Easy access to information and being able to research health symptoms is a good thing, but the online rebranding of real issues and ways and means of addressing them – from cortisol face and the cortisol cocktail to lymphatic walking – can feel exhausting. If you’re experiencing excessive hair shedding, dark circles, cracked lips and a dull complexion, the internet might lead you to question whether you have “ferritin face”. The now-viral term is being used to sum up a combination of telltale signs that could point to an iron deficiency. But before you start worrying or self-diagnosing, read on.
What is ferritin?
As Yelena Ginzburg, MD, research director of the Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology, explains it, ferritin is a protein that enables us to store iron safely; think of it like an “intracellular tupperware”.
“When the body needs to store more iron, it produces more ferritin,” Dr Ginzburg says. Doctors use serum ferritin concentration (a blood test that measures your ferritin) as one of the more useful markers of how much iron is available in our bodies, she continues. It will give you a more accurate estimate of how much iron you have in your body, as opposed to just measuring the amount of iron available at the time of the blood test.
“We can measure iron, sure, but that only tells us what’s available at this one moment,” she explains. “If you had an ample iron breakfast, then your serum iron [test] is going to be up for 30 minutes. But it doesn’t mean that you systemically have enough [iron]. It just means that you extracted from one meal that happened to have enough iron to show us a blip in the serum iron.”
Is “ferritin face” a thing?
Medically speaking, no. “Ferritin face” is not a medical diagnosis or a real clinical term. Regine J Mathieu, MD, a board-certified dermatologist, says that the term is just commonly used on social media to describe changes in your face that may occur with iron deficiency. “It has brought attention to something dermatologists have recognised for years: nutritional deficiencies can sometimes show up in skin, hair and nails,” says Dr Mathieu.
Experiencing some of these symptoms doesn’t mean you should assume you have an iron deficiency (more on that later). Plus, it is more important to focus on maintaining healthy iron stores, experts say, rather than worrying about preventing “ferritin face” anyway. “The goal is to identify whether the symptoms are caused by iron deficiency (if it is present) or whether the symptoms are occurring due to other causes (if iron deficiency is absent),” says Dr Ginzburg.
“One of the biggest misconceptions I see is that every beauty concern can be solved with a new product or supplement,” Dr Mathieu adds. “In reality, persistent hair shedding or changes in your complexion can sometimes reflect what’s happening internally, making an accurate diagnosis just as important as a good skincare routine.”
How does having an iron deficiency affect our skin and hair?
When our iron stores become depleted, Dr Mathieu says that the body will naturally prioritise essential organs over tissues, like our skin and hair. This may result in dull or pale complexion, dry skin, increased hair shedding, brittle nails or cracks at the corners of our mouths. Those with deeper skin tones may notice their complexion becoming dull or tired-looking.
Again, experiencing these symptoms doesn’t automatically mean you’re deficient in iron. She goes on to explain that those with low ferritin may have completely normal skin, while others with those same skin and hair concerns may well find that they are being caused by something else entirely. Take these symptoms more as hints that something might not be quite right, and therefore potentially worth discussing with your doctor if you’re concerned. “I view these findings as potential clues rather than definitive answers,” she says. “Similar changes can also be seen with hormonal shifts, thyroid disease, other nutritional deficiencies and even the natural ageing process, which is why an evaluation is so important.”
So, how can you tell if you do have an iron deficiency?
The only way to really tell is through a proper diagnosis from a doctor. Even if you happen to be experiencing some of the more well-studied symptoms that are often associated with iron deficiency (odd cravings, hair loss and an inflamed tongue, to name a few), it’s best to check with your physician and do a full iron panel. Dr Mathieu says this typically includes testing ferritin, serum iron, total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) and transferrin saturation. “Together these tests evaluate how much iron is circulating, how efficiently it’s being transported, and how much is stored,” she says. “Looking at the complete picture provides far more meaningful information than relying on a single number alone.”
What can you do about having an iron deficiency?
If a doctor diagnoses you with an iron deficiency, they will figure out a game plan to help restore iron in your body. It’s all dependent on the individual, but doctors may recommend a holistic approach that includes increasing your intake of iron-rich foods, taking iron supplements or even iron infusions.
Experts advise caution with iron supplements, though, as they are meant only for those who actually need it. Dr Mathieu says that while iron supplementation can be incredibly helpful for someone who is deficient, unnecessary supplementation can be harmful. As always, the goal should be identifying the reason for the symptoms first, an then creating a tailored treatment plan.
“My philosophy is simple: treat the person, not the viral trend,” she says. “Hair thinning, dry skin, or a lacklustre complexion can have many different causes. Once you’ve identified what’s driving those changes, you can choose a treatment that’s both effective and appropriate.”