A small amount of hair left in the shower, on the floor, or in a hairbrush is not necessarily a concern. According to the Academy of Dermatology, 100 hair strands losing per day is a normal phenomenon. It is also common to thin your hair as you get older, and the main cause of it is genetics. But hair loss, if it happens too suddenly or when you are young – can also be a sign of certain medical conditions or nutrient deficiencies, many blame it for the insufficiency of iron. So, can iron deficiency cause hair loss?
In cases like this, if you can identify and correct the problem of non-hereditary causes like iron deficiency, you may have the ability to reverse your hair loss. Let’s check it out to learn more.
If you notice other symptoms that indicate low iron levels in the body, first consult a doctor and fix the root cause of the problem.
Table of Contents
Does iron deficiency cause hair loss?
Women are the target groups of the studies on iron deficiency anemia and hair loss. Female hair loss pattern is the most common type of hair loss seen among women.
Female hair loss pattern usually happens when your hair in the middle part of the scalp starts to thin. People with this type of hair loss may also experience the thinning or receding hairline along their forehead.
Can iron deficiency cause hair loss? There are just few studies proving that iron deficiency anemia can lead to hair loss in men or women.
However, there are also some studies finding out that people might experience hair loss due to iron insufficiency. They explained that Iron helps to produce hemoglobin in your body. Hemoglobin carries nutrients and oxygen to your hair cells, which help to promote hair growth. This process is interfered with due to iron deficiency, which also means low hemoglobin levels, causing hair to lose.
How does one know if they suffer from hair loss due to iron?
Hair loss due to iron deficiency can resemble traditional male and female baldness. This can range from bald spots to an unusually large amount of hair left on your hairbrush. Studies show that iron-deficient hair loss can imitate hair loss that happens in genetic baldness in men and women.
Iron deficiency symptoms:
– General fatigue
– Cravings for non-food items
– Brittle nails
– Headache
– Pale skin
– Swelling of the tongue
– A tingling sensation in the legs
– Shortness of breath
– Weakness and dizziness
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How can you deal with hair loss due to iron deficiency?
A ferritin blood test is one of the ways used to measure iron levels in your body. Ferritin is an essential protein that contains iron. A low level of ferritin means you lack iron in your blood test.
In such cases, your doctor might offer you a prescription with iron supplements to increase your iron intake. Here are some iron deficiency hair loss treatments due to lack of substances:
Minoxidil
Minoxidil, a topical drug recommended for hair regrowth was originally prescribed for high blood pressure patients. Later, these patients are noticed you experience excessive hair growth. That’s how Minoxidil became a topical medication to treat hair loss in both males and females. Applying Minoxidil to the scalp can help regrow hair.
Finasteride (Propecia)
This medication can help promote hair growth. However, only men can use it. It restricts the body’s production of dihydrotestosterone, the hormone that triggers male pattern baldness. However, Finasteride does not cure hair loss completely. If you stop using this, your hair may continue to shred out.
Consult your doctor about the possible counter effects of this medication. Your doctor may recommend you to use it with minoxidil.
Surgery
Invasive treatments such as surgery and PRP may also be taken into account, in case you see no results with other medications. Hair loss surgeries include hair transplantation and restoration.
Iron deficiency hair loss treatment
Iron supplements
Your doctor may prescribe you to use iron supplements daily to help your body recover iron over time. A person should always speak with their doctor before taking iron supplements as they can cause serious side effects. A person may need to take iron supplements 3 to 6 months before their iron stores reach normal levels.
Iron injections
Your doctor may recommend iron injections to increase iron levels faster. People with severe anemia may also require iron or intravenous injections. People may properly also benefit from injections than supplements.
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Diet changes
Consuming more iron-rich food in your diet can also help increase levels of iron. Iron-rich foods include red meat, chicken, fish, green vegetables, and beans or peas. Food manufacturers also make food with iron like cereal.
Foods for Hair loss prevention
Adding these foods to your meal can help increase iron intake in your body, thus, preventing hair loss:
Green vegetables like spinach
Dried fruit like raisins
Egg yolks (make sure you do not have high cholesterol)
Red meat
Soybeans
Broccoli and lentils
Studies reveal that there is not enough proof to propose that iron supplements help a person with hair loss to grow new hair if they suffer from iron deficiency anemia.
However, there are many other hair regrowth treatments available such as using hair extensions or hairpieces. Learn more about hair extensions and hair toppers or toupee on Lewigs website. Or, people with hair loss can talk to their doctor about treatment options.
If a person has low iron reserves, then increasing their iron intake will help them feel better overall.
Our conclusion
Iron is a mineral that plays an important role in stimulating hair growth because it brings oxygen to your hair cells.
In case you suffer hair loss due to iron deficiency, there will always be a way for iron deficiency hair loss recovery. Consult your doctor for the best treatments.
We do hope that this article will help you understand more about iron deficiency and hair loss.
If you want to learn more about hair loss causes and treatment, let’s visit our blog right now.
Thank you for reading.
