A wide range of conditions can cause hair loss in men and women, with some of the most common being alopecia areata, pregnancy, cancer, and thyroid disorders. But have you ever heard of hair loss due to low Ferritin levels? Yes, low levels of Ferritin can cause hair loss if left unchecked.

A lot of people don’t know about the connection between Ferritin and hair loss. In this blog, Lordhair -  a leading hairpiece toupee brand - will tell you everything about low Ferritin hair fall and damage. From meaning to causes and symptoms to treatments, we will cover all important aspects.

Let’s start with the meaning first!

What’s Ferritin?

Our body requires iron for growth and development. Ferritin is a universal intracellular protein that stores iron and releases it when our body needs it in a controlled manner. It makes iron available for all critical cellular processes while protecting lipids, DNA, and proteins from the potentially toxic effects of iron.

Apart from humans, Ferritin is produced by almost all living organisms including bacteria, algae, plants, and animals.

Are Ferritin and Hair Loss Connected?

Even if you haven’t read much about ferritin, we bet you are familiar with iron and how it promotes blood circulation, carries oxygen to the hair roots, and helps hair to grow faster, shiny, and longer. Our body stores some of it in the form of Ferritin, especially in hair follicles. Whenever the body gets low on iron, it essentially borrows Ferritin from the hair follicles. And not only hair follicles but also from other sources that are less vital to the body in any sort of illness.

 

Once the Ferritin levels hit low levels in the body, we begin experiencing hair loss problems. The hair loss caused by Ferritin can be unnoticeable as well as extreme. We highly recommend visiting a dermatologist if hair loss has just commenced and reports show fluctuations in ferritin levels.

Does Ferritin and Thyroid Hair Loss Have a Connection?

According to scientists, hair loss is one of the major signs of the low production of thyroid hormones. It usually takes place when levels of T3 and T4 hormones in our body are disrupted.

Conditions like alopecia, PCOS, lupus erythematosus, and some thyroid medications can also cause thyroid hair loss. Sometimes, the thyroid simply isn’t able to make enough hormones because of limited ferritin in your body.

So yes, ferritin and thyroid hair loss have a connection. Both hair loss conditions can occur at the same time.

Everything you need to know about thyroid hair loss

What are the Symptoms of Low Ferritin Hair Loss?

Low ferritin levels restrain the production of red blood cells within the body. For those who don’t know, RBCs are essential for carrying oxygen throughout the body. With fewer red blood cells, we don't feel at the top of the world.

Other symptoms of low ferritin are:

• Extreme fatigue
• Dizziness
• Pounding in the ears
• Brittle nails
• Sweating
• Anxiety
• Breath shortage
• Headaches
• Lack of concentration
• Restless legs

If you notice some of the above-mentioned symptoms, immediately consult a doctor to get checked.

What are the Causes of Ferritin Hair Loss?

Till now, we have learned that Ferritin hair loss is caused majorly by iron deficiency in the body. You will be surprised to know that this isn’t the only cause. There are many other reasons that bring down ferritin levels and trigger hair fall in men and women.

Here are those reasons:

Blood loss: Bleeding produces a deficiency of iron in the body. Blood loss during injury, periods, or due to any other condition can knock down your body's stores of iron. If the body loses a considerable amount of blood, iron deficiency-related anemia could emerge. Lack of iron will also lower the ferritin levels, resulting in hair loss.

Celiac disease and hair loss: Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that causes intestinal damage, brings down the levels of Ferritin and causes hair loss. It gets triggered by the regular consumption of gluten - a type of protein found in rye, barley, and wheat. Individuals suffering from Celiac disease will become sick or uncomfortable immediately after eating the grains.

Ferritin hair loss caused by Celiac disease presents itself usually through bald patches across the scalp. In some cases, it can lead to complete baldness.

Vegan diets and hair loss: Dermatologists state that both non-vegan and vegan foods are rich in protein and iron which are essential for hair growth. However, people who shift to a vegan diet without the right information about iron intake fail to make the right dietary adjustments. This in turn lowers the level of ferritin and sometimes triggers hair loss.

Pregnancy and hair loss: One of the biggest reasons for ferritin hair loss among women! Health issues like thyroid and iron deficiency often lead to disruption of ferritin in the female body. The shedding during pregnancy can be quite dramatic and the hair may not return to its normal thickness until the hormone, vitamin, and ferritin levels return to normal.

Sudden hormonal shifts can also lead to ferritin hair loss in women during pregnancy.

Shop wigs for women to recover from hair damage

What are the Treatments for Ferritin Hair Loss?

Here’s some good news. Hair loss related to low Ferritin levels is not permanent. It can be majorly reversed by restoring iron levels in the body and proper medication. Even the ferritin hair loss caused by Celiac disease can be reversed. Here are some ways for men and women to treat hair loss and restore ferritin levels in the body:

#1 Iron-rich foods

The best way to treat Ferritin hair loss is to eat enough iron-rich foods. According to dermatologists, foods like liver, beef, chicken breast, seafood, and eggs contain higher levels of iron. They will improve circulation, restore ferritin levels, and repair cells in your body including the cells that stimulate hair growth.

Not a huge fan of meat and prefer a plant-based diet? No problem! You can also get iron from foods like tofu, lentils, beans, spinach, grains, nuts, and green peas. Also, make sure to take supplementation with ferrous sulfate (325 milligrams per day) on an empty stomach.

#2 Minoxidil

Switching to an iron-rich diet might not do wonders for everyone. We suggest using Minoxidil for them. Being one of the best options for treating hair loss caused by low Ferritin levels, it can help regrow hair and even stop further hair loss to some extent. For those who don’t know, minoxidil works by dilating the blood vessels. When the blood vessels dilate, they supply oxygen and vital nutrients to the follicles faster.

However, we also recommend considering very carefully before taking Minoxidil, as it has its share of side effects.

Here are some known side effects of Minoxidil:

• Acne at the site of application
• Itching or skin rash
• Reddened skin
• Swelling
• Dizziness
• Chest pain

Learn more about the side effects of minoxidil

#3 Hair systems

Unlike minoxidil, wearing a hair system doesn’t have any side effects. No wonder, it’s emerging as one of the most popular solutions for ferritin hair loss if hair damage is already extreme. Also called modern-day wigs, hair replacement systems are constructed using real human hair hand-woven onto a base made of premium skin-friendly materials.

Attached mostly using glue, tape, or clips, hair systems blend very well with real hair and provide an ultra-realistic feeling as if the hair is coming out of the scalp. These non-surgical Ferritin hair recovery products come with many benefits. Here are some of them:

• Delivers instant results
• Can be attached quickly
• Highly cost-effective
• Semi-permanent with regard to attachment. Meaning, you don't take it off any time
• Comfortable, breathable, and durable

Check out how awesome Chris looks after trying Lordhair’s premium hair system:

 

There you go!

Ferritin hairloss recovery

We told you everything about ferritin hair loss. Although hair fall caused by low ferritin levels is temporary, it shouldn’t be taken lightly. You should immediately start working on fixing iron deficiency and consult a doctor once you discover that your hair loss is related to low Ferritin. Keep in mind that it can take several months for the hair to regrow. So, patience is key.

Got any queries to ask? Send them to support@lordhair.com and have them answered by our hair experts.

Also read:

Best non-surgical hair restoration methods

12 foods to prevent hair loss and undo the damage

Learn how to repair damaged hair fast