Hair loss has always been a problem that has plagued mothers for a long time. After all, everyone wants to have thick hair. However, if you keep losing hair after giving birth, is it postpartum alopecia? I have lost so much hair, can it grow back?
Today I would like to share a related consultation for your reference. Thank you to this mother for authorizing sharing.
User’s question
Hello, I am a mother born in the 90s. My hair was not very good before I gave birth to my baby. My hair has always been thin and soft. Before college, I had quite a lot of hair. After graduating from college, my hair began to slowly decrease. It got worse after I gave birth to a baby. After my hair fell out, it stopped growing.
Now the baby is 3 years old, and his hair is still like this. He can no longer grow his hair long, and the top of his head is almost bald. I have used many hair growth products before, and also went to our local dermatology hospital for examination. I took traditional Chinese medicine and liquid nitrogen freezing for a period of time, but they had no effect. I went to a traditional Chinese medicine hospital last week, and the doctor prescribed traditional Chinese medicine without even looking at me. I refused, thinking I’d better ask Yihe first.
I would like to ask: Do you think there is any way to save me in this situation? What measures are better to take?
reply
Hello, thank you for your consultation and trust and keeping you waiting for a long time. Judging from the photos you provided, you currently have thinning hair mainly on the top of your head and the temporal areas on both sides, and your scalp is more exposed.
Postpartum hair loss generally occurs, that is, postpartum telogen hair loss. However, simple postpartum hair loss is usually basically relieved about 15 months after delivery. Your hair loss has not improved for 3 years, and you had it before. The hair is soft and sparse, mainly on the top of the head; therefore, female pattern hair loss is currently mainly considered, which used to be called “female androgenetic alopecia.”
- What causes female pattern hair loss?
The pathogenesis of female pattern hair loss is not as precise as that of men. It is not clear whether genetic factors and androgens are involved in the pathogenesis and to what extent.
Female pattern hair loss generally progresses slowly. The hair starts out relatively fine and soft, and then gradually begins to fall out, mainly on the top of the head.
You feel that your hair loss has worsened after giving birth. This is mainly because hair during pregnancy is generally thicker physiologically. Under the influence of hormones, the growth phase will be extended and the ratio of growth phase/telogen phase will increase. However, there is no such positive adjustment after delivery. As a result, there may be obvious postpartum telogen effluvium, which is more serious all at once, and also exposes the potential problem of female pattern hair loss.
- How to treat?
For female pattern hair loss, the most important treatment method at present is the topical application of minoxidil. There are two concentrations of minoxidil in China, one is 2%, which is applied twice a day; the other is 5%, which is applied daily. Just apply it once.
If it is mild to moderate female pattern hair loss, 2% and 5% minoxidil can be used for treatment. There is not much difference in the effect between the two concentrations. For patients with severe female pattern hair loss, 5% minoxidil is more recommended. However, because minoxidil with a concentration of 2% is relatively difficult to obtain, it is currently recommended that you apply 5% minoxidil for treatment to improve hair loss and promote hair growth in the future.
Minoxidil can be used as a foam, which is less irritating and easier to apply. Once a day, apply it to the scalp of the entire top area of the head (not the hair). It needs to be applied continuously for at least 6-12 months to observe the effect. If there is significant improvement, it can be maintained later.
- Do I need to take medicine?
Generally, for those with a lot of oil overflow or with elevated androgen levels, the doctor may recommend taking a small dose of spironolactone orally to exert the anti-androgen effect. However, if you are in the initial stage of treatment, topical drugs will suffice and are not needed at the moment. Oral drug therapy.
The effectiveness and safety of the traditional Chinese medicine and liquid nitrogen treatment you mentioned are not clear for the treatment of female pattern hair loss, and their use is not recommended. You also need to take regular breaks every day, avoid staying up late, and maintain a good mood.
User’s first question
Does minoxidil require foaming agent? Can it be applied to the entire scalp?
What should I pay attention to when using minoxidil? Will it conflict with other medications?
If you can’t see the effect after half a year, can you give up?
My hair has been oily since I was little, can I still take oral medicine?
My scalp is very itchy, do you have any recommended shampoo?
reply
- Does minoxidil require foaming agent? Can it be applied to the entire scalp?
Answer: Minoxidil solution contains alcohol and propylene glycol, which may irritate the scalp, and the liquid is easy to flow everywhere. If it flows to the face, it may also cause the growth of facial hair, and the foam agent is easier to adhere to the scalp. For girls, It is more convenient to apply once a day, so we would recommend using the foam form of minoxidil. Apply to the entire scalp, especially the top of the head.
- What should I pay attention to when using minoxidil? Will it conflict with other medications?
Answer: If you choose liniment, you can choose the black one with a concentration of 5% and apply it once a day. The topical medicine will generally not affect other medicines. If it is a solution preparation for external use and the skin becomes red, itchy and allergic after applying it, it is recommended not to apply it anymore in the future and you can switch to a foam preparation.
- If you can’t see the effect after half a year, can you give up?
Answer: Minoxidil needs to be used externally for a period of time to treat hair loss, usually at least half a year to more than a year. It’s just a rough process. In fact, if you observe that hair loss has obviously begun to decrease in the first half year of use, it actually indicates that it is effective. If you continue to use it externally in the later period, the hair follicles in the growth phase will continue to increase, and new hair will naturally appear. It will also grow out slowly.
- My hair has been oily since I was a child. Can I still take oral medicine?
Answer: In this situation, it is recommended to mainly apply external drugs first. Oral drugs may have some adverse reactions. It needs to be observed based on the reaction after application to determine whether oral drug intervention is needed.
- My scalp is very itchy, is there any recommended shampoo?
Answer: When we wash our hair, the water temperature should be as warm and cool as possible. There are no special requirements for shampoo. It does not require functional so-called hair growth shampoo. It does not matter whether there is silicone oil or not. This is just a gimmick of the merchants.
