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It’s mainly agreed upon that the reduced levels of ferritin in the hair follicles of iron-deficient individuals significantly weaken the hair follicles enough to lead to hair loss. Red blood cells have an iron-rich protein that gives blood its red color, called hemoglobin. Hemoglobin lets red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body. And it lets red blood cells carry carbon dioxide from other parts of the body to the lungs to be breathed out. You can also try consuming more foods with vitamin C––like grapefruit, oranges, peppers, and potatoes––as vitamin C is known to help the body absorb more iron. In more severe cases of anemia, iron supplements may be needed for hair regrowth and to prevent future hair loss.
How to Treat Iron Deficiency-Related Hair Loss
If you aren't consuming enough iron, or if you're losing too much iron, your body can't produce enough hemoglobin, and iron deficiency anemia will eventually develop. Hair loss is often one of the first signs of hypothyroidism, a condition that makes your body produce a lower-than-normal amount of thyroid hormones. Additionally, a lack of thyroid hormone can cause overall sluggishness, dry skin, and cold intolerance. With treatment, you can help reverse both the iron deficiency and the hair loss. Hair loss is not a typical symptom of magnesium deficiency, but some research shows that supplementing with magnesium can help with hair loss in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). But if you don’t have a confirmed biotin deficiency, taking biotin supplements won’t help with hair loss.
Traction alopecia
To better understand the link between iron deficiency and excessive hair loss in women, a study examined more than 5,000 women aged 35–60. Among participants experiencing excessive hair loss or shedding, roughly 10% more had low iron stores compared to the remainder of the population (Deloche, 2007). While the science looks promising, further studies are needed to prove a link between iron deficiency and hair loss. The overall prevalence of iron-deficiency anemia in our study was 8%. The reported prevalence rates in Europe were lower at 2–6% [34] than in 6–18% in Nepal, Pakistan, and Ethiopia [37, 39, 40]. To prevent iron deficiency anemia in infants, feed your baby breast milk or iron-fortified formula for the first year.
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According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, it’s two to three times more common in Asian countries than anywhere else in the world. It’s usually genetic, but it can also be triggered by diseases or disorders that attack the hair follicles. Your GP may carry out repeat blood tests over the next few months to check that your iron level is getting back to normal. As you can see, there are many more options than just the often recommended “red meat” for including more iron into your diet. So, vegans and vegetarians should be able to achieve their daily levels no problem with just a little bit of planning. Blood tests can identify an iron deficiency, but that’s only part of the evaluation during an office visit.
5 Weird Symptoms of Iron Deficiency—And How to Remedy It - Vogue
5 Weird Symptoms of Iron Deficiency—And How to Remedy It.
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vitamin D
However, they are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Eat a balanced diet with foods rich in iron, including meat, poultry, and fish. For people who prefer to get nutrients from plant-based sources, legumes and leafy greens like kale, broccoli, and collards are a great way to get iron. You’ll also find grocery store shelves lined with iron-fortified foods, including cereal, bread, and pasta.
Some types of anemia can cause rashes, which are abnormalities on the skin. Sometimes, the rash that presents with anemia may be due to the anemia condition itself. Other times, the rash may be due to complications from the treatment of the anemia. This April marks Stress Awareness month in the US, a calendar moment designed to raise awareness of the pervasive and damaging nature of stress. While we know that stress is an undeniable factor in most people’s lives, its impact on so many aspects of our physical and mental health is perhaps more far reaching than we might imagine. Losing your hair can be a distressing experience, but you’re not alone.
However, not getting enough iron and developing anemia can cause hair loss. Unless you have a deficiency in a certain vitamin, supplementing with vitamins likely won’t do much for hair loss. Most adults shouldn’t consume more than 10,000 international units (IUs) of vitamin A daily. If you’re supplementing with vitamin A and notice hair loss, talk with a healthcare provider. Your family history can be a determining factor when it comes to how much of your hair will remain on your head throughout your life.
If your levels are very low, a doctor may recommend iron supplements. In some cases, you may need treatment for an underlying condition. Iron deficiency causes a type of anemia, which is when there aren’t enough healthy red blood cells to deliver enriching oxygen to the rest of the body. Many things can cause anemia, but an iron deficiency is one of the most common. The main meta-analysis in the present study summarized case-control studies and compared ferritin levels between women with nonscarring alopecia and matched population controls. It demonstrated a statistically significant difference between the groups, which was even more striking when the analysis included only premenopausal women.
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5 minerals you need for hair growth.
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By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today. You'll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox. Yulia Treister-Gotzman contributed to the conception of the research.
Iron-deficiency anemia is not more common among women with nonscarring alopecia. Thus, it would appear that women who complain of hair loss can benefit from higher ferritin levels. If tests conclude that you have anaemia due to iron deficiency, doctor usually will prescribe iron supplements. Hair normally should regrow once the iron deficiency is over; however, hair can take several months to grow back again, and hair loss recovery after anemia is not guaranteed.
In the type of patchy hair loss known as alopecia areata, hair loss occurs suddenly and usually starts with one or more circular bald patches that may overlap. Before pursuing hair loss treatment, talk with your doctor about the cause of your hair loss and treatment options. Make sure you’re getting enough sun and try to incorporate vitamin D-rich sources into your diet like eggs, cheese, and fatty fish. Unfortunately, it can be easy to overlook ferritin if you also have an underlying condition that may cause hair loss. Eating a well-balanced diet can help ensure you get the recommended amount of iron each day.
If your test results show low iron levels, you can treat it with iron supplements. You may experience a change in bowel movements as a side effect of the extra iron, so tell your doctor if you’re prone to upset stomach. When experiencing hair loss, ask your healthcare provider to screen you for low iron levels and supplement if needed. Ideally, by increasing their iron stores, a person may see an improvement in hair growth as well as any symptoms of iron deficiency anemia.
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