The Diagnosis and Treatment of Iron Deficiency and Its Potential Relationship to Hair Loss

    April 2006 in “ Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology ”
    Leonid Benjamin Trost, Wilma F. Bergfeld, Ellen Calogeras
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    TLDR Iron deficiency may be related to hair loss, but there's not enough evidence to recommend iron screening or supplements for all hair loss patients.
    The document from 2006 examines the potential link between iron deficiency and various forms of hair loss, particularly in women. It highlights that iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is commonly caused by menstrual blood loss and pregnancy in premenopausal women, and by gastrointestinal blood loss and malabsorption in men and postmenopausal women. The paper reviews several studies with mixed results; some suggest a correlation between low serum ferritin levels and hair loss, while others do not. The Cleveland Clinic Foundation screens for iron deficiency in patients with hair loss and treats it if present, although the document concludes there is insufficient evidence to universally recommend such screening or iron supplementation therapy for hair loss patients without IDA. Treatment for IDA includes dietary changes and oral iron supplementation, but excessive supplementation should be avoided, and patients unresponsive to therapy should be tested for other causes of IDA. The document also discusses the importance of diagnosing iron deficiency using hemoglobin concentration and serum ferritin concentration, and differentiating IDA from other types of anemia.
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      community Low iron and hair loss connection

      in Female  16 upvotes 7 months ago
      A 39-year-old woman noticed hair thinning and found she has an iron deficiency, which may be linked to hair loss. Suggestions included seeing a dermatologist, using spironolactone, and minoxidil.

      community Hair much worse after 6 months?

      in Progress Pictures  230 upvotes 1 year ago
      A user experienced significant hair loss after 6 months of using 0.5mg finasteride daily. Suggestions from others included trying Dutasteride and Minoxidil, getting professional help from a dermatologist, and addressing high iron levels that could be contributing to the hair loss.

      community what are the best multivitamins for hairloss?

      in Finasteride/Dutasteride  53 upvotes 2 years ago
      The conversation discusses which vitamins to take alongside 0.5mg finasteride for hair loss, with suggestions including a multivitamin, iron, zinc, B12, vitamin D, Nutrafol, collagen, vitamin C, saw palmetto, and magnesium. Nutrafol is noted for its benefits but also criticized for containing too much biotin.

      community I am a dermatologist with a clinical interest in alopecia. AMA

      in Will treatment work for me? 2 years ago
      In this conversation, 4990 discussed various treatments for hair loss, including oral minoxidil, PRP, transplan, Jak inhibitors, Dutasteride, Finasteride, Olumiant, Ketoconazole, RU58841, microneedling, baricitinib, and CCCA. They recommended scalp biopsies in unclear cases of DUPA, twice weekly to twice daily shampooing for topical minoxidil users, and two sessions spaced one month apart with follow up at month three to determine the effectiveness of PRP treatment.

      community 16, female, losing a ton of hair

      in Female  6 upvotes 7 months ago
      A 16-year-old female experiencing severe hair loss and sebum buildup, likely due to telogen effluvium and PCOS, is currently using vitamin D3 supplements, Redenser serum, and T follihair supplements. Recommendations include addressing PCOS first and consulting a doctor.

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