might be feeling doomed at this point. There are a few tips from dermatologists to help minimize the extra hair loss you might run into:
1. Make an extra effort to keep hair moisturized and hydrated (use a hair mask/deep condition)
2. Go easy on the heat styling: Not just because of the heat itself (definitely use a heat protective spray), but also because of the tugging and pulling a flat iron or curling iron inflicts.
3. Do not use harsh hair ties: Because we realize as a new mom its impossible to tell you not to pull your hair back, we are saying no harsh rubber bands. Use a silk or satin gentle scrunchie instead.
Dermatologist Jeremy Fenton shared with Allure one of his best tips: "Do what your mother has been telling you to do all these years, "TAKE YOUR VITAMINS"
He went on to share, that taking supplements can strengthen the hair that you have. Those vitamins with biotin, being the most effective option out there.
While the shedding itself might not be prevented from adding a vitamin, it can prevent breakage and help the hair you already have appear thicker, Fenton shared.
Hair tends to be dryer in winter months and that can lead to more breakage. The Baby Blues Postpartum Hair Loss Vitamin contains 6,000 mcg of biotin, along with collagen and a proprietary blend of vitamins and minerals that work together to absorb quickly and strengthen hair from the inside.
