Has hair fall become a primary concern for you these days? Have you tried everything but nothing is working for you?
If yes, then it is time to address the root cause of your hair loss. While hair-related issues like thinning hair and hair fall may take place due to various reasons, iron deficiency remains one of the topmost reasons.
Iron is an extremely important mineral that deposits oxygen to different parts of our body including our hair cells. Iron deficiency can disrupt the functions of your body.
For instance; weakness, pale skin, brittle nails, and hair loss are some common symptoms if your body is deficient in iron.
How does iron deficiency cause hair fall and what are the ways to prevent it? Your mind must be bombarded with such questions and that is why we are here to help you with vital information.
Iron deficiency and hair loss
When red blood cells do not have enough oxygen to supply the body, iron deficiency can take place. Due to iron deficiency in your body or lack of iron in bone marrow, hemoglobin is not produced in adequate quantities.
Moreover, the iron supply is stored majorly in hemoglobin and some of it is stored in ferritin.
When hemoglobin is not provided to the hair cells in sufficient proportion then it will lead to low hemoglobin levels that further lead to hair loss.
To know if your body is iron deficient or not, you should take a ferritin test that lets you know the iron levels present in your body.
If your iron levels are lower than usual then you can be assured that the reason for your hair loss is iron deficiency.
What does hair loss from iron deficiency look like?
When you wash your hair, it is natural for some hair strands to fall out or break. However, if you have clumps of hair in the drain or chunks of hair in your brush every time you brush your hair then that can be a sign of iron deficiency.
Moreover, if a person is suffering from iron deficiency then the hair fall may look like male or female pattern baldness so keep that in mind. Bald spots are another red flag that is a sign for you to go and get a ferritin test done.
What causes iron deficiency?
There may be several reasons for iron deficiency in your body. One of the most common reasons for this issue is not having a proper diet.
Your body gets iron from what you eat so ensure it contains the required amount of iron.
Loss of blood is another reason for iron deficiency. If you have suffered chronic blood loss or if you donate blood quite often then you may face this.
Also, those who engage in vigorous exercise but do not follow a proper diet may be iron deficient.
How to treat iron deficiency?
If you are having major hair fall issues due to iron deficiency then consult your doctor immediately.
Minoxidil and Finasteride are the two formulas that can help you in combating hair loss. Other than medical treatment, focus on your diet and eat things that are rich in iron.
For instance, green vegetables, red meat, soya bean, egg tofu, and dry fruits are high sources of iron. Incorporate these foods into your daily routine to see a visible difference in your hair fall.
Beans, lentils, tofu, apples, bananas, and pomegranate are some other foods that are a good source of iron.
What are the symptoms of iron deficiency?
Here are a few symptoms of iron deficiency that you should look out for. If you are experiencing these three indicators, consult your doctor.
1. Hair Fall
The first and foremost symptom is major hair fall issues. Your hair starts falling like crazy and is everywhere.
It is almost impossible to hold onto your hair for long because it keeps on breaking. Also, you will notice clumps of hair in your brush every time you untangle your hair.
2. Pale Skin
Iron deficiency means you have low hemoglobin levels in your body. This leads to having paler skin and you will always look duller than you normally do.
3. Weakness
If you are having trouble performing small or day-to-day activities and you feel tired all the time then it is a sign of weakness due to the iron deficiency in your body.
Conclusion
This was all you need to know about iron deficiency and hair loss. We hope that you understood the connection between them.
If you think you are iron deficient then start taking action immediately. Consult a doctor, eat healthy food and consume iron-rich hair supplements to stop your hair fall.
I’m Natalia, the mind behind HairLossCares.net. I was facing hair fall a few years back. I’m sharing my experience on this blog.