The “Check Engine Light” for Your Hair: When Shedding Needs a Medical Eye

Now, before we get into this, I do want to say: while my background as a medical assistant and my years behind the chair give me a different perspective on hair and scalp health, I am not a doctor. I can’t diagnose medical conditions or prescribe treatment.

But what I can do is help you recognize when your body may be waving a red flag and point you in the right direction so you can have a more informed conversation with your physician.

Because sometimes hair loss isn’t “just hair loss.” Sometimes it’s your body’s check engine light.

So let's dive in......

The Weird Thing About Stress-Related Hair Loss

One of the most confusing things about excessive shedding is that it usually doesn’t happen immediately after the stressful event. A lot of times, clients will tell me, “I haven’t been stressed lately, so I don’t understand why my hair is falling out now.” But here’s the thing, hair operates on a delay.

There’s a condition called Telogen Effluvium where a physical or emotional stressor pushes strands out of the active growth phase and into a resting phase. The wild part? Those hairs often don’t actually shed until around 2–3 months later.

So if you notice a major increase in shedding right now, think back a few months:

• Did you go through a high-stress period?

• Have surgery?

• Get sick with a high fever?

• Experience rapid weight loss?

• Change medications?

• Go through hormonal changes?

Your hair is often the last thing to react, which is why the timing can feel so confusing.

Hair Is a Luxury.... to the Body

Your body is smart. It prioritizes survival first. That means when nutrients are low, your body will redirect resources to the organs that keep you alive, and unfortunately, hair is not high on that priority list. One of the biggest things I see? Protein intake. Hair is made primarily of keratin, which is a protein. If your body doesn’t have enough protein available, healthy hair growth can slow down significantly.

Iron storage is another huge factor that gets overlooked all the time. Many women are told their iron is “normal,” but what often matters for hair health is ferritin, which is your stored iron. Hair follicles need adequate ferritin levels to stay in the growth phase. Low ferritin can absolutely contribute to diffuse shedding, fatigue, brittle nails, and overall lackluster hair growth.

Not All Hair Loss Looks the Same

The pattern of the thinning matters too.

1) Diffuse Thinning

This is more of an overall reduction in density across the scalp. The ponytail feels thinner, the scalp feels more visible, and there’s increased shedding everywhere.

This is commonly connected to:

• Stress

• Hormonal shifts

• Illness

• Nutritional deficiencies

• Rapid weight loss

2)Alopecia Areata

This usually shows up as smooth, round patches of missing hair. This type of hair loss is autoimmune-related, meaning the immune system mistakenly attacks the hair follicle.

3) Traction Alopecia

This type is mechanical and often happens from repeated tension on the hair.

Think:

• Tight ponytails

• Slicked-back buns

• Tight braids

• Heavy extensions worn long-term

This commonly shows up around the temples, hairline, or nape area.

What to Ask Your Doctor For

If you feel like something is off, don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself. Instead of only saying: “My hair is falling out…” Ask your doctor to evaluate things like:

• Iron studies, including Ferritin. (low levels directly shorten the hair growth cycle)

• Thyroid levels, including TSH, Free T3, and Free T4 (under- or overactive thyroid disrupts metabolic rates, causing hair to grow in weak or shed early)

• Vitamin D

• B12

• Hormone levels

• CBC/CMP panels

Sometimes the root cause is internal, and no shampoo in the world can fully fix an internal imbalance.

Supporting the Scalp From the Outside In

While you work with your doctor to address what may be happening internally, my job behind the chair is to help support the scalp environment externally. That’s one of the reasons I personally lean toward a more low-tox, scalp-conscious approach to haircare. An already stressed scalp usually does not need more harsh irritation piled onto it. At Southern Roots Hair Design, I focus heavily on scalp health and use systems like Natulique that utilize certified organic, plant-derived ingredients designed to support the scalp barrier more gently.

Healthy hair growth starts with healthy “soil.” And sometimes the first step toward answers is simply slowing down long enough to actually look at the scalp closely instead of ignoring what your body may be trying to say.

If your hair has been sending out an SOS lately, let’s talk about it next time you’re in my chair. Sometimes, a careful scalp evaluation and the right conversation can point you toward answers you didn’t even realize you needed.