Q: The saying goes that around the same time a baby starts drooling, a mother will have hair loss. This seemed so for me. It was most obvious when I washed my hair after giving birth. Instead of the usual few strands, I was losing a tidy heap. Is this hormonal? For how long does this go on and is there anything I can do about it?

A: Hair growth and hair shedding patterns go through many natural cycles during a person's life. Events like pregnancy can interrupt the natural cycle and result in a temporary change in these hair growth patterns.

At any one time, about 90 per cent of the hair on your scalp is growing. The remaining 10 per cent is in its resting phase. After two to three months, the resting hair falls out and new hair starts to grow in its place.

During pregnancy, more hair goes into the resting phase. A rise in hormones during pregnancy keeps your hair from falling out. After delivery, these hormones return to pre-pregnancy levels which allow the hair to fall out and return to the normal cycle.

The normal hair loss that was delayed during pregnancy may occur all at once and this can be particularly distressing to the new mother.

This condition is known medically as telogen effluvium. It usually peaks three to four months after delivery and between 100 to 300 strands of hair may be shed each day. This hair loss may be most apparent when you are brushing or shampooing your hair. It is a temporary condition and hair loss usually returns to normal in six to 12 months.

You can take these simple measures to reduce unnecessary hair loss and have healthier hair:

Avoid pigtails, cornrows, braids and tight hair rollers which can pull and stress your hair.

Avoid fine-toothed combs and comb your hair gently, especially when it is wet.

If you need to use a hair dryer, use the cool setting.

Eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables.

Other types of hair loss may also occur post-delivery. You should consider consulting a medical professional if there is any patchy hair loss, scarring or if you are concerned that your hair loss may be excessive or prolonged.

This article was first published in Mind Your Body, The Straits Times on Sep 11, 2008.

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