The average human scalp has 100,000 to 150,000 hairs and loses 80 to 100 per day. The hair cycle consists of three parts. Anagen lasts for 3 to 6 years and is the phase of hair growth that determines the length of your hair. Catagen is a transitional stage between hair growth and hair fall, which lasts about two to three weeks. Telogen refers to the stage of hair fall and inactivity of the follicles that lasts about three months.
Diffuse hair loss can occur if hair growth or the length of anagen is decreased or the normal telogen percentage is increased. This results in extra shedding of hair in the shower, on clothes, combs, brushes and pillows. A balanced diet containing protein, iron and nutrients (like zinc, magnesium, Vitamin A & D, biotin and selenium) is required for healthy hair growth.
One of the most common causes of hair loss in pre-menopausal women is reduced iron storage in the body measured by the plasma ferritin. Iron is an important constituent of Haemoglobin and myoglobin, which are the oxygen carrying molecules in the blood and muscles respectively. Ferritin stores iron and releases it in a controlled manner. It is stored in the cells of the body and found in the blood but the main storage areas are the liver, spleen, skeletal muscles and bone marrow.
An imbalance in the absorption of iron compared to the quantity lost via excretion can lead to an excess or deficiency. In the latter case your iron stores or ferritin is utilised to make up the shortfall. Initially your haemoglobin will remain normal and no signs of anaemia will be evident but as ferritin levels fall further, the storage levels become insufficient to maintain normal haemoglobin levels and anaemia ensues. Long before that happens diffuse hair loss occurs at ferritin levels below 70ng/ml and gradually gets worse. Normal serum ferritin levels range from 24-336ng/ml for men and 11-307ng /ml for women. These normal limits vary from one lab to another.
Besides being a possible trigger for telogen effluvium where a lot of hair shedding occurs, iron deficiency could also be the most likely underlying cause when hair loss is subtle; slowly thinning out over many months or even years. It is therefore evident that iron is essential for the normal growth and maintenance of hair. A normal haemoglobin level does not mean that your iron stores are sufficient to support healthy hair growth.
Menstruation and pregnancy make premenopausal women most vulnerable to iron deficiency. Poor diet, chronic illness, poor digestion and loss via gastrointestinal bleeding can also be contributory factors. Tannins found in tea and coffee, bran and egg albumin can inhibit iron absorption and contribute to deficiency.
The good news is that hair loss due to low ferritin is entirely reversible, and relatively easy to correct. After the ferritin level has been ascertained by means of a blood test, attention to your diet is the first step to recovery. Eating a combination of iron-rich foods such as red meat, green, leafy vegetables, shellfish, egg yolk, nuts and cereals with food or drinks that are high in vitamin C For example, a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice will maximize your iron absorption. Iron supplements in the form of ferrous fumarate or ferrous sulfate can be prescribed to speed up the process or in severe cases.
No matter what your cause of hair loss, it is important to realize that low ferritin levels can aggravate your problem. See your Dermatologist to determine the exact cause of hair loss.