Abstract :
Context: Iron deficiency leads to disruption of hair follicle as elemental Iron is involved in various physiological processes within the hair follicle.
Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate if a correlation exists between decreased serum ferritin levels and the most common causes of diffuse hair fall.’
Setting and Design: This was a cross sectional study conducted at a teaching hospital and research center.
Materials and Methods: 60 female patients aged between 15-45 years complaining of diffuse hair loss are taken into consideration.
Results: A significant correlation was found between decreased body iron stores (as measured by serum ferritin levels) and diffuse hair loss. 65% of the subjects were found to be in iron deficient state, 20% in iron depleted state, 8.33% with adequate serum ferritin levels but lower than the required for normal hair cycle, and 3.66% with normal ferritin levels.
Conclusion: Diffuse hair loss was found to be associated with significantly decreased serum ferritin levels.
Keyword :
Diffuse hair loss, Serum ferritin, Iron deficiency.