Hair loss due to iron deficiency
introduction
The human body is dependent on many trace elements. Iron is one of these trace elements. We usually get our daily iron needs from various foods. An iron deficiency can occur as a result of an insufficient intake as well as a loss of iron. This iron deficiency is linked to a variety of physical symptoms, which can include hair loss. The iron deficiency can often be remedied by increasing the intake of iron-containing foods or additional preparations.
Why does hair loss occur with iron deficiency?
Iron is one of the components that the body needs for blood formation.
In the event of severe blood loss, for which a heavy menstrual bleeding is sufficient, the body has to replicate a lot of blood and the iron requirement may be greater than the intake. An unbalanced diet can also lead to an iron deficiency and thus to reduced blood formation.
Since hemoglobin, the red blood pigment, is required for the transport of oxygen, less blood formation means less oxygen for all body cells. In particular, body cells that are growing and forming have a high need for oxygen. The body has a priority plan, which cells are particularly important and therefore need to be supplied with oxygen as a priority. However, since hair is not necessary for survival, the hair follicle cells, which form new hair cells, are among the cells that are first poorly supplied. If the hair cells receive too little oxygen, they switch from the active growth phase to the resting phase and the affected hair falls out. However, this effect can be reversed with sufficient iron in the diet.
Read more on the topic: Iron deficiency
diagnosis
Since hair loss is a very common and unspecific symptom, many causes are possible. In addition to genetic causes, many other diseases are also linked to hair loss.
Additional information is therefore important to diagnose iron deficiency. The doctor therefore asks about other symptoms, such as tiredness and difficulty concentrating, and possible explanations, such as heavy menstrual bleeding. The diagnosis of iron deficiency can be confirmed by a blood test. Interesting values are the hemoglobin value, the erythrocyte count, the shape of the red blood cells, the serum iron value and the serum ferritin. To clarify the cause, a test can also be made to check the iron absorption in the intestine.
Read more about the causes of hair loss: Causes of Hair Loss
Ferritin level
Ferritin is the most important laboratory value in diagnosing iron deficiency. A low ferritin value is almost indicative of an iron deficiency, especially if a decrease in hemoglobin is detected at the same time. Ferritin is a protein complex that is required for the storage of iron in the body. However, a high ferritin value does not mean that an iron deficiency can be excluded. In the case of chronic inflammation, the ferritin level can rise even though there is too little iron in the body, as large amounts of ferritin are released.
More on the subject: Ferritin
Other symptoms of hair loss
Since iron is required for blood formation and thus for the supply of oxygen to the entire body, a deficiency leads to a multitude of symptoms. A distinction is made between specific symptoms, which are typical for precisely this disease, and general symptoms.
Specific symptoms include, for example, the corner of the mouth, which are inflamed tears in the corners of the mouth. Frequently recurring canker sores on the oral mucosa are also a typical symptom of iron deficiency. Furthermore, Plummer-Vinson syndrome can occur, in which the oral mucous membrane is broken down, the tongue burns and the person affected reports difficulty swallowing. Brittle nails are another symptom of iron deficiency. Those affected often report difficulty concentrating and sleeping disorders. Restless legs syndrome occurs in some cases.
More general symptoms, which cannot immediately be assigned to an iron deficiency, but which still occur frequently with this clinical picture, are pale facial skin and frequent tiredness. A severe iron deficiency also leads to shortness of breath during exercise and a faster heartbeat. As with most diseases, not all symptoms have to occur in every person affected, and not necessarily all of them at the same time. The symptoms can all be reversed if the cause is corrected.
Read more about the symptoms of iron deficiency: Symptoms of iron deficiency
treatment
Therapy for iron deficiency always aims to increase the amount of iron in the body again. First of all, the cause of the iron deficiency must be found. Both diet and blood loss can be considered for this.
If there is bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract, a specialist must be consulted to investigate and correct the cause.
In addition to eliminating the cause, if possible, iron can also be added. The easiest way to do this is to change your diet. There is a particularly high amount of iron in pork liver, black pudding, egg yolks and white beans. Many vegetarian or vegan foods also contain a lot of iron. These include, in particular, oat flakes, beetroot and millet. Since vegetarians take in less iron overall, they should ensure that they are taking vitamin C at the same time, as this increases the absorption of iron.
Additional preparations can be used in addition to normal food. For this purpose, tablets with bivalent iron are available, which should be taken at a sufficient distance before meals. These should be taken for a few weeks even after the iron level has normalized. Alternatively, so-called herbal blood can be taken if there is a slight deficiency or an increased risk of a deficiency. This is a juice that contains a lot of iron.
Read more about it: Diet for iron deficiency
Duration - is iron deficiency hair loss reversible?
The effects of iron deficiency are completely reversible. Once the cause of the iron deficiency has been corrected, the body can start to replenish its iron stores. However, until the cause is corrected, symptoms will persist. It can take a few more months for all the consequences of iron deficiency, including hair loss, to subside, as the body supplies the cells again according to certain priorities. As soon as the hair follicles receive sufficient oxygen again, the hair can grow again and the hair loss subsides. In the case of regular deficiency situations, such as heavy menstrual bleeding, a deficiency can be prevented through an appropriate diet.
Also read the following article: This is how you fix an iron deficiency
How quickly can an improvement be expected?
Most of those affected report an improvement in their general symptoms shortly after the cause has been rectified and iron substitution has started. The ability to concentrate increases and tiredness decreases. However, since more important cells are supplied first, it takes a relatively long time until the hair follicles are adequately supplied again. Normalization of hair growth and a reduction in hair loss are not expected until three to six months after the normalization of hemoglobin levels.
Course of disease
Since the hair, as non-vital cells, is the first to be neglected, hair loss is often one of the first symptoms that those affected notice. In the next step, those affected often feel weak and tired. Relatives often ask them about their pale, tired appearance.
The specific symptoms such as inflammation of the corner of the mouth only appear if the deficiency is severe. After treatment, the symptoms often heal in the reverse order. Accordingly, hair loss is often the last symptom to regress. Without treatment, iron deficiency can be a chronic situation and, even with treatment, the course of the disease can drag on for several months.
More on the subject: Consequences of iron deficiency
