Ferritin Hair: The Low Iron Symptom Affecting Women’s Hair Health

Key Clinical Takeaways:

• Iron deficiency causes hair follicles to shift prematurely from their growing phase into a resting phase, leading to telogen effluvium shedding.
• Standard blood counts can miss low iron, as roughly one in five young women have ferritin levels below 30 µg/L.
• Regrowth and recovery take time, often requiring three to six months for shedding to settle and up to a year for visible restoration.

Why did Sophia Simoes experience severe hair thinning at university?

In 2018, during her first year at Newcastle University, 28-year-old student Sophia Simoes had no idea why her hair was growing back alarmingly thinner than it ever had before after she had it cut to shoulder length, Tyla reported. Due to a busy year adjusting to student life, late nights, and irregular sleep, her lifestyle masked the deficiency for a long time.

“I just felt really self-conscious about my hair,” she told Tyla.

The issue became undeniable during a salon visit.

“The moment I really noticed was when I went to the hairdressers to dye my hair, and she said, ‘Sophia, have you thinned out your hair? Because normally I would use two full bottles of the dye mixture, and I’ve only had to use half of one,’” Simoes told Tyla.

Looking back at old photographs made her feel down and anxious about how long the recovery would take.

How severe was the anaemia diagnosis?

The executive of the student partnership urged Simoes’s mother—who is a GP—to arrange blood tests. The results revealed a severe deficiency.

“It was the worst case of anaemia that my mum’s GP surgery had ever seen,” she recalled, adding that her count sat at 3.4, while normal levels typically range between 9 and 30.

Simoes had also experienced tiredness, lethargy, and lightheadedness in lectures, but she had attributed those symptoms entirely to the normal student experience. Following the diagnosis, doctors instructed her to take iron tablets three times a day for two years and to incorporate iron-rich foods like red meat, kale, and spinach into her diet.

What causes ferritin hair according to medical experts?

Dr Thom Phillips, a GP and Chief Medical Officer at Forth, explained to Tyla that hair follicles are among the fastest-dividing cells in the body and require iron to manufacture the DNA needed for growth.

“When your iron stores run low, your body prioritises vital organs like your heart and brain, and non-essential tissue like hair is first to miss out,” Dr Phillips told Tyla. “More follicles than usual shift from their growing phase into their resting phase, and a few months later they fall out.”

This shedding mechanism is known as telogen effluvium. The delay between the depletion of iron and the physical shedding explains why patients rarely connect the two events immediately.

Dr Phillips said that iron deficiency remains the most common nutritional deficiency globally, disproportionately affecting women due to menstruation, pregnancy, and diet. Around a third of women of reproductive age worldwide are anaemic, while many more experience low iron stores without crossing the threshold into full anaemia.

“In our large database of blood results collected from UK adults, around one in five young women had ferritin below 30 µg/L, which is extremely low,” Dr Phillips told Tyla. “That matters for hair, because shedding can start well before your blood count looks abnormal. It’s also why a standard blood count alone can miss it.”

What steps should patients take when noticing symptoms?

Patients experiencing persistent shedding or thinning should consult a general practitioner for comprehensive testing.

“Ideally, an iron panel, which measures a few of your key iron markers, alongside a full blood count, inflammation markers and thyroid function, as thyroid problems cause similar shedding,” Dr Phillips advised Tyla.

When iron levels are low, physicians may recommend supplements. Taking iron once daily or on alternate days can improve absorption and reduce gastrointestinal side effects. Combining supplements with vitamin C while avoiding tea and coffee nearby further aids absorption. Dietary adjustments should include red meat, fish, beans, lentils, and dark leafy greens.

After years of managing her iron intake, Simoes reported that her hair has recovered, though the texture changed slightly, making it less receptive to holding curls than it was prior to 2017.

She now monitors her ferritin with an annual blood test and schedules additional checks if she feels a dip in her energy. Dr Phillips emphasised that patience is essential because hair grows slowly, requiring three to six months for shedding to subside and up to a year for noticeable regrowth.

Anyone observing bald patches, scalp irritation, or persistent shedding should seek guidance from a GP.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and scientific communication purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical condition, diagnosis, or treatment plan.