title: The changes in the hair cycle during gestation and the post-partum period.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In pregnancy, increased numbers of hair follicles remain in the anagen phase for longer periods due to hormonal changes and return to the telogen phase within 3-6 months of delivery with a sudden drop in hormone levels. This results in excessive shedding of hair known as post-partum telogen effluvium.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the changes in the hair cycle during gestation and the post-partum period.
  
  
  METHODS
  We included 116 women in this study; 28 women at the 24th week of pregnancy, 30 pregnant women at term gestation, 29 women in the 4th post-partum month, and 29 in the first post-partum year. The number of breastfeeding mothers in the post-partum period and the month in which they were examined were also recorded. The ratios of anagen and telogen were measured using Trichoscan.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A statistically significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of the anagen and telogen ratios (P = 0.042, P = 0.042). In the inter-group comparisons, the mean anagen rate in the 4th post-partum month was significantly lower than that in the 6th and 9th month of pregnancy (P = 0.045, P = 0.038), while the average telogen rate was significantly higher (P = 0.045, P = 0.038). The mean anagen rate in the 4th post-partum month in the breastfeeding group was significantly higher than that in the non- breastfeeding group (P = 0.014), while the mean telogen rate was significantly lower (P = 0.014). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (the breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding groups) in terms of the mean anagen and mean telogen ratios in the first post-partum year (P = 0.385).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The anagen rate increases during pregnancy and the telogen rate rises after delivery, however, there is no exaggeration in these changes in most women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Haydarpasa Numune Research and Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gizlenti
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Ekmekci
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000502:physiology; D006197:Hair / Q000502:physiology*; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second / Q000502:physiology*; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones