What My Lab Results Taught Me About Hair Loss, Fatigue & Skin Health

Ciao, Beautiful!

I want to share something a bit more personal today—something that surprised me, but also shifted everything. It’s about the months when my hair started thinning, my energy felt stolen, and my skin just refused to bounce back no matter what I tried.

I honestly thought it was just perimenopause, but I was wrong.

As an esthetician (and one who’s oncology-certified), I’ve always believed that beauty and health go hand in hand. But sometimes, it takes a wake-up call to see how deeply they’re connected.

The “aha” moment: when lab tests answered big questions:

I’ve always tried to listen to my body. When symptoms start interfering with daily life, ignoring them isn’t an option. For me, the red flags were:

• gradual hair loss (not just a few strands, but enough to notice)

• overwhelming fatigue, even after “restful” sleep

• skin that seemed dull, slow to heal, or just off — under-eyes darker, inflammation more obvious

So I ran blood work, ordered panels, and asked the right questions. It showed imbalances, deficiencies, and clues pointing to severe anemia and how that was showing up in my skin, hair, eyes—and energy.

That was the moment I realized no topical alone could save me and started treating from the inside out.

Bright eyes = an occasional reflection of your internal health:

One of the most surprising outcomes was how my eyes changed. Dark under-eyes, puffiness, that tired look—they weren’t just “aesthetic problems.” They were signals.

Here’s a few simple tips I prioritized that really helped me:

• At night or in the morning, after cleansing, apply a thin layer of hydrating eye serum, cream or oil focusing on the under-eye (stick to the orbital bone area and never the eyelid) and gently massage the area for 20–30 seconds. This light massage supports circulation and lymphatic drainage.

• Walk daily and/or do light movements to support blood circulation. 

• Make sure your rest, nutrition, and hydration are prioritized. An undernourished body will show in every crevice.

Doing these gradually helped reduce the darkness and the “tired eye” look I’d begun to accept as permanent.

My top 3 secrets for managing anemia symptoms (the beauty edition):

Here are the daily habits and tools I leaned into once I saw the lab results. These have helped me with hair, skin, energy, and even breathing better.

1. Targeted nutrition + protein support
   When your body is low in iron or struggling to carry oxygen, your cells are deprived. My go-to: a clean, well-absorbed protein powder (one I trust) to support repair and help rebuild strength. This (chocolate) formula I drink also contains pumpkin seed protein, which some studies suggest may also have a favorable outcome on hair regrowth (see link direct below). I also ensure I eat iron-rich foods, and take a liquid iron supplement (take away from meals with vitamin C to help absorption).

2. Circulation + scalp stimulation
   Hair loss tied to anemia often responds to improving blood flow. I use a rosemary-based hair tonic and lightly massage my scalp daily. Over time, this increases circulation, supports follicle health, and helps my hair look fuller. 

3. Rest, recovery, and gentle movement
   This was non-negotiable. When your body’s already under stress, overdoing it backfires. I incorporated low-impact movement (more walking, gentle AM stretching), prioritized sleep hygiene (we stay up late so this was a tough one for me but so worth it), and listened when I needed to rest (not feeling guilty about resting -- also tricky, but necessary).
   Also: consider deep breathing and mild cardio to support circulation and oxygen delivery.

Over weeks, those three supports—nutrition, scalp care, recovery—started to shift things. My energy crept back. My hair looked fuller. My under-eyes softened and looked brighter. My skin healed more steadily.

How it all ties together:

What’s fascinating is how interwoven all these symptoms really were. The body rarely compartmentalizes. Hair, skin, eyes, and energy are all reflection points of what’s happening internally.

When I saw my lab results, I realized: my skincare and beauty routines were valuable, but they were only one half of the equation. Without the inner support — from blood health, nutrition, circulation — the external results plateaued.

That’s what I want for you: not just a pretty skin surface but a system that supports you deeply, so your beauty glows from within.

Products I mention (for transparency + context):

Below are the items I tied into this journey. These are not miracle fixes on their own—they support the foundation I laid above.

• Eye Dream of Coffee — used daily to target dark circles and support the delicate under-eye zone

• Just Ingredients Protein Powder  (amazon affiliate) — clean protein to support cellular repair and energy

• LIA Rosemary Hair Regrowth Tonic & Oil (see my Tiktok "showcase") — for scalp circulation and hair health

If you’re reading this because you’re experiencing hair loss, fatigue, skin stagnation, or dark under-eyes, know this: you deserve answers, not just band-aids. Your body is trying to tell you something. Sometimes we just need to learn the language. And often, healing is both internal and external.

As a reminder, this isn't medical advice. My hope is that by sharing my story, one more woman (especially after 40) feels empowered to listen, test, adjust, and care for herself in full.

If you try any of the suggestions, or you go through your own testing, I’d love to hear what shows up for you. Leave a comment or reach out—this is why I show up with you.

The more you know the more you glow!

xoxo
Jentri

#HairLossAfter40 #AnemiaAndBeauty #SkinHealthJourney #Over40Beauty #HolisticSkincare #BrightEyesNaturally #EstheticianAdvice #WellnessAndGlow #InnerToOuterBeauty #ScalpCare