The Belgravia Centre Blog

Name: Momta

Question: Hi, I just had my third baby. I have been losing a hand full of hair everyday. Please can you help me? What can I use to help stop my hair falling out? Thank you.

Answer: This sounds to me a case of Postpartum Alopecia, or post-pregnancy hair loss. To give you an accurate diagnosis we need to know how long it has been since you had your third baby and when your hair loss started. Postpartum Alopecia occurs in women two to four months after giving birth and is caused by more hairs than usual remaining in the growth phase during the pregnancy. After childbirth this hair sheds. This can be extremely distressing for a woman, but it is only the excess hair that is falling out and once the shedding has passed the hair will usually return to its original density, as it was before pregnancy, within 6 months.

For many women treatment is not necessary but if the hair has not recovered six months after childbirth, there may be other factors causing the hair loss. Stress, a change in lifestyle and strain on the body are other factors that can worsen the problem of otherwise temporary hair loss following childbirth and lead to a more long-term condition called Diffuse Thinning. Repeated incidences of hair loss after pregnancy can result in less hair growing back each time also increasing susceptibility to Diffuse Thinning.

In order to avoid this type of hair loss it is highly beneficial to use a suitable treatment for each bout of excessive shedding. A tailored treatment programme using a product called Minxodil which has been combined with the correct hair growth booster will minimise the damage that each episode can cause and ensure hair recovers to its full potential. The in-house pharmacy at Belgravia, prepares Minoxidil in a 4% and 5% topical solution with added Medroxyprogesterone (MPG) as well as a Minoxidil extra-strength 12.5% cream with added Azelaic Acid (AA). The concentration of Minoxidil that is used has a significant effect on the treatment’s effectiveness. The MPG and AA also improve the efficacy of the Minoxidil.

To see how effective a prescribed treatment programme can be for post pregnancy hair loss, take a look at a video diary of a woman undergoing treatment for Postpartum Alopecia.

Belgravia offers a free consultation to fully diagnose your condition and discuss a suitable treatment programme. To book an appointment, call 020 7730 6666 or message the centre. Alternatively, complete the online diagnostic form and the clinic will review this and contact you shortly.