Ferritin face - signs of low iron, or viral skin trend?

What is ferritin, and how is it different to iron?

Iron and ferritin work together to support your body’s ability to transport oxygen and maintain healthy red blood cells.

Dr Lamia Zafrani, an award-winning consultant gynaecologist, explains that ferritin is a protein that stores iron in your body. It helps to regulate the amount of iron in your blood, so levels don’t fall too low or rise too high.

Measuring ferritin levels through a blood test can give a snapshot insight of your iron stores, rather than simply measuring the iron circulating in your bloodstream.

“That distinction matters," she says. "Because iron underpins oxygen transport around your body, energy production, concentration, exercise capacity, and healthy hair and nails."

Dr Lamia Zafrani

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Who is most affected by changes in ferritin levels?

Iron deficiency is more common in women, due to biological and physiological factors that can lead to low ferritin.

“For women specifically, menstruation means a steady monthly loss of iron that men simply don’t have, so reserves are more easily run down,” says Zafrani.

“It becomes particularly relevant in the perimenopausal years, when periods can often become heavier and sometimes more sporadic. I regularly see iron stores depleted in otherwise fit and healthy women.”

Zafrani adds that after menopause, although monthly losses stop, iron stores that may have been run down over the years can remain low. Any new iron deficiency at this stage deserves proper investigation rather than being brushed off.

What are the signs and negative effects of low ferritin?

From a dermatological perspective, signs of low iron are often visible in your skin, hair, and nails.

Consultant dermatologist, Dr Sidra Khan explains that when iron runs low, your complexion can turn pale and dull, and your skin may feel drier than usual.

��The most striking change tends to be your hair,” she says. “This is because low iron can push more of it into a shedding phase, so people notice it coming out in the brush or shower and any existing thinning can speed up. Your nails often suffer too, becoming weak, ridged, and prone to breaking.”

Dr Sidra Khan

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Khan adds that your face can also show you clues.

She notes: “A telltale sign is paleness in your lips and the delicate skin just inside your lower eyelid, which loses its usual healthy pink, often alongside a washed-out look and darker shadows under your eyes.”

Khan emphasises that if you are noticing more hair shedding - or a change in your skin, on top of feeling tired - it’s worth asking your doctor to check your iron levels, rather than reaching for a new hair or skin product.

How to boost your ferritin levels

Zafrani highlights that what you eat can influence your body’s iron levels. She shares some simple steps you can take to help raise your ferritin.

“Start with your diet, drawing iron from both animal sources, where red meat is the most readily absorbed form, and plant sources such as pulses, leafy greens, and fortified cereals,” she suggests.

“A simple trick that genuinely helps, is to pair iron-rich foods with a source of vitamin C, which boosts absorption, while keeping tea and coffee away from mealtimes, as they hinder it.”

If you have heavy periods, getting them assessed and managed by a medical professional can do more to support your iron levels more than taking supplements ever could.

Zafrani cautions that if you do need iron tablets, take them under guidance.

“More isn’t always better,” she says. “The aim is to refill the tank steadily and then keep it topped up - not to megadose and hope.”

What to do if you’re worried

If you suspect you’re showing symptoms of low iron, Zafrani advises the first step is seeing your doctor - and specifically asking for a ferritin test, alongside a full blood count.

She cautions that rather than guessing or reaching straight for over-the-counter supplements, it’s important to first establish what your body needs. Taking iron unnecessarily isn’t harmless.

“The cause needs identifying, not simply the number corrected," she says. "In people who are menstruating, that is most often heavy periods, which are very treatable, and tranexamic acid is often prescribed to reduce blood loss during a period.”

The gynaecologist adds that people taking prescription iron, such as ferrous fumarate, may still see their monthly blood loss outpacing the iron they are taking in. This will mean their ferritin stays low.

“If you’re postmenopausal, unexplained iron deficiency should always be investigated,” Zafrani advises. “It can occasionally be the first sign of something in the gut that needs ruling out. It’s important to treat the why - not just the result.”

Positives to draw from ‘ferritin face’

The rise of ‘ferritin face’ on social media has had some positive effects. Increasing awareness around symptoms of low iron and ferritin can help to give people the confidence to ask questions, and take their symptoms more seriously.

However, not seeing a doctor can lead to an incorrect self-diagnosis.

Looks alone can’t diagnose that you have low ferritin. Blood tests matter to help determine the cause, and potential treatment. So, if you don’t feel right, arrange to speak with your doctor.