Iron is a mineral essential for overall health. While insufficient iron is known to cause health issues, including hair loss, the impact of excessive iron often receives less attention. An imbalance, whether too little or too much, can affect various bodily systems, including hair growth. This article explores how an excess of iron can contribute to hair loss.
Iron’s Role in Hair Growth
Iron contributes to hemoglobin synthesis, a protein in red blood cells that transports oxygen throughout the body, including to hair follicles. Hair follicles require oxygen for the metabolic processes that support hair growth. Iron also participates in DNA production, which is important for cell division and the creation of new cells during the active growth phase of hair.
When iron levels are too low, the body prioritizes oxygen delivery to vital organs like the heart and brain, potentially reducing the supply to hair follicles. This can lead to conditions such as iron deficiency anemia, which commonly manifests as hair thinning, increased shedding, and slower hair regrowth. The hair growth cycle, comprising anagen (growth), catagen (transition), and telogen (rest) phases, can be disrupted by low iron, shortening the growth phase and prolonging the resting phase.
What is Iron Overload
Iron overload, also known as hemochromatosis or iron toxicity, is a condition where the body accumulates too much iron. This excess iron is then stored in various organs, including the liver, heart, and pancreas, potentially causing damage over time.
Hereditary hemochromatosis is a common genetic cause, resulting from mutations in genes like HFE, which lead to increased iron absorption from food. Other causes include excessive iron supplementation, frequent blood transfusions, or certain medical conditions such as thalassemia.
Symptoms of iron overload can be non-specific and may include chronic fatigue, joint pain, and abdominal discomfort. As iron continues to accumulate, more severe symptoms can develop, such as liver disease (cirrhosis), diabetes due to pancreatic damage, and heart problems like irregular heartbeats or heart failure. The skin may also take on a bronze or gray discoloration.
How Excess Iron Impacts Hair
Excess iron can directly influence hair health by contributing to oxidative stress. Oxidative stress occurs when there is an imbalance between free radicals and the body’s ability to neutralize them, leading to cellular damage. High levels of iron can generate these free radicals, which then damage hair follicles and disrupt their normal growth cycles.
This disruption can cause hair follicles to enter the resting phase prematurely, leading to increased hair shedding, a condition known as telogen effluvium. The oxidative damage can also weaken hair strands, making them more prone to breakage and contributing to overall hair thinning.
Iron overload can also indirectly affect hair growth through its systemic impact on other bodily functions. Excess iron may lead to hormonal imbalances or chronic inflammation, both of which can negatively influence hair follicle function and the hair growth cycle.
Identifying and Addressing Iron-Related Hair Loss
Diagnosing iron overload and its potential link to hair loss involves specific blood tests. Two key tests are serum transferrin saturation and serum ferritin. Serum transferrin saturation measures iron bound to transferrin, a blood transport protein, with values above 45% considered high. Serum ferritin measures stored iron, primarily in the liver, with levels above 150 ng/ml often indicating overload. These tests are performed after fasting.
If blood tests suggest iron overload, further diagnostic steps may include genetic testing for HFE gene mutations or imaging such as an MRI to assess iron accumulation in organs like the liver. A liver biopsy may also be performed to assess iron deposits and liver damage.
The primary treatment for iron overload is therapeutic phlebotomy, a procedure similar to blood donation where a controlled amount of blood is removed. This process reduces the body’s iron stores as it uses existing iron to replenish red blood cells. Initially, phlebotomy may be performed weekly until iron levels normalize, followed by a maintenance phase of less frequent sessions, two to four times a year.
For individuals where phlebotomy is not feasible, chelation therapy may be used. This involves medications, like deferasirox or desferrioxamine, which bind to excess iron in the blood and help the body excrete it through urine or feces. Addressing the underlying iron overload through these treatments can lead to an improvement in associated symptoms, including hair regrowth. Consulting a healthcare provider is important if you experience persistent hair loss combined with symptoms of iron overload.