Many medical studies show the relationship between hair loss and iron levels. Anemia is one of the most common reasons for female hair loss.
It is important to seek medication attention if you believe you may have iron deficiency. Do not treat yourself with supplements because high levels of iron can be toxic.
How do you know if you have iron deficiency?
Women and teenage girls are at a higher risk for iron deficiency, but anyone can have iron deficiency, including men. Causes include inadequate nutrients, pregnancy, or heavy blood loss during menstruation.
Symptoms include shortness of breath, brittle nails, fatigue, pale skin, impaired immune system, and thinning hair.
Your physician can measure your iron levels with a series of tests. These include how much iron your body is using and the amount of iron in your blood.
How does iron deficiency contribute to hair loss?
Telogen effluvium is hair loss due to iron deficiency. This is usually temporary. Excess shedding occurs because hair follicles are being forced out of their growing phase on a continual basis. This is an abnormality of the hair growth cycle. Your body requires sufficient nutrients to function properly. When you’re nutrient deficient, hair growth is one of the first processes to suffer
How can you avoid iron deficiency?
Increasing your daily intake through diet is a great starting point. Eat iron rich ingredients such as tofu, red meat, vegetables, chicken, rolled oats, brown rice, chickpeas, kidney beans, nuts, dark chocolate, broccoli, oysters, leafy vegetables, and dried fruit. Combining vitamin C with iron-rich foods helps increase absorption.
Avoid foods that may inhibit absorption such as junk food, tea, cheese, yogurt, milk, and coffee. You may be prescribed an iron supplement to make sure your levels increase.
What are your options for thinning hair?
You can find a hair loss treatment while you recover from iron deficiency. These include cosmetic hair thickener, extensions, wigs, and hair transplants for more serious cases. Based on an individual evaluation of your condition, a hair loss specialist can recommend the best choice,
In most of the cases your hair will start to regrow once the levels are corrected through supplements, diet, and procedures as recommended by your physician.
