Iron is a major component of hemoglobin and is very important in order to produce red blood cells which supply our body cells with oxygen. Whenever there is an iron deficiency, it will lead to anemia so less oxygen will be carried to the scalp. Lacking oxygen, hair follicles will start to die, resulting in gradual, uniform hair loss. Women are particularly susceptible to iron deficiency due to the regular loss of iron-rich blood during menstruation. As many as 70% of women with diffuse hair loss have an iron deficiency.
Anemia that is due to low iron levels is called iron deficiency anemia. The patient doesn’t need to be anemic so the hair loss starts, it is the iron deficiency that is causing actual hair loss. Whatever is the cause of the hair loss, having too little iron in the blood makes it worse. Symptoms related to anemia are: pale appearance tiredness, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, and spoon-shaped nails.
Did you know?
Pernicious anemia due to a lack of vitamin B12 is relatively uncommon condition that generally affects people over 40. Vitamin B12 is essential for the normal metabolic function of all cells and its deficiency causes hair loss as well.
