Balancing Hormones: Skin and Hair Care Tips After Delivery

Hair fall is one of the most common problems during pregnancy which can bother you after 3 to 4 months of delivery. The onset of this problem is as follows:

• During pregnancy, the hair is in the growing phase so the hair fall reduces during this time. 
• During pregnancy, the level of hormones increases which makes your hair look great.
• After delivery, the level of hormones returns to normal and the normal cycle of hair growth and fall starts again. 
• Thus now you come to the stage of hair fall, which seems unusual but is completely normal. Do not worry, because you will not go bald. Hair loss during this period is temporary and your hair will return to normal after 6 to 12 months.

(Read more - After delivery care for the mother)

Follow the following 6 simple tips to control hair loss:

Eat a healthy diet:

• Include antioxidant-rich foods in your diet.
• For this, consume strawberries, apples, kidney beans, dried plums, etc.
• Antioxidants help strengthen the hair roots.

Keep your scalp and hair clean:

• Use anti-hair loss shampoo to clean the scalp.
• Make sure to do conditioning to prevent hair breakage.
• If you are short on time, use a leave-in conditioner (which can be applied to the hair until the next washing).

Do not pull or tie your hair:

• Do not tie your hair tightly as this will put a strain on your scalp and cause more hair fall.
• This will help you in this phase of hair loss.

Vitamin supplements:

• You will need some supplements to give you strength after delivery.
• Take vitamins like Vitamin B and Vitamin C regularly to keep your hair thick.

Chemical treatments:

• Avoid hair color, straighteners and curling irons as these can also cause hair fall.
• Also, they require a lot of care, so it is best to stay away from these products unless you have to attend a special occasion.

Get a haircut:

• If you are losing a lot of hair, get a haircut.
• This will make your hair look thicker and you will also feel more confident with the new look.

(Read more: Postnatal Diet: what to eat after delivery)

After delivery, you need to take extra care of your skin or else you may face the following problems:

Acne:
During pregnancy, the skin becomes extremely oily due to increased levels of progesterone. As a result, acne problems may arise. After pregnancy, due to changes in hormone levels, you may have acne on your face, no matter how clear your skin was during pregnancy.

Pigmentation:
Pigmentation or melasma are dark spots on the skin. These are caused by increased levels of progesterone and estrogen hormones during pregnancy. The dark patches on your body or the line below your stomach will disappear on their own after delivery.

Dark circles and swollen eyes:
These are caused by changes in hormone levels and lack of sleep after having a baby. Your tiredness is clearly visible in the form of dark circles and puffiness under your eyes.

Stretch Marks:
Stretch marks are one of the most stubborn problems. As the name suggests, they are caused due to the stretching of the skin. Due to the sudden contraction of the skin after delivery, the skin may tear at some places. This usually happens in the breast, stomach, buttocks, thighs and knees area.

(Read more - Vitamin C benefits for skin)

Some tips to reduce skin problems during pregnancy and postpartum are as follows:

For acne:

• Clean your face twice a day with a mild cleanser.
• Apply a mild, oil-free moisturizer in the morning and at night.
• You can use a gentle scrub once a week.
• Use products made from natural ingredients like aloe vera and eucalyptus.

For pigmentation:

• After a year of childbirth, the spots on your face will become lighter and in fact they will disappear completely after some time.
• Use sunscreen lotion daily. Do not forget to use it even if you stay indoors.
• If you stay indoors during the day, use sunscreen with SPF 15.
• If you go out for more than 10 minutes, use a sunscreen with SPF 30 or SPF 50 and keep your skin covered as much as possible.
• As a daily moisturizer, use a moisturizer that is specially made for pigmented skin.

For dark circles and puffy eyes:

• Drink at least 8 glasses of water throughout the day and eat a healthy diet.
• Sleep when your baby sleeps as taking care of him will make you tired and when he keeps waking up at night, you may have trouble sleeping. Taking naps in between is the best way to get good sleep and rest during this time.
• Apply eye cream from a reputed brand that is specially formulated for dark circles and puffy eyes.

For stretch marks:

• To avoid stretch marks, as soon as you find out that you are pregnant, use a moisturizer or anti-stretch mark cream containing olive oil on the areas that are prone to stretching, such as the stomach, breasts, etc.
• You can also massage your lower abdomen and breasts directly with olive oil. This oil prevents the formation of stretch marks and also moisturizes the skin.
• If you develop stretch marks after childbirth, use a reputed anti-stretch mark cream on the affected areas.
• Healthy diet and exercise are important measures to reduce stretch marks.
• After the delivery, after a checkup by the doctor, you can start doing some form of exercise, such as brisk walking, light exercises or yoga, etc. These can help you reduce stretch marks. 

(Read more - Melasma or dark spots in pregnancy)

After delivery, women's skin and hair may experience many changes, such as dry skin, hair loss, and loss of shine. Proper care is necessary to deal with these problems. Use light moisturizers and natural oils to maintain skin moisture. Drink plenty of water and eat a nutrient-rich diet to increase hydration. Massage regularly with coconut or almond oil and use a mild shampoo to reduce hair loss. Also, resort to meditation and yoga to reduce stress, which helps in maintaining the health of both skin and hair.