… Continued …
The good news, it is usually mild or many times it will improve on its own – though it can last several months. Home-care remedies are often enough for coping. Shampooing with a mild shampoo can help loosen and clear the scales. And NEVER scratch it!
But if it worsens or lasts longer than what you expect, see a doctor! A medicated lotion or shampoo may be required!
Why do some babies experience receding hairline?
The answer may not be fully known. But generally, it’s likely to be associated with particular pregnancy hormones.
As well we know, there is a life cycle of hair to keep it strong and healthy. This consists of anagen (growing) phase, catagen (transition) phase, and telogen (resting) phase.
Anagen phase can take years. In this phase, the hair keeps growing about 0.5-1 inch per month. Then it will go into transition phase (catagen), when it grows more slowly and begins to shrink! And then it goes with telogen phase, when it completely stops growing. Eventually, the old hair falls out and replaced by a new hair growth (another anagen begins).
Most of hair follicles in the scalp usually go with anagen phase, while some go with catagen and telogen phases. So normally, you should have a full head of hair at any given time.
During pregnancy, a pregnant woman is likely to gain more hair growth. A normal resting (telogen) phase of hair in pregnancy is paused, and it continuously grows over the course of the pregnancy.
But after giving birth, the pregnancy hormones that keep this decline. The life cycle of your hair backs to normal. And at the same time, the paused telogen phase of many hairs in pregnancy is resumed. As a result, the amount of hairs that fall out can be more noticeable after giving birth.
The similar thing goes with your newborn’s hair! It relies on pregnancy hormones in the womb. And after birth, it takes times to adapt when all of those pregnancy hormones go away. Meanwhile, telogen phase kicks in and there will be more hairs that fall out in the first few months after birth.
Tips for coping
Even though if your baby was born with thick hair, it may become thinning like a golden retriever! But don’t worry, it is usually temporary.
How long does it last? This can vary from 6 months to years. Until then, the following are some lifestyle measures to make sure your baby’s hair gets what it needs to grow healthy:
