Iron Deficiency & Hair Loss:
Why Low Ferritin Causes Shedding

Iron is an essential mineral that helps your body produce haemoglobin — the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. Every cell in your body needs oxygen to function properly, including the cells inside your hair follicles, the tiny structures under the skin where each strand of hair grows.

When your iron stores are low (even without anaemia), your hair follicles may not receive the oxygen and nutrients they need. Over time, this can make hair weaker, thinner, and more prone to falling out.

One of the most common hair conditions linked to low iron is telogen effluvium (TE) — a temporary form of hair loss where more hairs than usual enter the “shedding” phase.

You might notice:

• Excess hair on your pillow

• More hair in the shower

• Hair coming out easily while brushing

Recent studies (2022–2024) show:

• People with TE often have lower ferritin levels (ferritin is your iron storage marker).

• Very low ferritin may worsen shedding or slow recovery.

• Improving iron stores — including through IV iron, which replenishes levels quickly — may support recovery over time.

Even once shedding settles, low iron can delay regrowth. Hair growth is an energy-intensive process and relies on iron for:

• Cell division

• Protein production

• DNA synthesis

If iron levels are low:

• New hair may grow more slowly

• Regrowth may appear finer or weaker

• Recovery after stress-related hair loss (e.g., illness, childbirth, COVID-19) may take longer

Iron deficiency is particularly common in:

• Women with heavy menstrual bleeding

• Vegetarians and vegans

• People with digestive conditions (e.g., coeliac disease, inflammatory bowel disease)

• Those recovering from illness, surgery, or major stress

Studies also show that women experiencing hair loss are significantly more likely to have low iron compared with women without hair loss.

Doctors usually start with:

• Ferritin — the most useful marker for iron storage

• Haemoglobin — to check for anaemia

There is no universally agreed “ideal” ferritin level for hair, but many hair specialists and dermatologists aim for:

Ferritin above 70 µg/L for optimal hair growth

Other helpful tests to rule out contributing factors include:

• Thyroid function tests

• Vitamin B12

• Folate

• Vitamin D

• Zinc

If you are iron deficient, correcting the deficiency is an important part of addressing hair shedding.

Key points:

• Iron is essential for healthy hair growth

• Low iron can lead to excess shedding, slower regrowth, and weaker hair.

• Hair improvement tends to be slow, often taking 3–6 months

• IV iron gives the equivalent of 6–12 months of iron tablets in one treatment

• Restoring ferritin quickly may help kick-start regrowth and support recovery from telogen effluvium

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