Iron Deficiency Anemia and Hair Loss

Posted by naturalnina on September 19th, 2010

When issues of hair loss and breakage arise, you can go crazy trying to figure out the causes. The first thing you may do is think about what you have been doing to your hair lately, as far a upkeep and care is concerned. The next thing you might do, is examine what types of foods that you’ve been eating. Often times, a possible medical condition is probably the last thing considered in the list of possible causes, when a medical condition could be the exact cause of a hair loss problem.

When I experienced hair loss earlier this year, It was due to iron deficiency anemia that was brought on by pregnancy. Iron deficiency anemia is a condition caused by a lack of healthy red blood cells in the blood. The body needs red blood cells, to carry oxygen to the body’s tissues and give the skin a healthy color (Mayo Clinic). A lack of oxygen and blood flow to hair follicles, causes the hair to thin out and shed. The hair loss that I suffered was tragic to me. My hair fell out in clumps, leaving my entire crown area broken down to the roots. You could see my scalp through the little bit of hair that I had left, and it was embarrassing to say the least.

To treat my iron deficiency condition, my doctor prescribed some iron pills for to take twice a day. The iron pills ended up making me sick, so with my doctors permission I switched to a more natural solution, BlackStrap Molasses with Iron. The blackstrap molasses with iron, combined with a change in my diet, helped my hair grow back full and strong after I gave myself another big chop. Since then, my iron levels have returned to normal levels and my hair loss issue has been resolved.

If your having issues with hair loss, I would recommend having your iron levels checked by your doctor. According to a report by WEB MD, “a review of 40 years of research shows that iron deficiency has a closer link to hair loss than most doctors realize.” That means that the link between iron deficiency and hair loss could go misdiagnosed, if the doctor is not fully aware of the connection between the two. There are a few basic symptoms of iron deficiency anemia to look out for:

Fatigue/Weakness
Shortness of Breath
Chest Pain
Dizziness
Headaches
Irregular Heart Beats

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, contact your health care provider right away so you can be tested. For more information on iron deficiency anemia and hair loss, check out the articles listed below.

Sources: Surviving Hair Loss, Mayo Clinic, and WEB MD via FoxNews

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Posted in Hair Loss

Tags: Health and Wellness, Healthy Eating for Healthy Hair, The Natural Journey, Vitamins and Supplements

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SliversOfShe

This was such a helpful post. I've had issues with hair loss/thinning and I already know for a fact that I have anemia and have been prescribed iron pills for it. I always forgot to take them and gave up since the only effect I saw was being cold a lot, but I had no idea it could have an effect on your hair/skin. Thanks so much for sharing your story!
Natural Nina

Your welcome. I love to share my personal stories because it can help someone else in the same situation. Remember to take those iron pills, and add more dark leafy greens to your diet. That combined with a little tlc for the scalp, and you may begin to see an increase in hair growth and retention.
~L

I’ve never had an issue with iron before, but recently my doctor told me that I have a mild anemia. I am working to get back on track. You’re right that we are slow to think of a medical condition when a hair issue arises. People tend to switch products or try every treatment possible before looking at something internal.
- naturalnina
  
  One of the things that helped me was taking Blackstrap Molasses with Iron supplements. I’ve been taking them once a day for almost 2 years now, and I haven’t had any problems with my iron levels since then.
  
  When I was having this issue, I thought it was everything but an issue with anemia. It’s always good to get a check up because I learned over the years how connected our health is to our hair.