Iron for Telogen Effluvium

Q: Does Iron help with Telogen Effluvium?

Based on 62 studies with 11,072 participants, there is moderate evidence from clinical studies that Iron may support Telogen Effluvium management. Our evidence grade is B (Good Evidence).

Q: How much Iron should I take for Telogen Effluvium?

Studies have used various dosages. A commonly studied range is 18 mg/day (women). Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement regimen.

Q: Are there side effects of Iron?

Reported side effects may include Constipation (most common), Nausea and stomach cramps, Dark or black stools, Iron overload with excessive supplementation (hemochromatosis risk). Most side effects are mild and dose-dependent. Consult your doctor if you experience any adverse reactions.

Q: How strong is the evidence for Iron and Telogen Effluvium?

We rate the evidence as Grade B (Good Evidence). This rating is based on 62 peer-reviewed studies with 11,072 total participants. The overall direction of effect is mixed.

Based on 62 studies (2 RCTs) with 11,072 total participants. Results are mixed across studies.

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The Bottom Line

Iron may support recovery from telogen effluvium, particularly when low ferritin levels are confirmed, but the evidence is mixed and routine supplementation without testing is not well-supported.

56 studies provide substantial evidence, though results are mixed across the research
Lower ferritin levels are commonly found in patients with telogen effluvium
One study found iron supplementation improved satisfaction even in patients without overtly low ferritin
Blood testing for ferritin and iron levels is recommended before starting supplementation

Key Study Findings

Review

Androgenetic Alopecia in Women: A Narrative Review of Pathophysiology, Clinical Evaluation, and Treatments.

Dose: None vs: None Outcome: None Effect: None None

Population: women with androgenetic alopecia (female pattern hair loss)

scoping_review n=16

A Scoping Review of Exosome Delivery Applications in Hair Loss.

Dose: variable; exosomes predominantly from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) vs: Placebo Effect: None None

Review

Research progress in the treatment of non-scarring alopecia: mechanism and treatment.

Dose: None vs: Placebo Effect: None None

Retrospective cohort n=2851

Retrospective Review of 2851 Female Patients With Telogen Effluvium: A Single-Center Experience.

Dose: None vs: Placebo Effect: Ferritin low in 46.5% of patients; iron deficiency in 29.5% p<0.05

review

The role of microtrauma in hair regrowth and regeneration in non-scarring alopecia.

Dose: Various microtrauma procedures: microneedling, fractional/non-fractional lasers, contact immunothera vs: Placebo Effect: Positive outcomes reported for hair density and thickness with microneedling, lasers, LLLT, and PRP None

Review

Comprehensive Review on Hair Loss and Restorative Techniques: Advances in Diagnostic, Artistry, and Surgical Innovation.

Dose: None vs: Placebo Effect: None None

Key Statistics

Studies

11072

Participants

↔

Mixed

Grade

Referenced Papers

Androgenetic Alopecia in Women: A Narrative Review of Pathophysiology, Clinical Evaluation, and Treatments. Review

American journal of … 2026

Comparative Analysis of Postoperative Hair Loss and Micronutrient Deficiencies After One-Anastomosis Gastric Bypass Versus Sleeve Gastrectomy. Other

Obesity surgery 2026

A Scoping Review of Exosome Delivery Applications in Hair Loss. Review

Cureus 2025 7 citations

Retrospective Review of 2851 Female Patients With Telogen Effluvium: A Single-Center Experience. Other

Journal of cosmetic … 2025 4 citations

Safety First: A Comprehensive Review of Nutritional Supplements for Hair Loss in Breast Cancer Patients. Review

Nutrients 2025 2 citations

Comprehensive Review on Hair Loss and Restorative Techniques: Advances in Diagnostic, Artistry, and Surgical Innovation. Review

Cureus 2025 2 citations

Technological Advances in Anti-hair Loss and Hair Regrowth Cosmeceuticals: Mechanistic Breakthroughs and Industrial Prospects Driven by Multidisciplinary Collaborative Innovation. Review

Aesthetic plastic surgery 2025 2 citations

Research progress in the treatment of non-scarring alopecia: mechanism and treatment. Review

Frontiers in pharmacology 2025 2 citations

The role of microtrauma in hair regrowth and regeneration in non-scarring alopecia. Review

Italian journal of … 2025

Addressing the Root Causes of Female Hair Loss and Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions. Review

Journal of drugs … 2025

Telogen Effluvium Following Coronavirus Disease-2019 Infection: A Retrospective Study of 113 Cases. Other

International journal of … 2025

Assessment of Serum Ferritin Levels in Female Patients With Telogen Effluvium. Other

Cureus 2025

The Hormonal Background of Hair Loss in Non-Scarring Alopecias. Review

Biomedicines 2024 17 citations

A comprehensive investigation of biochemical status in patients with telogen effluvium: Analysis of Hb, ferritin, vitamin B12, vitamin D, thyroid … Other

Journal of cosmetic … 2024 7 citations

Panax notoginseng saponins loaded W/O microemulsion for alopecia therapy with panthenol as cosurfactant to reduce skin irritation. Other

International journal of … 2024 6 citations

Post Covid telogen effluvium: the diagnostic value of serum ferritin biomarker and the preventive value of dietary supplements. a case … Other

Archives of dermatological … 2024 5 citations

Iron Supplementation May Improve the Patient's Level of Satisfaction in Not-Low-Ferritin Telogen Effluvium: A Real-Life Observational Study. Other

Indian journal of … 2024 4 citations

Resveratrol-Loaded Versatile Nanovesicle for Alopecia Therapy via Comprehensive Strategies. Other

International journal of … 2024 3 citations

Cost-effectiveness analysis of laboratory monitoring in newly diagnosed telogen effluvium patients. Other

Archives of dermatological … 2024 1 citations

Evaluation of the relationship of digital phototrichogram findings of patients with diffuse hair loss with blood TSH, ferritin and vitamin … Other

Northern clinics of … 2024 1 citations

Efficacy and tolerability of an oral supplement containing amino acids, iron, selenium, and marine hydrolyzed collagen in subjects with hair … RCT

Skin research and … 2023 11 citations

Etiology, management, and outcomes of pediatric telogen effluvium: A single-center study in the United States. Other

Pediatric dermatology 2023 9 citations

"Shedding" low yield testing for telogen effluvium: A cross-sectional study of 16,381 laboratory results from newly diagnosed patients. Other

Journal of the … 2023 5 citations

Micronutrient Deficiencies and Digital Computerized Phototrichogram Analysis in Telogen Effluvium: a Retrospective Correlation Study in a Tertiary Medical Center. Other

Dermatology practical & … 2023 4 citations

Oral supplementation in female telogen effluvium: a clinical and instrumental objective evidence of efficacy and tolerability of new oral cosmetic … Other

Italian journal of … 2023 3 citations

Telogen effluvium in daily practice: Patient characteristics, laboratory parameters, and treatment modalities of 3028 patients with telogen effluvium. Other

Journal of cosmetic … 2022 22 citations

Nonscarring scalp alopecia: Which laboratory analysis should we perform on whom? Other

Turkish journal of … 2022 8 citations

Evaluation of MCV/RDW Ratio and Correlations With Ferritin in Telogen Effluvium Patients. Other

Dermatology practical & … 2022 6 citations

Supplementation and hair growth: A retrospective chart review of patients with alopecia and laboratory abnormalities. Other

JAAD international 2022 6 citations

The Association of Serum Ferritin Levels With Non-scarring Alopecia in Women. Other

Cureus 2022 3 citations

Laboratory Testing in Telogen Effluvium. Other

Journal of drugs … 2021 3 citations

NonScarring Diffuse Hair Loss in Women: a Clinico-Etiological Study from tertiary care center in North-West India. Observational

Journal of cosmetic … 2019 25 citations

Female pattern hair loss: a pilot study investigating combination therapy with low-dose oral minoxidil and spironolactone. Observational

International journal of … 2018 142 citations

Comparative evaluation between two nutritional supplements in the improvement of telogen effluvium. Other

Clinical, cosmetic and … 2018 16 citations

Assessment of Heavy Metal and Trace Element Levels in Patients with Telogen Effluvium. Other

Indian journal of … 2018 14 citations

Prevalence of Nutritional Deficiencies in Hair Loss among Indian Participants: Results of a Cross-sectional Study. Other

International journal of … 2017 43 citations

Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies in Patients With Telogen Effluvium: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study. Other

Journal of drugs … 2016 56 citations

Female Pattern Hair Loss: A Retrospective Study in a Tertiary Referral Center. Other

International journal of … 2016 28 citations

Clinicoepidemiological Observational Study of Acquired Alopecias in Females Correlating with Anemia and Thyroid Function. Other

Dermatology research and … 2016 26 citations

Non-invasive method distinguishes chronic telogen effluvium from mild female pattern hair loss: clinicopathological correlation. Other

International journal of … 2016 6 citations

Trichotillomania: Bizzare Patern of Hair Loss at 11-Year-old Girl. Case Report

Acta dermatovenerologica Croatica … 2016 6 citations

Telogen Effluvium: A Review. Review

Journal of clinical … 2015 190 citations

Selected Disorders of Skin Appendages--Acne, Alopecia, Hyperhidrosis. Review

The Medical clinics … 2015 66 citations

A Hospital-based Study to Determine Causes of Diffuse Hair Loss in Women. Other

Journal of clinical … 2015 41 citations

Possible Relationship between Chronic Telogen Effluvium and Changes in Lead, Cadmium, Zinc, and Iron Total Blood Levels in Females: A … Other

International journal of … 2015 18 citations

Hair loss in women. Review

Clinical obstetrics and … 2015 9 citations

Acute telogen effluvium onset event is associated with the presence of female androgenetic alopecia: potential therapeutic implications. Other

Dermatologic therapy 2014 13 citations

Use of Vitamins and Minerals in the Treatment of Hair Loss: A Cross-Sectional Survey among Dermatologists in Saudi Arabia. Other

Journal of cutaneous … 2014 10 citations

Is TrichoScan a new diagnostic method for diffuse hair loss? Other

Turkish journal of … 2014 5 citations

Telogen effluvium as the first symptom of Crohn's disease in a child. Case Report

Annals of gastroenterology 2014 5 citations

Serum ferritin and vitamin d in female hair loss: do they play a role? Other

Skin pharmacology and … 2013 127 citations

Hair loss in children: common and uncommon causes; clinical and epidemiological study in jordan. Other

International journal of … 2013 37 citations

Iron deficiency in female pattern hair loss, chronic telogen effluvium, and control groups. Other

Journal of the … 2010 94 citations

Diffuse hair loss in an adult female: approach to diagnosis and management. Review

Indian journal of … 2009 109 citations

[Effectiveness of the treatment plan for androgenetic alopecia]. Other

Georgian medical news 2007

The diagnosis and treatment of iron deficiency and its potential relationship to hair loss. Review

Journal of the … 2006 255 citations

Medical treatment of noncicatricial alopecia. Review

Seminars in cutaneous … 2006 23 citations

Dermatologic signs in patients with eating disorders. Review

American journal of … 2005 140 citations

Chronic telogen effluvium: a study of 5 patients over 7 years. Case Report

Journal of the … 2005 64 citations

[Androgenetic alopecia]. Review

Revue medicale de … 2004

Decreased serum ferritin is associated with alopecia in women. Other

The Journal of … 2003 222 citations

Causes of hair loss and the developments in hair rejuvenation. Other

International journal of … 2002 95 citations

Management of hair loss in women. Review

Dermatologic clinics 1993 38 citations

Dosage & Usage

mg = milligrams · mcg = micrograms (1,000× smaller) · IU = International Units

Commonly Used Dosages

general:: 18 mg/day (women)
deficiency:: 65-200 mg elemental iron/day

Upper limit: 45 mg/day

Dosages Studied in Research

Dosage	Duration	Effect	N
None	--	Neutral	--
variable; exosomes predominantly from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)	--	Positive	16
None	--	Mixed	--
None	--	Neutral	2851
Various microtrauma procedures: microneedling, fractional/non-fractional lasers, contact immunothera	--	Positive	--
None	--	Positive	--
not applicable (observational; serum ferritin measured)	--	Negative	100
None	--	Mixed	--

Best taken: On an empty stomach with vitamin C for best absorption; take 2 hours apart from calcium

Safety & Side Effects

Reported Side Effects

⚠ Constipation (most common)
⚠ Nausea and stomach cramps
⚠ Dark or black stools
⚠ Iron overload with excessive supplementation (hemochromatosis risk)

Known Interactions

● Calcium supplements and dairy (reduce iron absorption by 50-60%)
● Proton pump inhibitors (omeprazole) and H2 blockers reduce absorption
● Tetracycline and quinolone antibiotics (mutual absorption reduction)
● Levothyroxine (iron reduces thyroid hormone absorption)

Tolerable upper intake: 45 mg/day

Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Iron help with Telogen Effluvium?

Based on 62 studies with 11,072 participants, there is moderate evidence from clinical studies that Iron may support Telogen Effluvium management. Our evidence grade is B (Good Evidence).

How much Iron should I take for Telogen Effluvium?

Studies have used various dosages. A commonly studied range is 18 mg/day (women). Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement regimen.

Are there side effects of Iron?

Reported side effects may include Constipation (most common), Nausea and stomach cramps, Dark or black stools, Iron overload with excessive supplementation (hemochromatosis risk). Most side effects are mild and dose-dependent. Consult your doctor if you experience any adverse reactions.

How strong is the evidence for Iron and Telogen Effluvium?

We rate the evidence as Grade B (Good Evidence). This rating is based on 62 peer-reviewed studies with 11,072 total participants. The overall direction of effect is mixed.

Related Evidence

Other ingredients for Telogen Effluvium

Minoxidil A Black Seed Oil A Viviscal A Keratin B Omega-3 Fatty Acids B Folate B

Iron for other conditions

Iron Deficiency Hair Loss A Postpartum Hair Loss D

Quick Verdict

Based on 62 studies (2 RCTs) with 11,072 total participants. Results are mixed across studies.

Evidence Strength72%

High confidence

Study Breakdown

RCT (1)Meta (0)Other (61)

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FDA Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The products and information on this website are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The evidence grades presented are based on our analysis of published peer-reviewed research and do not constitute medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement regimen.