If your hair loss is related to low ferritin, then your hair should grow back once the underlying iron deficiency is treated. Still, it can take several months for hair to regrow, so patience is key.
“Eating a healthy diet with adequate iron-rich foods or taking an iron supplement can correct the deficiency and lead to hair regrowth,” explains Dr. Piliang.
Iron helps boost circulation and carries oxygen to your hair's roots, which helps the hair grow faster and longer.
Most hair loss related to iron deficiency is not permanent. The best way to treat hair loss is to address the underlying cause of the problem. If you think your hair loss is related to an iron deficiency, consult a doctor to measure your iron levels.
Most researchers have agreed that we require 50 to 70 nanograms per milliliter of ferritin for hair regrowth.
If you truly have iron deficiency as the cause of your hair loss, you need to treat your condition. Your hair growth may begin shortly thereafter, however it will take at least 6 months to see the volume of hair recover back to normal.
Research states that there is not enough evidence available to suggest that taking iron supplements will help a person with hair loss grow new hair if they have iron-deficiency anemia. However, there are many other hair regrowth treatments available.
Iron and Hair Health. If you are not getting enough iron through your diet, you may experience excessive hair shedding (Telogen Effluvium). You may also find that your hair will not grow past a certain length.
Low levels of iron can often change the texture of your hair. It can go from feeling smooth and silky to dry and brittle.
Too much iron in the body accumulates in tissues and organs and affects their normal function. The most susceptible organs are the liver, heart and endocrine glands and symptoms include chronic fatigue, joint pain, abdominal pain, irregular heartbeat, loss of period, lowered libido, skin colour changes and hair loss.
Women with iron deficiency status are at a risk of telogen hair loss. The important role of serum ferritin in hair loss is becoming more evident. In women without systemic inflammation or other underlying disorders, serum ferritin levels below or equal to 30 ng/mL are strongly associated with telogen hair loss.
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.
If your hair loss is related to low ferritin, then your hair should grow back once the underlying iron deficiency is treated. Still, it can take several months for hair to regrow, so patience is key.
Iron Deficiency Hair Loss
Hemoglobin is what carries oxygen to repair and grow cells such as those that stimulate hair growth. 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.
Only riboflavin, biotin, folate, and vitamin B12 deficiencies have been associated with hair loss.
Iron pills typically start to work within 3 to 7 days. However, your test readings won't go up right away. Hemoglobin blood levels generally go up after 2 to 4 weeks. Symptoms like fatigue, weakness, and headache should start to improve during this timeframe.
Ferritin levels of 10-15 ng/mL are within the "normal" range. Cotsarelis says a ferritin level of at least 50 ng/mL is needed to help replenish hair.
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.
Functional iron deficiency (moderately low iron reserves in ferritin with normal hemoglobin) can be corrected with oral iron (pills) when the cause is insufficient daily intake of iron from the diet. Iron pills, even low-dose pills will replenish stores very soon, generally within 3-4 weeks.
Ferritin is a blood protein that contains iron. A ferritin test helps your doctor understand how much iron your body stores. If a ferritin test reveals that your blood ferritin level is lower than normal, it indicates your body's iron stores are low and you have iron deficiency.
For women with unexplained prolonged fatigue, iron deficiency should be considered when ferritin values are below 50 μg/L, even when hemoglobin values are above 12.0 g/dL.
If someone has hair loss, an elevated ferritin should always be thought of as a "caution sign." It might simply be a normal result, or a result of taking iron pills, but a bit more detective work needs to be done before coming to that conclusion.
Iron is absorbed the best on an empty stomach. Yet, iron supplements can cause stomach cramps, nausea, and diarrhea in some people. You may need to take iron with a small amount of food to avoid this problem. Milk, calcium and antacids should not be taken at the same time as iron supplements.