Does Iron Deficiency Anemia Cause Hair Loss?

Fellas, have you noticed more hair on your pillow than on your head lately? Before you blame your barber or your genes, it may be time to consider your nutrition. Specifically, low iron levels might be the sneaky hair-stifling culprit. 

Symptoms of iron deficiency anemia don’t just leave you dragging through the day with fatigue, dizziness, and maybe even a randomly racing heart. It can also unjustly take a toll on your mane.

But here’s the good news: This kind of hair loss is typically temporary. With the right fix, you could be on your way to hair regrowth glory. 

So, what’s the deal with low iron and thinning hair? Let’s dive into the science and, more importantly, the treatment options.

Your body needs iron to perform all sorts of important functions, like: 

• Transporting oxygen throughout your body, including to your muscles

• Energy production

• Supporting your immune system

• Regulating hormones

• Helping your liver get rid of toxins

Iron is also involved in growing new hair. Without enough iron, you may experience slow hair growth and excessive hair shedding. 

And honestly, this is kind of cool. Your body always has ways of telling you that something isn’t quite right. Changes in your hair can be one of the more noticeable symptoms indicating a nutrition-related problem like low iron levels. 

Can anemia cause hair loss? Yes. But why exactly does this happen? Let’s start with a quick biology refresher.

Iron plays a vital role in the production of hemoglobin in your red blood cells. These cells carry oxygen to all different parts of your body, including your hair follicles — the thin, tunnel-like structures inside your scalp from which your hair grows.

Low iron levels lead to low hemoglobin levels, making it much harder for your red blood cells to distribute enough oxygen throughout your body. This affects your energy levels, muscle function and, yes — even your hair.   

Hair cells, like other human cells, need oxygen to function. Your body needs iron to produce ribonucleotide reductase, an enzyme that helps your cells grow — including hair cells. Iron might also regulate certain hair cells. 

Low levels of iron mean that your body can’t produce hair cells at an optimal pace. As a result, you might notice thinning hair, patchy baldness, or significant hair shedding when you brush or wash your hair.

How do you know whether your iron levels are to blame for your hair loss or whether another cause is at play?

The pattern of your hair loss might give you a clue.

Let’s back up for a second. Low levels of iron can cause a type of iron hair loss called telogen effluvium. Telogen effluvium can also be caused by severe stress, trauma, or illness, as well as nutrient deficiencies. 

In other words, your body experiences a significant stressor, and your hair freaks out.

Telogen effluvium can push your hair follicles into the telogen phase (resting phase) of the hair growth cycle. This means that your hair growth pauses for a period of time — your hair falls out but doesn’t grow back in.  

Other than hair shedding, the common symptoms of telogen effluvium include:

• Slow hair growth 

• Hair thinning

• Tender scalp

The main difference between telogen effluvium and other forms of hair loss — like, say, androgenetic alopecia, AKA male pattern baldness — is that telogen effluvium leads to diffuse hair loss. You’ll shed hair from all over your head in no specific pattern. 

If you’re mostly experiencing a receding hairline or thinning on the crown of your head, you may be experiencing male pattern baldness and not iron deficiency hair loss. 

The good news about hair loss related to iron deficiency anemia is that telogen effluvium tends to be temporary. If you address the root cause of your hair loss — in this case, low iron levels — your hair might start growing back.

A healthcare professional, such as a primary care physician or dermatologist, can determine the type of hair loss you’re experiencing. 

They can also identify whether iron deficiency is to blame for your telogen effluvium by ordering blood tests to confirm your iron levels. They might test for other nutrient deficiencies at the same time.

Other Symptoms of Iron Deficiency Anemia

If you have low iron stores, you may experience a few other symptoms of iron deficiency. These symptoms include:

• Tiredness and fatigue

• Physical weakness, particularly while exercising

• Difficulty focusing, thinking, or remembering information

• Feelings of dizziness and loss of balance

• Shortness of breath

• Heart palpitations

If left untreated, iron deficiency can become iron deficiency anemia, a more severe condition. Over time, you might develop one or more of the following symptoms: 

• Pale skin tone

• Weak, brittle nails

• Ulcers in your mouth

• Increased hair shedding

• Soreness or inflammation in your mouth

• Blue coloration in the white areas of your eyes

• Feelings of lightheadedness when standing

• A desire to eat ice or other non-nutritious, non-food items

• Uncontrolled limb movements

A fair amount of research has found that iron deficiency can cause hair loss.

One 2022 study looked at nutrient deficiencies in women with female pattern hair loss. It concluded that low vitamin D and ferritin levels (a protein that stores iron) could contribute to diffuse hair loss. 

A 2019 review also noted that people affected by hair loss tend to have low serum ferritin levels. 

Here’s the thing, though: not everyone with an iron deficiency will experience hair loss. And vice versa — not every hair loss condition is related to iron deficiency.  

For example, iron deficiency doesn’t seem to cause common types of permanent hair loss, such as male pattern baldness. 

Instead, this type of hair loss is caused by a combination of genetic factors and the effects of a hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT causes your hair follicles to shrink and hair to shed through a process called miniaturization.

Similarly, low iron levels don’t seem to be related to alopecia areata, an autoimmune condition where your immune system attacks your hair follicle cells and makes it harder for hair to grow.     

So, your iron levels aren’t always related to hair loss. There are many potential causes of hair loss in men, from thyroid issues and stress to genetic factors and more.  

As we mentioned, the good news is that iron deficiency hair loss is usually temporary. Addressing the underlying cause — in this case, a nutrient deficiency — typically improves hair growth.

Your first course of action should be to meet with a healthcare provider for a proper diagnosis. If they confirm that you have an iron deficiency, the next step is to discuss your treatment options. 

It can be helpful to meet with a registered dietitian for personalized nutritional guidance. 

Iron deficiency anemia can be treated by:

• Taking an iron supplement. Your provider might suggest an iron supplement to boost your iron intake. But be warned that while most people can take iron supplements without issues, others develop side effects such as nausea, constipation, and vomiting. And more is not always better — high-dose supplemental iron can become dangerous, so it’s critical to follow your provider’s directions. 

• Receiving iron injections. If you can’t consume iron supplements orally, you may need iron injections. These are delivered into a muscle or a vein, rapidly increasing your iron levels.

• Eating a balanced diet. Try to eat a decent amount of iron-rich foods like fish, red meat, poultry, lentils, whole-grain bread, iron-fortified cereals, leafy green vegetables, and dried fruits like prunes, raisins, and apricots.

• Pair plant-based iron with vitamin C. Plant-based iron (called non-heme iron) isn’t as highly absorbable as iron from animal sources (called heme iron). That’s not to say plant-based iron is less than; it just means it could use a boost. Pairing plant-based iron foods with sources of vitamin C, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, can improve your body’s iron absorption. 

A quick word of caution: Iron supplements may be available over the counter, but you still shouldn’t take them randomly. If your iron levels are normal, taking iron supplements can actually cause iron poisoning. That’s why it’s important to seek medical advice before taking any supplements.

While you work on building up your body’s iron stores, you can also use some of the following hair loss treatments:

• Minoxidil. This FDA-approved medication promotes hair growth by moving hair follicles into the anagen, or growth, phase of the hair growth cycle. You can get it as a minoxidil solution or minoxidil foam.

• Microneedling. According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, microneedling can stimulate hair growth, especially when combined with minoxidil or platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy.

• Biotin. While you’re taking your iron supplements, ensure your other nutritional needs are taken care of, too. Also known as vitamin B7, biotin may help support healthy skin and hair growth, particularly if you’re low in it. Our biotin gummies also contain vitamin B12, vitamin B6, vitamin D, and folic acid.

• Quality shampoos and conditioners. Take good care of the hair you do have. Our volumizing shampoo and volumizing conditioner can help limp hair look fuller. You can also try a thickening shampoo with saw palmetto.

You can also try some natural tips to support hair health and grow hair faster, like getting regular scalp massages and avoiding harsh chemicals. 

If you’ve read about hair loss treatments before, you might notice finasteride is missing from this list. While finasteride is effective at treating male pattern baldness, there’s no proof that it reduces iron-related hair loss.

If it does turn out that you have male pattern baldness, you could try finasteride pills or a topical finasteride & minoxidil spray. 

Because iron deficiency-related hair loss is usually temporary, you probably won’t need a hair transplant or another high-cost treatment either. But no matter the cause, it’s best to treat hair loss early.

Iron plays an important role in several processes within your body, including creating healthy hair cells. Here’s what that means.

• Iron deficiency causes hair loss. Research shows a link between low levels of iron and hair loss, so you might experience more hair shedding than usual when you don't get enough iron.

• But it can be treated. The good news is that this type of hair loss is usually temporary. Iron supplements, coupled with a balanced diet rich in various iron sources, can improve your iron levels. Eventually, your hair should regrow.

• Not all hair loss is caused by low iron levels, though. Shock, stress, genetics, and medical conditions can cause hair loss. If you’re losing hair but you don’t have an iron deficiency, iron supplements won’t necessarily make a difference. That’s why it’s so important to seek medical advice whenever you notice something odd going on with your body (including your hair).

If you think low iron levels are causing you to lose hair, your first step is to seek medical advice. We can help you connect with a professional for an online hair loss consultation. 

They can screen you for iron deficiency anemia and, if necessary, prescribe a supplement to help restore your iron levels to normal. You can also explore potential hair loss treatments to promote hair regrowth in the meantime.