> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.hi-doctor.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Postpartum hair loss — treatment options

> Postpartum hair loss explained: why shedding happens after pregnancy, and the treatment options a doctor considers, including breastfeeding safety.

Postpartum shedding is a hormonal form of telogen effluvium — hair loss triggered by the hormonal shift after pregnancy. The doctor advises on options that are safe during breastfeeding and afterwards.

## What is postpartum hair loss?

It is a temporary, hormonally driven pattern of increased shedding that follows pregnancy. Because some hair-loss treatments are not appropriate during breastfeeding, the safety profile is part of what the doctor weighs before recommending anything.

## Treatments a doctor considers

A licensed doctor decides case by case. Hi-Doctor never prescribes without evaluation.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Oral finasteride" icon="pills">
    A 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor taken daily. A doctor may prescribe it after reviewing your history and ruling out contraindications.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Oral minoxidil" icon="pills">
    Low-dose, used off-label by some dermatologists. Requires close medical supervision for potential cardiovascular effects.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Topical minoxidil" icon="spray-can">
    Solution or foam applied directly to the scalp. Can be combined with other actives in a compounded formulation.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Dutasteride 0.5mg" icon="pills">
    A more potent 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor. Reserved for specific cases, always under medical evaluation.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

A personalised compounded formulation — combining finasteride, minoxidil, tretinoin or other actives — can also be prepared by a pharmacy after a medical prescription.

<Warning>
  Finasteride and dutasteride are 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors and are not appropriate choices to make without a doctor's review, given the breastfeeding and pregnancy considerations involved in postpartum care.
</Warning>

## Your path to treatment

<Steps>
  <Step title="Start your online visit">
    Answer a questionnaire about your health and goal. No in-person appointment, no travel. You will know within 24 hours if you are a candidate.
  </Step>

  <Step title="A doctor reviews your case">
    A licensed doctor reviews your answers personally, and messages you in the private chat if they need clarifications. If treatment is appropriate, they sign an electronic prescription.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review and payment">
    If the doctor does not approve treatment, the consultation fee is refunded in full within 48 hours.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Ongoing support">
    Private chat with your doctor for questions, a check-in, and renewal before your prescription expires.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Common questions

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="How is postpartum hair loss evaluated in an online consultation?">
    The doctor reviews your hair-loss history, timing relative to pregnancy, breastfeeding status and general health. Because some treatments are not appropriate during breastfeeding, safety is weighed before recommending anything.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What treatments does the doctor consider for postpartum hair loss?">
    Options include [oral finasteride](/library/medicines/finasteride), [oral minoxidil](/library/medicines/oral-minoxidil), [topical minoxidil](/library/guides/finasteride-sprays) and [dutasteride 0.5 mg](/library/medicines/dutasteride). A personalised compounded formulation can also be prepared by a pharmacy after a medical prescription.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How long until you see results?">
    Hair treatment is gradual. Early shedding can occur before improvement is seen. Photographs taken in the same light are more useful than day-to-day checking. The doctor normally reviews tolerance and progress after several months.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I consult for postpartum hair loss from Spain?">
    Yes. A licensed EU doctor reviews your case remotely. If treatment is appropriate, they issue an electronic prescription valid at any EU pharmacy.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Are finasteride and dutasteride safe during breastfeeding?">
    Finasteride and dutasteride are 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors and are not appropriate choices without a doctor's review, given the breastfeeding and pregnancy considerations involved in postpartum care. The doctor advises on options that are safe during breastfeeding.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## How Hi-Doctor handles it

You pay for any medication separately at the pharmacy you choose — Hi-Doctor does not sell medications. Treatment runs as an ongoing plan with doctor-reviewed renewals.

Related: [oral minoxidil](/library/medicines/oral-minoxidil) and the [topical finasteride spray guide](/library/guides/finasteride-sprays), two of the options a doctor may weigh for postpartum shedding. See also [pricing](/essentials/pricing) and [safety and eligibility checks](/essentials/safety).

## Start a consultation

<Card title="Hair-growth consultation" icon="stethoscope" href="https://hi-doctor.ai/consultation/hair-growth/1">
  Answer the hair-growth questionnaire and a registered doctor reviews it.
  They decide whether treatment is appropriate, which one, and at what dose —
  and declining is a normal outcome. See [what it costs](/essentials/pricing)
  and [how the review works](/essentials/how-it-works).
</Card>

<Warning>
  This page is reference information, not medical advice and not a prescription.
  Whether a medicine is appropriate for you is decided by a registered doctor
  after reviewing your consultation.
</Warning>