Revive

What Is Iron Deficiency Hair Loss?
Whilst hair loss for many will be rooted in their genetic makeup, this isn’t always from female or male pattern baldness. There are many other factors, both hereditary and environmental, for losing your hair, with iron deficiency hair loss one that can fall into both. If you have been struggling to understand the cause of your thinning hair, having an iron deficiency could be a contributing factor. So, can iron deficiency cause hair loss and how do you find out if you have this condition?

Can Low Iron Cause Hair Loss?
Understanding iron deficiency and what this looks like if you have it is important before linking this to your own hair loss. With someone experiencing a lack of iron in their body, this will result in a reduced production of hemoglobin in the blood. The reason this has a direct effect on hair loss is that oxygen carried around the body by hemoglobin will not be able to reach the cells responsible for hair growth. Oxygen is needed to repair cells and stimulate hair growth, meaning less hemoglobin in the bloodstream links iron deficiency and hair loss together. Having an iron deficiency may leave you feeling tired, fatigued or with pale skin. Can low iron cause hair loss? Yes, but it doesn’t necessarily mean it is a permanent condition. When managed well, those experiencing low iron hair loss may be able to reverse the effects.

Is Iron Hair Loss Hereditary?
Iron deficiency is a type of anemia, where the body has a reduced level of hemoglobin, and is one of the most common with an estimated 3% of men and 8% of women having the condition in the UK alone. Many types of anemia can be linked to your genes, such as Thalassemia where the body does not produce enough hemoglobin to carry oxygen. In pregnant women, a low level of iron can be linked to blood loss through heavy periods, whilst in both men and women, bleeding inside the stomach and intestines can be a cause. Many of these issues are discoverable through blood tests and treatable with medication.

Most commonly, iron deficiency hair loss is linked to a lack of iron in the diet. This can be prevented with the right intake of iron-rich foods. With iron deficiency hair loss and early-stage male or female pattern baldness, for example, addressing your dietary intake is crucial. You may find that with increased iron within your diet, found in cereals, meat, pulses or green vegetables, the symptoms of an iron deficiency can be reversed.

Seek Advice for Iron Deficiency Hair Loss
As there can be many reasons for hair loss, ruling out any temporary or preventable factors first is always the first step. Here at Revive Clinic, we help those with permanent hair loss discover life-changing hair transplants that provide natural-looking results, however, if your hair loss is temporary or affecting you at a younger age, addressing these other factors first may help with natural hair regrowth. Iron deficiency hair loss can be a temporary condition, but if your hair loss is permanent, seek further medical advice or a consultation with a hair specialist.

Before Hair Transplant Operation
Read the following guidelines to better understand the patient protocol on the day of your hair transplant. Our team will provide you with more detailed and customized guidelines prior to your arrival.
Health Problems to Consider Before a Hair Transplant
Before the hair transplant procedure (and during the consultation stages of the arrangement), please let us know about any medical issues and medications you use.

If you have any health problems, please seek prior consultation from your doctor about your planned hair transplantation operation. We will also provide insight, but it should be considered in tandem with your primary physician or dermatologist’s input.
Avoid Blood-Thinning Medications
Avoid Alcohol, Smoking, and Caffeine
Avoid alcohol and caffeine the day before your procedure. Using both may affect the efficiency of local anesthetics that doctors give you before the operation.

Smoking decreases blood flow to the scalp by constricting blood vessels and limiting nutrient delivery to the follicles. For this reason, smoking should also be avoided the day before the procedure. You should further avoid smoking for the first week after your surgery, because this is when it is most imperative for your follicles to receive adequate nutrition.

To that note, it is also good to quit smoking permanently in order to improve the health and density of your hair.

Hair Transplant Procedure Day
Take a shower and take care of your personal hygiene the morning of the operation. Do not have any styling products in your hair. Come to the operation well rested, and having eaten a light breakfast. Avoid any caffeine.
We recommend that you wear a buttoned shirt or a wide-collar t-shirt, so that you don’t drag the shirt over your scalp. This is a good habit for the weeks following the procedure, too.

In general, wear comfortable clothing during the operation, because it takes nearly six hours, but depends entirely on the number of grafts you are receiving.

No companion is allowed in the operation room. We will host your companions in our waiting area or cafeteria lounge.
Do not chew gum, and avoid talking too much during the operation. Avoid using your personal cell phones or touch-screen devices during the operation.

You should avoid touching any of the grafts during and after the operation.