Hair Loss During Pregnancy: Treatment & Causes

Hair loss during pregnancy is less common than hair loss after it. Pregnancy usually keeps more hairs in the growth phase, so many women notice thicker hair; heavy shedding while still pregnant points to another cause, such as low iron, a thyroid problem or a recent illness, and is worth checking.

This guide covers what causes hair loss during pregnancy, which treatments are considered safe and which to avoid, and how long it lasts. It focuses on the months before birth. The shedding that peaks a few months after delivery is covered in our postpartum hair loss guide.

This photo was taken after a birth, when shedding is at its most common. A milder recession at the temples can also appear in late pregnancy, as the review cited below describes.

What Deficiency Causes Hair Loss During Pregnancy?

Iron deficiency is the main one to rule out. The NHS lists pregnancy among the common causes of iron deficiency anaemia, and hair loss among its less common symptoms. Tiredness, shortness of breath and a pale look are more typical signs.

Thyroid problems are the other key check. The NHS lists dry hair or hair loss among the symptoms of an underactive thyroid and advises telling your GP if you have the condition and are pregnant or planning a pregnancy. Both causes of hair loss during pregnancy can be found with routine blood tests through your maternity team.

What Causes Hair Loss During Pregnancy Boy or Girl?

We found no study showing that the baby's sex affects the mother's hair. Hair changes in pregnancy are explained by the growth cycle, nutrition and health conditions, and they happen with boys and girls alike.

What Hormone Causes Hair Loss During Pregnancy?

Pregnancy hormones usually do the opposite: a 2022 review in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology describes elongation of the growth (anagen) phase during pregnancy. The shedding tends to come later: the AAD says a new mother can see excessive shedding about two months after giving birth. Some women do notice mild recession at the temples or even thinning in late pregnancy, which the same review describes.

Is Hair Loss a Sign of Early Pregnancy?

No. The NHS list of early pregnancy signs includes a missed period, nausea, tiredness, sore breasts and needing to pee more often, but not hair loss. So hair loss early pregnancy symptoms are not a recognised way to tell whether you are pregnant. If you notice hair loss as one of your first pregnancy symptoms, it is more likely to come from something that happened a few months earlier, such as an illness, a stressful event or stopping the contraceptive pill.

Treatment for Hair Loss During Pregnancy

Hair loss during pregnancy treatment starts with finding the cause. If blood tests show low iron or a thyroid problem, your maternity team will treat it, and the shedding usually improves once the cause is corrected.

Most hair loss medicines are not used in pregnancy:

• Minoxidil: the women's Rogaine label says it may be harmful if used when pregnant or breast-feeding, and the 2022 review advises avoiding it.
• Finasteride: the Propecia label contraindicates it in women who are or may become pregnant, and says they should not handle crushed or broken tablets.
• Supplements: take iron or other supplements only as advised by your midwife or doctor, at the amount they set.

Do not start any hair loss medicine, serum or supplement during pregnancy without asking your midwife or doctor first. If you already use one and find out you are pregnant, tell them straight away rather than deciding alone.

Home Remedies for Hair Loss During Pregnancy

Searches for hair fall during pregnancy home remedies often mix in advice meant for after the birth. During pregnancy, the safest home care is gentle. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends:

• using conditioner after washing your hair;
• detangling wet hair with a wide-tooth comb instead of a brush;
• wearing loose styles, because hair pulled tightly back over time can cause permanent loss.

For care in the months after delivery, see the postpartum hair loss guide.

Is Hair Loss a Side Effect of Pregnancy?

Not usually during the pregnancy itself. The AAD describes shedding after giving birth as normal and temporary; heavy shedding before the birth is not typical and has other causes to rule out.

When looking for a hair loss treatment safe during pregnancy, check the ingredients of any serum or "growth" product, not just its marketing. Products with minoxidil carry the pregnancy warning above. For other ingredients, there is often little safety data in pregnancy, so the 2022 review advises choosing hair products carefully. Show the label to your midwife or pharmacist before using it.

How Long Does Pregnancy Hair Loss Last?

It depends on the cause. Shedding from a trigger such as an illness, known as telogen effluvium, typically lasts less than six months, according to a 2020 review in Cureus. Shedding from iron deficiency or a thyroid problem improves after treatment.

People also ask about hair loss after pregnancy and how long it lasts. The AAD says postpartum shedding usually peaks about four months after giving birth, and that hair tends to regain its normal fullness within six to nine months.

Does Hair Loss During Pregnancy Grow Back?

Usually, yes, because most shedding does not damage the follicle. The 2022 review notes one exception: mild recession at the temples that starts during pregnancy may not grow back fully after delivery.

Does Hair Loss Stop During Pregnancy?

For many women, normal daily shedding drops during pregnancy because more hairs stay in the growth phase. The AAD says shedding 50 to 100 hairs a day is normal. If you shed clearly more than that for weeks while pregnant, ask your maternity team for blood tests.

Hair Loss Early Pregnancy

Early pregnancy hair loss usually reflects something that happened before conception. Telogen effluvium shows two to three months after a trigger, so hair loss in early pregnancy can follow an illness, stress, weight loss or stopping the pill. The AAD lists stopping birth control pills among triggers of shedding; our guide on birth control and hair loss explains that link.

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions About Your Hair After Pregnancy?

If thinning continues long after your baby's first year, it may be a pattern that needs its own assessment. Send clear photos of your parting and hairline for a free hair analysis, and the medical team will tell you whether it looks like shedding or long-term thinning. Women's options are explained in our guide to hair transplant for women. Turkey Hair Center is a Ministry of Health authorized health-tourism intermediary; procedures take place at authorized partner hospitals.

Medical disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Individual results and recovery vary from person to person. Always follow the written aftercare plan from your own medical team.