Hair shedding vs hair loss confuses almost everyone who notices extra strands in the shower drain. Are you losing hair? Or is your body just going through a normal cycle? At Miami Lakes Med Spa in Miami Lakes, FL, Dr. Sabrina Gonzalez, DNP, APRN sees patients from Hialeah, Miami Gardens, Doral, and Pembroke Pines who arrive worried and unsure which one they’re dealing with.

The truth is, shedding and loss are two different problems. One is often short-term and reversible. The other is genetic and gets worse over time if you ignore it. Knowing the difference matters because the treatment path changes based on the cause.

This guide breaks down telogen effluvium and androgenetic alopecia in plain language. You’ll learn what triggers each, how to spot the signs, and what treatments — like platelet-rich plasma therapy and exosome therapy — can help you regain density and confidence.

Hair Shedding vs Hair Loss: The Core Difference

Think of your hair like a lawn. Shedding is when grass blades fall out on their own — normal, expected, and the roots stay put. Hair loss is when the roots themselves stop growing new grass. That’s a bigger problem.

Every person sheds 100 to 150 hairs a day. That’s normal. Shedding becomes a concern when it doubles or triples suddenly. You’ll see clumps in your brush, strands on your pillow, and a thinner ponytail.

Hair loss, on the other hand, is slower and quieter. You may not notice extra hairs falling out. Instead, your part looks wider. Your hairline creeps back. Your crown gets see-through in bright light. The follicles are shrinking, not shedding.

Both problems can happen at the same time. That’s why a professional exam matters — guessing wrong wastes months of treatment.

What Is Telogen Effluvium?

Telogen effluvium is a fancy term for stress-triggered shedding. Your hair grows in cycles: growing (anagen), resting (telogen), and falling out. Normally, only about 10% of your hairs are resting at any time.

When your body goes through a shock, up to 30-40% of hairs can shift into the resting phase at once. About 2-3 months later, they all fall out together. That’s when you notice the sudden spike in shedding.

Common triggers include:

• Childbirth (postpartum shedding is classic telogen effluvium)
• High fever or COVID-19 infection
• Rapid weight loss or crash diets
• Iron, vitamin D, or protein deficiency
• Thyroid changes
• Major surgery or hospitalization
• Severe emotional stress or grief
• Starting or stopping birth control

The good news? Telogen effluvium is usually temporary. Once the trigger is fixed, hair grows back within 6-9 months. The bad news? The shedding phase can feel scary and long.

What Is Androgenetic Alopecia?

Androgenetic alopecia is the medical name for genetic pattern hair loss. It affects both men and women. In men, it shows up as a receding hairline and bald crown. In women, it looks like a widening part and thinning across the top of the scalp.

The cause is a mix of genes and hormones. A hormone called DHT (dihydrotestosterone) shrinks your hair follicles over time. Each new hair grows in thinner, shorter, and lighter than the last. Eventually, the follicle stops making hair at all.

Unlike telogen effluvium, androgenetic alopecia doesn’t reverse on its own. It’s progressive. That means it slowly gets worse without treatment. The FDA has approved minoxidil and finasteride for pattern hair loss, and clinical evidence supports platelet-rich plasma therapy as an in-office option to stimulate follicles.

Starting early makes a huge difference. Dormant follicles can wake up with the right treatment. Dead follicles cannot.

How to Tell Which One You Have

Here’s a simple checklist Dr. Sabrina Gonzalez uses when patients come in worried about their hair.

You likely have telogen effluvium if:

• Shedding started suddenly (clumps in the shower)
• You had a stressful event 2-4 months ago
• The hair loss is diffuse (all over, not just the top)
• Your part width looks the same
• Your hairline hasn’t changed

You likely have androgenetic alopecia if:

• Thinning started slowly over years
• Your part is getting wider
• You can see more scalp in bright light
• Family members have similar patterns
• Your ponytail feels thinner but you don’t see extra shedding

A scalp exam and, if needed, blood work can confirm the diagnosis. At Miami Lakes Med Spa, we check iron, ferritin, thyroid, and vitamin D levels when telogen effluvium is suspected.

Treatment Options at Miami Lakes Med Spa

Our hair restoration program uses your body’s own healing signals to wake up sleeping follicles. Both PRP and exosomes work well for early to moderate thinning, whether the cause is telogen effluvium or androgenetic alopecia.

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy — $495/session or $950 for 3 sessions

We draw a small amount of your blood, spin it in a centrifuge, and pull out the platelet-rich layer. This layer is packed with autologous growth factors — proteins your body uses to heal. We inject it into thinning scalp zones. Most patients see less shedding by month 3 and thicker regrowth by month 6.

Exosome Therapy — $950

Exosomes are tiny messengers made from stem cells. They carry growth signals directly to your follicles. Exosomes are more concentrated than PRP and often deliver faster results for patients with stubborn thinning or advanced androgenetic alopecia.

Under the oversight of medical director Dr. John Serpa, MD, our team designs a plan that fits your diagnosis, budget, and goals. Most patients start with a 3-session PRP series, then move to maintenance every 6-12 months.

Practical Steps You Can Take Today

Before your consultation, these habits support healthier hair for both conditions:

• Get bloodwork done. Ask your primary care doctor to check iron, ferritin, vitamin D, B12, thyroid, and zinc.
• Eat enough protein. Hair is made of keratin, a protein. Aim for 0.8-1 gram per pound of body weight daily.
• Be gentle. Avoid tight ponytails, hot tools, and harsh chemical treatments during a shedding episode.
• Manage stress. Sleep, exercise, and stress reduction directly affect the hair cycle.
• Don’t wait. Early treatment beats late treatment every time — especially for androgenetic alopecia.

Hair shedding and hair loss are not the same thing. Telogen effluvium is often temporary and tied to a trigger you can fix. Androgenetic alopecia is genetic and needs steady, long-term care to slow it down and rebuild density. The sooner you get an accurate diagnosis, the more options you have.

At Miami Lakes Med Spa, we serve patients from Miami Lakes, Hialeah, Miami Gardens, Miramar, Pembroke Pines, and Doral with personalized hair restoration plans built around PRP, exosome therapy, and autologous growth factors. Call 305-418-0392 to book your free consultation with Dr. Sabrina Gonzalez, DNP, APRN, or book online today.

This content is for informational purposes and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Individual results may vary. Please consult with a qualified provider about your specific hair concerns. Last reviewed: 2026.