As well as hair loss, a person with low ferritin levels might experience other changes in their hair. The individual hairs might become thinner, weaker, and more prone to breaking or may lose their natural curls. Some people say they feel as though their hair has stopped growing.
The good news is that hair loss due to low ferritin is entirely reversible, and relatively easy to correct. Once the ferritin level has been ascertained by means of a blood test, the trichologist will be able to recommend the best level of supplementation for that individual, based on their personal history.
(Most labs report normal plasma ferritin levels to be roughly between 30 to 300 in men and 15 to 150 in women). Many researchers and clinicians now believe that the ferritin level should be above 50 in men and women. In patients experiencing hair loss, 80 is probably a more optimal value.
And when it comes to our hair, iron plays a vital role. “Iron is really important for hair growth and hair health,” says dermatologist Melissa Piliang, MD. “When we see patients who are experiencing hair loss, we often perform labs to screen for iron deficiency.
Additionally, dietary deficiencies, including iron deficiency, can also worsen the hair's condition, making it more likely to tangle or break.
Iron Deficiency Hair Loss
Hair loss caused by iron deficiency can look like traditional pattern baldness – a noticeable increase in the number of hairs left on a brush or on the shower floor. In fact, unless a patient is medically diagnosed with an iron deficiency, they may chalk it up to just another sign of aging.
Ferritin and hair changes
As well as hair loss, a person with low ferritin levels might experience other changes in their hair. The individual hairs might become thinner, weaker, and more prone to breaking or may lose their natural curls. Some people say they feel as though their hair has stopped growing.
However, doctors do know that iron deficiency can play a role because many people experiencing hair loss have lower iron stores than those who are not losing their hair. Ideally, by increasing their iron stores, a person may see an improvement in hair growth as well as any symptoms of iron deficiency anemia.
What causes thinning hair? Two of the most common non-hereditary causes of hair loss are low thyroid function and iron deficiency. Both are relatively common, especially in women. And although they are two completely different conditions, they share some of the same symptoms.
You may also find that low iron causes weight gain. There are a couple of reasons for this; firstly, your energy levels are low and so your exercise levels reduce; secondly, iron is essential for thyroid function, and an underactive thyroid will lead to weight gain.
Iron supplements typically begin working within 14 days . Some may notice improvements more quickly than this. To replenish low iron stores in the body, people need to take iron supplements for a minimum of 3 months.
In this disease, iron deficiency-related changes could also be observed in response to pain at the central nervous system level. FMS patients with iron deficiency in the present study had higher depression and anxiety levels and poor sleep quality, although the differences were not significant.
Optimal hair growth was observed when serum ferritin concentration is at 70 ng/ml and serum vitamin B12 levels were observed between 300 and 1,000 ng/l. Hemoglobin levels greater than 13.0 g/dl also show significant results in hair growth.
For both skin and hair, iron helps optimize their health through its participation in supplying oxygen for cell and tissue repair. With ample amounts of iron, hair exhibits good health, meaning that it's shiny, smooth with good elasticity, and detangles easily. Iron packs more benefits for the body.
According to doctors, the normal ferritin (an indicator of iron) levels in women are 20 to 200 nanograms per milliliter in women and 20 to 500 nanograms per milliliter in men. Most researchers have agreed that we require 50 to 70 nanograms per milliliter of ferritin for hair regrowth.
With lower levels of ferritin in your follicles, you may notice changes in your hair texture. You hair may look frizzy, feel brittle and become coarse.
Serum ferritin is normally a suitable indicator of iron stores but can be increased by inflammation to an extent that makes the ferritin unreliable for assessment of iron deficiency. Oral iron replacement is the most appropriate first-line treatment in the majority of patients.
The normal range for ferritin in your blood serum is: 24 to 336 ng/mL for adult males. 24 to 307 ng/mL for adult females. 25 to 200 ng/mL for newborns.
This means that ferritin is constantly being made no matter whether iron levels are high or low. In HHCS, components of ferritin accumulate in the eye lens and crystalize – disrupting the light transmission which enables a person to see.
Doctors use the term "pica" to describe craving and chewing substances that have no nutritional value — such as ice, clay, soil or paper. Craving and chewing ice (pagophagia) is often associated with iron deficiency, with or without anemia, although the reason is unclear.
You have odd cravings for things that aren't food
While researchers are still trying to figure out why, people with severe iron deficiencies often crave non-food items like dirt, clay, cornstarch, paint chips, cardboard, and cleaning supplies, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.