Doctors Say 'Ferritin Face' Trend Cannot Diagnose Low Iron
Posts on TikTok and Instagram claim that low ferritin, a protein that stores iron in the body, leaves visible clues on the face. Users list pale or grey skin, dark under-eye circles, dry or cracked lips, hair shedding and weak nails. The phrase "ferritin face" has attracted millions of views. Doctors told BBC News that appearance alone cannot diagnose iron deficiency.
"Ferritin face is not a medical diagnosis," said GP Dr Aziza Sesay, based in the West Midlands. "However, it may be a clue to tell us that something is going on." She said pale skin, hair shedding or brittle nails can accompany low iron but can also point to other conditions.
What ferritin shows
Ferritin levels show how good the body's iron stores are, while haemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. Stores can run down before haemoglobin falls, so a person can be iron-deficient and have symptoms without being anaemic. "That's the big disconnect," said consultant haematologist Dr Drew Provan. Dr Sue Pavord, also a consultant haematologist, said iron deficiency is common and often under-diagnosed in women.
Under UK guidelines from the British Society of Gastroenterology, ferritin below 15 micrograms per litre means iron stores are absent, and below 30 generally means they are low.
Provan called it "impossible" to work out ferritin levels from someone's face. Significant anaemia may make a person look pale and fatigue can add to dark circles, he said, but such signs are "subjective and unreliable". Sesay added that colour changes may be less obvious in people with darker skin, so someone looking for the online signs could miss deficiency.
One woman's experience
Lucy M, 32, developed heart palpitations, fatigue and hair loss in 2021. Her blood tests were first described as normal and she was diagnosed with generalised anxiety disorder. A later test showed her ferritin at 12 micrograms per litre. She said she looked "grey" and her hair was dull and brittle, and that the difference after recovery was "night and day". She says social media has helped women take symptoms more seriously.
Sesay called social media a "double-edged sword", since it can prompt people to seek help but also lead them to diagnose themselves from a short video. Provan and Sesay said blood tests are needed to confirm deficiency, find the cause and guide treatment. Heavy periods, low dietary iron, gut blood loss and poor absorption can all play a role. Taking supplements without a diagnosis can be harmful and could delay investigation of an underlying problem.
Source: BBC News