Iron and ferritin: the essential fuel for the hair follicle and hair cycle
Iron is a fundamental mineral, often nicknamed the “fuel” of the body. Its main role is to ensure the oxygen transport, via hemoglobin, from the lungs to all the cells of the body.
The iron is crucial for energy production, the support of immune system and, more generally, to combat chronic fatigue associated with anemia. Without sufficient intake, the entire metabolism slows down.
Why does your hair need iron?
Iron is essential for ultra-rapid cell division at the heart of the hair matrix, which is the second most important tissue in the body. renewal rate the fastest. Iron is therefore not only vital for fighting anemia; he is the hair follicle fuel. Without sufficient reserves, the hair no longer has the energy necessary to form properly. When reserves are low, the body prioritizes sending iron to vital organs (brain, muscles, etc.). The hair follicle, considered a lower priority, no longer receives essential energy, which leads to the cessation of growth and the hair loss.
The key indicator: low ferritin (critical thresholds)
Ferritin is the body's iron storage protein; it is therefore the most reliable indicator for assessing available iron reserves. When ferritin levels drop, cells, including those of the hair follicle, receive less oxygen and nutrients essential for their proper functioning. Result: the hair enters prematurely telogen phase, that is to say the fall phase.
Studies show that low ferritin, often below 50 to 70 µg/L, can already be enough to trigger an hair loss diffuse and massive, even if the hemoglobin level remains normal. This link between hair loss and low ferritin is now well documented: even without anemia, an insufficient iron reserve unbalances the hair cycle.
It is therefore essential to distinguish between iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia. Iron deficiency anemia corresponds to a severe lack of iron, impacting the production of red blood cells; it is often accompanied by fatigue, paleness and rapid shortness of breath. Simple deficiency often precedes this stage and is already a major trigger for hair loss.
A complete blood test (ferritin, serum iron, complete blood count, CST) is therefore essential to identify the actual level of your reserves. Monitoring your ferritin level often helps identify cause of hair loss unexplained long before anemia is visible in the blood.
Iron deficiency: the symptoms that explain your hair loss
The hair loss (telogen effluvium) is often the most visible symptom, but it is rarely isolated. If you suffer from a lack of iron, other signals should alert you: chronic fatigue, paleness, shortness of breath, brittle nails or a phenomenon of “soft” hair without volume. In women, heavy periods during the menstrual cycle are a common factor. If the deficiency worsens, it can develop into anemia, worsening hair loss and hair fragility. This link between lack of iron and hair explains why a simple deficit can transform the texture, density and shine of the hair even before anemia sets in.
To confirm iron deficiency and hair loss, a blood test is essential. The doctor will measure your ferritin level: if this level is low, it is very likely that this is the cause of your hair loss, and not a coincidence. It is from this diagnosis that the supplementation phase can begin.
Many women notice, before and after correcting an iron deficiency, a visible improvement in hair density, volume and shine.
How to reverse the trend: treating iron deficiency for hair regrowth
After consultation with your doctor and analysis of your blood test to confirm the lack of iron, treatment may be considered.
To act effectively on iron and hair loss, the treatment is based on two complementary approaches:
Adopt a diet rich in iron:
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- Heme iron (better absorbed): beef, black pudding, offal, fish/seafood.
- Non-heme iron: legumes (beans, lentils, chickpeas), tofu/tempeh, spinach, broccoli, pumpkin seeds, iron-fortified cereals.
- Associate with vitamin C (citrus fruits, kiwi, peppers)
- Space out tea, coffee and dairy products from meals as they hinder iron assimilation and reduce iron absorption.
- Targeted supplementation using food supplements
To quickly and effectively raise ferritin levels to an optimal level for hair regrowth (ideally above 70 μg/L), supplementation is often necessary.
However, excess iron can also cause hair loss by generating oxidative stress ; always respect the dosage indicated by your healthcare professional and avoid long-term self-supplementation without assessment or medical follow-up.
These two levers – a diet rich in iron and appropriate supplementation – make it possible to restore the hair cycle and promote hair regrowth after anemia.
Supplementation focus: the “Iron” complex for regrowth
Recognizing the vital importance of quality supplementation, Kryneo developed a specific formula to meet the specific needs of those struggling with hair loss due to anemia or deficiency. Our “Iron” food supplement is designed for maximum absorption and excellent tolerance, working in synergy with our other products to ensure regrowth after anemia or deficiency, healthy and fast. It promotes hair regrowth after anemia by gradually restoring iron reserves and supporting the regeneration of the hair follicle.
Thanks to its bioavailable formulation, Krynéo Iron acts directly on iron-related hair loss, while respecting thedigestive balance.
Optimizing regrowth: the importance of synergistic nutrients
Adopting a combined supplementation protocol is often the quickest way to see results. It is advisable to combine iron with synergistic nutrients such as biotin and the zinc. Complete formulas like cures Essential Care and Intense Repair from Krynéo are designed to provide these essential micronutrients and maximize the effect on regrowth.
Nutritional synergy: why separate iron and multivitamin complexes
If the hair problem is linked to factors other than iron deficiency, there is no reason to increase the amount in the body. On the other hand, iron should not be taken at the same time as vitamin E, the vitamin A and the zinc, because it is antagonistic to these vitamins and minerals and reduces the assimilation of these nutrients.
Our Krynéo hair treatments, Essential Care and Intense Repair, should therefore be taken at a distance from possible iron supplementation.
ESSENTIAL CARE CURE
INTENSE REPAIR CURE
Restores the health of damaged hair, slows hair loss and boosts regrowth
Thanks to 16 cutting-edge ingredients with complementary actions, including keratin, the building block of hair, and the zinc, cell growth factor.Pushback, “before/after” and realistic deadlines
After correction of the deficiency, stabilization of the fall generally occurs within a few weeks. Visible regrowth often takes 2 to 3 months, the time for a new hair cycle, with gradual improvement over 3 to 6 months. “Before/after” photos at 90 days and 180 days are ideal for monitoring the evolution of density and short strands of regrowth. These results before/after iron deficiency confirm the importance of balanced ferritin to regain dense and resistant hair and ensure lasting hair regrowth.
In total, a perseverance of 3 to 6 months is necessary to observe a notable reduction in the fall.
This process requires patience, but the results observed before/after correction of ferritin levels are often spectacular: denser, shiny and resistant hair.
