Iron deficiency and hair loss

Iron is one of the nutrients the hair follicles depend on most, and iron deficiency is one of the most common hidden causes of hair loss — especially in women of fertile age, pregnant women, athletes and people on a vegetarian or vegan diet. The important thing to understand is that you can have iron deficiency affecting the hair long before you become anaemic. The follicles react already to low iron stores, measured as ferritin. Many people are told their "blood count is normal" but still have a low ferritin that is enough to trigger diffuse hair loss. That is why ferritin is the test we recommend asking for with hair-related iron deficiency. The shedding resembles telogen effluvium: a diffuse thinning across the whole head, often with noticeably more hair in the brush. When the iron stores are replenished — through diet and, if needed, supplements on a doctor's advice — the hair usually recovers within 3–6 months. Because hair grows slowly, the improvement shows with a delay. At Hair TP Clinic we often meet patients who spend money on hair products when the solution is really to correct a low ferritin. At a free consultation we assess your scalp and recommend blood tests if the pattern points to a nutritional deficiency. PRP can support the follicles during recovery, but the fundamental thing is to address the iron deficiency.