Hair fall is a problem for many people and it can happen for a lot of reasons.. One of the main reasons that people often do not think about is iron deficiency. Iron is an important mineral that helps our body make healthy red blood cells and get oxygen to all the parts of our body including our hair.
When we do not have iron our body has to choose what is most important and that means our hair might not get the help it needs. This can cause our hair to fall out more and get thinner over time.
The good thing is that if we find out we have an iron deficiency and do something about it our hair can start to grow
What Is Iron Deficiency?
Iron deficiency happens when our body does not have iron. Iron is important for things, such as:
* Getting oxygen to all parts of our body
* Giving us energy
* Keeping our system healthy
* Helping our hair grow
If we do not have iron for a long time it can cause a big problem called iron deficiency anemia. This is when our body cannot make healthy red blood cells.
How Does Iron Deficiency Cause Hair Fall?
Our hair follicles are like factories that need a lot of oxygen and nutrients to work properly. When we do not have iron:
* Our hair follicles might not get enough oxygen
* Our hair might grow slowly
* More of our hair might fall out
* Our hair might get thinner
This can cause our hair to get thinner over our head not just in one spot.
Signs of Iron Deficiency Hair Loss
Hair loss from iron deficiency usually happens slowly. Some common signs include:
* Losing hair than usual
* Hair getting thinner all over our head
* Finding hair on our pillow or in our brush
* Our hair not growing fast as it used to
* Our hair not being as thick as it used to be
Because there are reasons why people lose their hair we might need to get some tests to figure out if iron deficiency is the cause.
Other Symptoms of Iron Deficiency
Losing hair is usually not the symptom of iron deficiency. Some other signs might include:
* Feeling very tired
* Feeling weak
* Having skin
* Getting out of breath easily
* Feeling dizzy
* Getting headaches a lot
* Having hands and feet
* Having nails
If we have a lot of these symptoms we should talk to a doctor about iron deficiency.
Who Is More Likely to Develop Iron Deficiency?
Some people are more likely to have iron levels. These include:
Women who have heavy periods
* Women who are pregnant
* People who eat a vegetarian or vegan diet
* People who have problems with their system
* People who do not eat enough food or eat a diet that is not balanced
How Is Iron Deficiency Diagnosed?
A doctor might want to do some blood tests to check our iron levels. These tests can include:
* Checking our hemoglobin levels
* Checking our levels
* Doing other iron tests
Ferritin is important because it shows how iron our body has stored.
Can Hair Grow Back After Iron Deficiency?
Yes it can. If we get our iron levels back to normal our hair follicles can start to work properly again. However:
* It takes time for our hair to grow back
* We might not see improvements for months
* We need to be consistent with our treatment
Our hair grows slowly so we need to be patient.
Foods Rich in Iron
Eating foods that are high in iron can help us get better. Animal products have a type of iron that our body can use easily. These include:
* Lean red meat
* Chicken liver
* Fish
* Poultry
Plant-based foods can also be sources of iron. These include:
* Spinach
* Lentils
* Chickpeas
* Beans
* Tofu
* Pumpkin seeds
We can also take vitamin C to help our body use iron better. Foods that are high in vitamin C include:
* Oranges
* Lemons
* Guava
* Strawberries
* Bell peppers
Some foods and drinks can make it harder for our body to use iron. These include:
* Tea
* Coffee
* Much calcium
We should try not to eat these foods at the same time as foods that are high in iron.
Iron Supplements
Some people might need to take iron supplements to get their levels back to normal.. We should only take supplements if a doctor tells us to. Much iron can be bad for us.
How Long Does Recovery Take?
It depends on how bad our iron deficiency’s how well we follow our treatment plan. Some people start to feel better in a weeks but it can take several months to see big improvements in our hair.
Supporting Hair Growth During Recovery
We can do some things to help our hair grow back. We should eat protein because our hair is made of a type of protein called keratin. Foods that are high in protein include:
* Eggs
* Fish
* Chicken
* Lentils
* Dairy products
We should also try to manage our stress because stress can make our hair fall out more.. We should be gentle with our hair because rough handling can cause breakage.
Common Myths About Iron and Hair Loss
Some people think that taking iron will make their hair grow faster but that is not true. Much iron can be bad for us.
Some people also think that iron deficiency always causes hair loss. That is not true either. Everyone is different. We might have different symptoms.
Some people think that their hair will grow back right away if they take iron supplements but that is not true. It takes time for our hair to grow back.
When Should You See a Doctor?
We should see a doctor if we are losing a lot of hair or if we are feeling very tired or dizzy. We should also see a doctor if our skin is very pale or if we are getting out of breath easily.
Final Thoughts
Iron deficiency is a cause of hair loss especially in women.. The good news is that it is often reversible if we find out about it and do something about it. We can get our iron levels back to normal. Help our hair grow back by eating the right foods taking supplements if we need to and being patient.
Disclaimer
This article is for information and we should not use it as medical advice. We should talk to a doctor if we think we have an iron deficiency or hair loss.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can low iron cause hair fall?
Yes it can. Iron deficiency can disrupt the hair growth cycle and cause hair to fall out.
2. How do I know if my hair loss is caused by iron deficiency?
A doctor can do some tests to check our iron levels and figure out if iron deficiency is the cause.
3. How long does it take for hair to grow back after correcting iron deficiency?
It can take months for our hair to grow back because our hair grows slowly.
4. What foods are highest in iron?
Foods that are high in iron include red meat, fish, spinach, lentils, chickpeas, beans and pumpkin seeds.
5. Should I take iron supplements for hair fall?
We should only take iron supplements if a doctor tells us to because much iron can be bad, for us.
