Iron Deficiency and Nonscarring Alopecia in Women: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis PMC

Table Of Content

• Special Health Reports
• Dry and damaged hair and skin
• Study Characteristics
• What are common causes of hair loss?

The overall prevalence of iron-deficiency anemia in our study was 8%. The reported prevalence rates in Europe were lower at 2–6% [34] than in 6–18% in Nepal, Pakistan, and Ethiopia [37, 39, 40]. A comparison of the individual studies with the overall meta-analysis results shows that the rate of iron-deficiency anemia among women with hair loss is not higher than in the general population of women. If you’ve been experiencing hair loss and think it may be due to an iron deficiency, Dr. Piliang recommends talking to your doctor. The symptoms of iron deficiency can be vague; feeling tired, hair loss, headaches and cold feet and hands, so it’s often missed or confused with something else. This might explain why iron deficiency is the most common and widespread nutritional disorder in the world, affecting around one billion people, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Special Health Reports

A complete blood count (CBC) is a blood test that counts your platelets and your red and white blood cells. This test can only suggest iron deficiency anemia, because there are also other causes. Your healthcare provider will try to identify the cause based on your medical history and exam. Iron deficiency anemia occurs when your body doesn't have enough iron to produce hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the part of red blood cells that gives blood its red color and enables the red blood cells to carry oxygenated blood throughout your body.

Dry and damaged hair and skin

The reported prevalence rate for iron deficiency from Asian countries is 20–26% and in different regions of Ethiopia 18–50% [37, 38, 39, 40, 41]. Based on these data, it would appear that ferritin deficiency in women with nonscarring alopecia is not higher than in the general population. Several studies suggested higher cutoff levels of below 30–40 ng/dL as the definition of iron deficiency [5, 29, 42, 43, 44]. This threshold of 30–41 ng/dL yields sensitivity and specificity rates of 92–98% each for iron deficiency [29].

Study Characteristics

If your test results show low iron levels, you can treat it with iron supplements. You may experience a change in bowel movements as a side effect of the extra iron, so tell your doctor if you’re prone to upset stomach. Hair loss has many causes, and it can affect adults and children of all genders. When you don’t have enough iron, your body can’t produce the hemoglobin in your blood.

There are many kinds of shampoos and treatments that claim to slow hair loss and improve regrowth, however there isn’t a huge amount of evidence to support these claims. However, not getting enough iron and developing anemia can cause hair loss. Unless you have a deficiency in a certain vitamin, supplementing with vitamins likely won’t do much for hair loss. Selenium is a mineral that your body needs in small (trace) amounts. Some research shows that selenium can help with hair loss, including among people who are getting chemotherapy.

What are the benefits of iron supplements and what are they used for?

Blood samples were taken to investigate the serum folic acid and vitamin B12 levels. If your doctor thinks iron deficiency anaemia might be behind your hair loss, they’ll first carry out a blood test, which looks for levels of a protein called ferritin. If you have a low level of ferritin, your doctor will likely recommend iron supplements to tackle both this and any effects it has had on your body, including hair loss. The electronic databases PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched between June 15, 2019, and July 24, 2019. Studies that evaluated the prevalence of iron deficiency in women with nonscarring alopecia and/or compared ferritin levels in women with and without this condition were entered into the meta-analysis. Thirty-six of 928 identified studies entered the systematic meta-analysis.

Even if you do have low ferritin, taking too much iron can be problematic. When there’s not enough ferritin stored in the body, your thyroid isn’t able to make enough thyroid hormone. This is why a physical exam usually can't identify an iron deficiency. Actively growing bodies need extra iron to provide energy to developing cells. That's why it's also important for babies, children, and teens to get plenty of iron.

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Vitamin B7 (biotin or vitamin H) is a cofactor for five carboxylases that catalyze steps in fatty acid, glucose, and amino acid metabolism. Biotin also plays roles in histone modification, cell signaling, and gene regulation [25]. Dietary protein must be broken down into free biotin, which is then stored in the small intestine and liver. An adequate intake of biotin for adults is 30 mcg/day in U.S. populations. The average dietary intake of biotin in Western countries is adequate, and biotin deficiency is rare.

Iron deficiency anemia is when your body doesn’t have enough red blood cells. Zinc deficiency is also often seen in people experiencing hair loss. Make sure you’re getting enough sun and try to incorporate vitamin D-rich sources into your diet like eggs, cheese, and fatty fish.

Hair loss brought on by an iron deficiency can be treated with iron supplements. They work by increasing iron levels in the body, which can improve oxygen and nutrient delivery to hair follicles and promote healthy hair growth. High iron dosages have the potential to be toxic, and taking too much iron as a supplement can make you queasy, nauseous, and sick to your stomach. Follow your doctor's recommendations for iron supplements and keep an eye on your iron levels to prevent overdosing.

After one year, be sure children don't drink more than 20 ounces (591 milliliters) of milk a day. Too much milk often takes the place of other foods, including those that are rich in iron. As the name implies, iron deficiency anemia is due to insufficient iron. Without enough iron, your body can't produce enough of a substance in red blood cells that enables them to carry oxygen (hemoglobin). As a result, iron deficiency anemia may leave you tired and short of breath. Iron deficiency anemia is a common type of anemia — a condition in which blood lacks adequate healthy red blood cells.

An expert reveals how to deal with stress-related hair loss after Paloma Faith opens up

Table Of Content

• Vitamins & Supplements
• Diagnosis of Iron Deficiency Anemia
• Diet and Absorption

Additionally, lifestyle changes and stress management can help mitigate hair loss symptoms,' says Dr. Balwi. To elucidate the role of vitamin D in FPHL and TE, additional large-scale trials are necessary [77]. Management of alopecia is an essential aspect of clinical dermatology given the prevalence of hair loss and its significant impact on patients’ quality of life. Androgenetic alopecia (AGA), telogen effluvium (TE), and alopecia areata (AA) represent the three most common types of non-scarring alopecia [9]. There are several reasons to suspect a role for micronutrients in non-scarring alopecia. If you are eating a well-balanced diet, your body should be getting all the nutrients it needs, so you probably don’t need to take additional vitamins.

Vitamins & Supplements

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Even at recommended doses, iron supplements can cause constipation. They can also cause more serious side effects, such as iron toxicity. Iron supplements are especially dangerous for people who have hemochromatosis, a condition characterized by iron overload. Your genes, hormonal changes, illness, and even stress can come into play.

Diagnosis of Iron Deficiency Anemia

That might sound positive for your hair, but consuming too much vitamin A can actually cause hair loss. Vitamin E helps support your immune system and other bodily functions. Hair loss and hair shedding can be a symptom of biotin deficiency.

Diet and Absorption

None of these studies supported an association between AA and iron deficiency [27, 44, 111–113]. However, if the doctor suspects anemia stems from gastrointestinal problems, they may recommend further tests and procedures, including upper and lower endoscopies. They may recommend increasing your intake of iron via your diet or taking supplements. Headaches may be a symptom of iron deficiency, although more research is needed on the connection between dopamine dysfunction, estrogen levels, and iron deficiency.

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But if you don’t have a confirmed biotin deficiency, taking biotin supplements won’t help with hair loss. That’s surprising to many people since many companies sell shampoos and other products with biotin, claiming that they’ll improve hair health. Researchers have called for more double-blind placebo studies to examine the role of vitamin and mineral intake on hair loss.

Check if you have iron deficiency anaemia

Children and older adults share symptoms, but neurological symptoms, like ADHD, are more common in children. In the later stages of iron deficiency, the nails can become spoon-shaped, meaning that the middle of your nail dips and the edges raise to give a rounded appearance like a spoon. Spoon-shaped fingernails, also called koilonychia, are another symptom of iron deficiency anemia. People with iron deficiency anemia may have restless legs syndrome, which is a strong urge to move your legs while at rest. Consequently, iron deficiency may worsen conditions that affect your heart, such as heart failure and coronary heart disease. Since tiredness is often considered a part of a busy, modern life, it’s difficult to diagnose an iron deficiency based on this symptom alone.

What is anaemia?

A unique sign of iron deficiency is something called pica, which is an unexplainable craving for non-nutritious things like ice, clay, soil, or paper. Aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can cause internal gastrointestinal bleeding. Proton pump inhibitors, used to control acid reflux, can prevent your body from absorbing enough iron. Because these can also be symptoms of other conditions, see your doctor to get a diagnosis. According to the Mayo Clinic, normal ferritin rates are 20 to 200 nanograms per milliliter for women and 20 to 500 for men. If a food sensitivity is suspected, your doctor may recommend a blood test or an elimination diet.

These treatments that emit red- or near-infrared light are believed to stimulate hair follicles to help hair grow, with a lower risk of side effects compared to topical creams and oral medications. Doctors often prescribe oral medications to be used along with topical minoxidil because studies show the combination boosts hair production. Low-dose oral minoxidil (prescribed off-label) has been found to be effective and safe for most patients, Mirmirani says. Other oft-used drugs include finasteride (Propecia) and spironolactone.

This is promising for regrowth because it means that the follicles are not severely damaged and may be able to grow hair again. ‘Telogen effluvium is a type of hair loss resulting from the disruption of the hair growth phase. When more hairs are in the resting phase than in the growing phase, extensive hair shedding and sudden hair loss in women can occur. A 2022 study on in vitro (out of the body, typically using test tubes and similar equipment) human dermal papilla cells and mice found some potential positive effects from fish-derived collagen peptides. These findings suggest that fish-derived collagen peptides could, at some point, be used to promote hair growth, but more research is needed on humans to confirm this finding. Iron supplements can be particularly important for women and pregnant women, babies and young children.

It’s usually genetic, but it can also be triggered by diseases or disorders that attack the hair follicles. In pregnancy, iron deficiency anaemia is most often caused by a lack of iron in your diet. Your GP may carry out repeat blood tests over the next few months to check that your iron level is getting back to normal.

To prevent iron deficiency anemia in infants, feed your baby breast milk or iron-fortified formula for the first year. Cow's milk isn't a good source of iron for babies and isn't recommended for infants under 1 year. After age 6 months, start feeding your baby iron-fortified cereals or pureed meats at least twice a day to boost iron intake.

When the body does not have enough iron, it cannot produce enough haemoglobin, leading to a decrease in the number of red blood cells. Studies on the role of iron in AA have shown a discrepancy in the results between females and males. There is a need for placebo-controlled clinical trials evaluating iron supplementation in the treatment of AA. Most studies on zinc have revealed lower serum levels in AA patients than in controls. Biotin deficiency causes hair loss, but there are no evidence-based data that supplementing biotin promotes hair growth. Moreover, exogenous biotin interferes with some laboratory tests, creating false negative or false positive results.

In addition, Forghani et al. identified novel nonsense mutations in the VDR gene in two patients that resulted in hereditary vitamin D-resistant rickets and alopecia [65]. In a case documented in 1979, a 28-year-old woman undergoing renal dialysis noticed sudden hair loss. Further investigation revealed that she had been taking a daily vitamin A supplement (5000 IU) and that her vitamin A serum levels were well above normal (140 μg/dL).

If this indicates a deficiency, it’s worth going to your GP for a full blood count which includes haemoglobin and other red blood cell measurements. This study owns its value because it demonstrates the first direct comparison between hair loss patients and same number of healthy controls matched by age and sex. It strongly supports the previous studies that ID can be a certain factor of developing or worsening FPHL especially in premenopausal female patients. However, screening for ID as the first evaluation of hair loss in even male patients might be worthwhile in the clinical field. The recommended dietary allowance for selenium is 55 μg daily for individuals aged ≥ 14 years in U.S. populations. The availability of selenium in a variety of foods, such as meat, vegetables, and nuts, are sufficient to meet the daily requirement [120].

For people who prefer to get nutrients from plant-based sources, legumes and leafy greens like kale, broccoli, and collards are a great way to get iron. You’ll also find grocery store shelves lined with iron-fortified foods, including cereal, bread, and pasta. You’ve probably heard of iron deficiency––or maybe even had it yourself.

Indeed, people with iron deficiency anemia are six times more likely to have restless leg syndrome than the general population. A sore, swollen, or strangely smooth tongue may be a sign of iron deficiency anemia, as are cracks on the corners of your mouth. In cases of iron deficiency, your heart has to work especially hard to transport oxygen.

53 Blonde Highlight Styles From Sun-Kissed to Bold Streaks

Table Of Content

• Blonde Balayage Highlights with Chunky Lowlights
• #39. Dark Brown with Enchanting Sea Green Streaks
• Elevate Self Assurance with Nails: Boosting Confidence and Style
• Sandy Brown Hair with Blonde Highlights
• Dimensional Waves with Subtle Blonde Balayage

She went for chocolate brown with a reddish tint in the front, combined with a very pale, almost whiteish-blonde ombre. Your hairstylist will obtain these by actually using a razor blade. Not only does this idea have bronde in it, a combination of brown and blonde, but it also proposes we mix bronde with a bit of beige blonde.

Blonde Balayage Highlights with Chunky Lowlights

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This dark brown to blonde balayage is the perfect look for a modern take on blonde locks, giving a glamorous insta-worthy look. If you’re a brunette looking to add brightness to your hair, try asking for a warm blonde. A transitional color between your dark and light colors will add warmth.

#39. Dark Brown with Enchanting Sea Green Streaks

Just ask the array of Hollywood's finest that's donned the look from candid paparazzi shots to every red carpet and runway in between. We reached out to Richards and celeb colorist George Papanikolas for more insight on the the most popular hair choice of all time. Here’s a great way to do it – get blonde highlights in a similar tone as your hair to add texture to your brunette locks. If you have dark brown hair, go for some dirty blonde highlights. For medium blonde hair, add gold, honey, or strawberry highlights. Champagne and platinum highlights look great on light brown hair.

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This coloring option also works wonderfully with protective styles like goddess locs, knotless braids or any style that requires hair extensions. Before braiding hair, pick up extensions with an ashy toned ombré that’ll tie into the hair, giving it a multi-dimensional balayage look. If you’re a seasoned box dye user, you can DIY ombré strands with the L’Oréal Paris Colorista Bleach in Ombré Bleach. The kit includes an applicator brush to evenly distribute the bleach onto your hair for a high-contrast gradient of dark to light color.

#25: Very Dark Brown with Platinum Blonde Highlights

This is only available for the shades of blonde, which it is preferable to adopt when the “snowdrops” from your hair multiply. You might not think to pair coral with dark brown, but let’s face it – this is a dynamic duo that’s downright whimsical. If you want to add a touch of youthfulness and playfulness to your dark brown base, consider some fun coral accents. But if you want to add more regalness and fantasy to your strands, consider going with emerald streaks. Emerald streaks are known for adding a pop of color and sophistication that’s sure to be the talk of the town. If you want to achieve a blonde feel without fully covering your natural shade, ask your colorist for a money piece.

Sandy Brown Hair with Blonde Highlights

Still, another added benefit they tend to have is protecting and maintaining the color, making them color-safe. However, excessive use or leaving the shampoo on for too long can lead to over-depositing of color, resulting in an unnatural or uneven hue. She says it's essential to follow the instructions provided with the product and monitor the results to achieve the desired effect without damaging the hair. The duration of the color deposited by these shampoos depends on factors such as frequency of use, the hair's porosity, and the shampoo's specific formulation. Generally, the color will gradually fade with each wash, so regular use is often necessary to maintain the desired tone, says Benson. According to O’Connor, blue shampoo is a color-depositing or toning shampoo that can help counteract unwanted orange and brassy tones in your hair.

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Adding berry undertones to your dark brown locks is the perfect way to jazz things up without going too bold. The blend is seamless, and natural-looking yet adds much-needed contrast to your mane. No, it’s a hot new trend that’s taken the hairstyling world by storm.

Dimensional Waves with Subtle Blonde Balayage

"You need to be careful of this because you want it to look like beach hair," Brown says. Have your colorist frame the face with pale blonde pieces, then carefully place pale blonde all over for a piecey dimension. "Make sure there is a smooth transition from dark to light." For blonde highlights that enhance your natural color, try a classic ombré style. The contrast of two opposing colors somehow works together for a look that boasts a little bit of personality without going overboard. Like your Holy Grail foundation, these all-over blonde highlights provide full coverage for your classic brown strands.

Light Brown Hair with Honey Blonde Highlights

According to hair colorist and Matrix brand ambassador George Papanikolas, brown hair has the benefit of being the broadest and most versatile range. “Dark brown hair can look good with caramel, hazelnut, mocha, golden, or baby blonde highlights,” Papanikolas says. This is the perfect option if you’re wanting a subtle change. The subtle pops of blonde pairs perfectly with the long layers and tousled waves.

You can always add some sweet bangs to your brown and blonde highlights for a completely new look. To simultaneously contour your highlights and your natural features, go for some side-swept bangs. Follow Shay Mitchell's lead and ask your colorist for a few cool-tone babylights throughout your mid-lengths and ends. They can work on hair of all lengths, just remember that in case you're thinking about going shorter, do so before your color appointment. Your colorist considers your cut before deciding where to place highlights. This tousled mane of hair makes the most of its natural thickness.

Slightly lighter than brass but just as cute, copper blonde will give a metallic tint to your brown hair that is so in demand right now. We’re back to the coffee metaphors because brown hair coupled with blonde highlights resembles this beverage so much that we cannot help ourselves. This latter is a process through which both highlights and lowlights are added to darker hair so as to make it look a lot more natural. If you have gray hairs and opt for highlights, you will be able to dye your hair less often because the highlights are intertwined with your grey hairs.

35 Blonde Highlights on Brown Hair Color Ideas

Table Of Content

• What is purple shampoo?
• Brown Hair With Blonde Highlights Ideas to Show to Your Colorist
• These 60 Sexy Brunette Balayage Hairstyles Are The Ultimate Confidence Boosters
• Snail Secretion Filtrate: A Dive into Innovative Skincare
• Medium Brown Hair with Blonde Highlights
• Cool Ash Brown

A dark brown with beach blonde highlights is perfect for women with a naturally darker base than normal blondes. It gives a natural but contrasted result that looks bright with loads of dimension. Style with waves for beautiful reflection as light hits the hair. Dark brown hair can often look flat and lifeless if there’s no other color to it. However, these bright golden blonde highlights ensure that that’s not the case with this hair.

What is purple shampoo?

We hope you enjoyed going through this extensive list of 40 eye-catching styles to rock brown hair with blonde highlights. This article has shared everything you need to know about blonde highlights for brown hair and all the things you need to be mindful of before getting them. Once you apply color to your hair, it only adds to your hair care routine.

Brown Hair With Blonde Highlights Ideas to Show to Your Colorist

The darker roots add depth, while the platinum pieces create a sense of texture and movement. This style works well with petite facial features, as the short cut can help to accentuate the eyes and cheekbones. These luscious brunette curls are perfectly tousled, with caramel streaks that enhance the hair’s natural texture.

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Finish your service with a color melt for a low-maintenance blended color. This is a more natural look with the ombre coloring and choice of a more natural blonde shade. The dark roots help to accentuate the shadow effect for depth. An epitome of winter, this icy blonde hints back to a certain popular Disney princess. This shade of blonde is the perfect fit for a wintry backdrop complete with snow and hot chocolate!

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Brown to Blonde Ombre Balayage with Bouncy Waves

Below, we are sharing a gallery of some inspiring hues to try and some of our go-to hair color maintenance tips for your new highlights. These barely-there pieces brighten  up dark locks just so, and they’re a low commitment look. To create the most flattering hue, a stylist will mix a concoction of honey and reddish blonde dyes to make your ringlets shine, as seen on Jaz Sinclair. Auburn layers with caramel highlights gently frame the face in this carefree hairstyle. Long, loose waves flow into a gradient of color, showcasing a beautiful sombre (soft ombre) effect that’s lighter at the ends. This style captures the essence of summer with a cool, tousled, laid-back vibe.

Dimensional Waves with Subtle Blonde Balayage

This is a particularly cute hairstyle for girls who want short blonde hair due to its bouncy and playful look. Of course, there’s more than one option when it comes to dark brown hair with blonde highlights. Whether you plan to DIY your lightened hair or head to the salon, consider the below for inspo. From the smooth coffee blend to strawberry blonde highlights, here is something for all. So check out the infographic below and bookmark these 7 alluring blonde highlight hairstyles that will be perfect for your brown locks.

For women who want a high-contrast color, try a blonde balayage on dark hair. Hair painting can control the areas where you want to show more brightness. If you want a more white-blonde color to blend with your natural hair, try a platinum balayage on dark hair.

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The subtle winter blonde babylights add some oomph to the look. There are endless shade options and the best color highlights for dark brown hair will depend on your preference. Yes, color-depositing shampoos can work on natural and dyed hair. However, you must use the right tone for your hair, says O’Connor. A silver-blonde balisage looks gorgeous on dark brown hair! Yes, the struggle is real when choosing a light color, but the final result is spectacular.

Cool Ash Brown

To help narrow it down for you, we turned to two hair colorists for their advice when putting highlights on dark brown hair. Alysa Pace is a hairstylist and colorist at Bomane Salon in Beverly Hills. She created this dark brunette color with subtle light brown highlights. Want your lights for dark brown hair to be front and center?

If you want even more contrast out of your red and blonde highlights mix, then go for burgundy! This combo looks especially radiant on dark brown hair, so keep it in mind if this is the case with you. You’ll often see red and blonde highlights paired together. One of the reasons for this is that, when applied to dark brown hair, they provide it a rich burgundy shine.

Wasabi also created this auburn color melt, which we love, since dark brunette is usually highlighted with gold tones. Even though this deep red is more typical of Autumn, we think the glossy red highlights work perfectly for summer, too. If you want to give blonde hair a try, rooted blonde highlights are the way to go.

You can do highlights every other touch-up so you don’t get over blonde. Touch-ups will be every 3-5 weeks depending on your natural grow-out color. Elevate your long, dark locks with a couple of strategically placed baby-lights. We adore the way the light ricochets off these itsy, bitsy honey blonde highlights.

Subtlety, on the other hand, is a key aspect for other women. Gigi Hadid, supermodel and major beauty muse, prefers to use blonde highlights to add a touch of shine to her light brown hair and get that natural look. What makes blonde highlights even more delightful is that they work well with streaks in other colors too.