What Is Ferritin Face? The TikTok Trend’s Link to Anemia, Explained

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Why Ferritin Face May Suggest Anemia

Doctors agree that the signs of ferritin face parallel the outward signs of anemia.

“Anemia is a condition when the body lacks enough red blood cells, resulting in your body’s essential organs not receiving enough oxygen,” says Raffi Karagozian, MD, a hepatologist and gastroenterologist at Tufts Medical Center in Boston. “One of the most common causes of anemia is low iron.”

“Anemia can show several manifestations on the skin,” says Gary Goldenberg, MD, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.

“Skin can lose its warm appearance and can look pale or gray-ish, depending on baseline skin tone,” he says. The dark under-eye circles happen because skin in this area is usually thinner than in other areas of the body, Dr. Goldenberg explains. Coupled with lower levels of hemoglobin, an iron-rich protein in red blood cells that gives blood its color, this can lead to the appearance of dark circles.

A dull skin complexion is the result of reduced oxygen being delivered to the skin, coupled with slower skin cell turnover, he adds. Brittle nails, thinning hair, and painful cracks at the corners of the mouth can signal anemia, too, Dr. Karagozian says.

Blood Testing Is Still Needed to Confirm an Anemia Diagnosis

While they may share certain physical symptoms, “ferritin face” cannot diagnose anemia. “These visual symptoms can occur with a variety of medical conditions,” Karagozian says. “It is important to confirm anemia by blood test.”

Several blood tests can be given to check iron levels and diagnose anemia. Those include:

  • Serum iron test, which measures the amount of iron in the blood;
  • Transferrin test, which measures a protein that moves iron through the body;
  • Total iron-binding capacity, which measures how well iron attaches to certain proteins in the blood;
  • Ferritin blood test, which measures how much iron is stored in the body

Anemia Could Indicate a More Serious Underlying Condition

About three million people in the United States have anemia. The condition is more common in women, impacting about 23 percent of females ages 12 to 49.

Anemia can lead to a range of symptoms, including fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness and headaches. “It eventually can cause excessive stress on essential organs,” Dr. Karagozian says.

Mild anemia is common and treatable, and is often linked to diet. In certain cases, anemia can be a symptom of a more serious health condition, such as an autoimmune disease, stomach bleeding, or cancer, making it an important health signal.

Untreated anemia can raise the risk of several health complications, including irregular heartbeat, an enlarged heart, heart failure, infections and pregnancy complications.

How to Treat Low Iron, According to Doctors

Treatment often depends on the cause of low iron, specifically whether a person is losing excess iron or having difficulty absorbing iron, along with the severity of their iron deficiency, Karagozian says. Treatments can include:

  • Dietary Changes Healthcare providers recommend increasing the amount of iron-rich foods in your diet, as well as foods that contain vitamin B12, which supports iron’s role in building healthy blood cells.
  • Oral Supplements Doctors may prescribe iron supplements to increase iron levels in the body or vitamin B12 supplements to treat vitamin B12–deficiency anemia.
  • IV Iron This is used in “more severe cases” of anemia, Karagozian says
While less common, some people may need a blood transfusion, blood and bone marrow transplant, or surgery.

“My strongest recommendation if you observe any of these visual signs is to promptly see a healthcare provider for a thorough evaluation, including a blood test,” Komorowski says.