Wrinkles, dark under-eye circles, and dull skin? They could be signs of something more than skin deep.
From “monster” sheds to the prehistoric “caveman” ritual, nicknames for skin issues and care routines run the gamut.
But “ferritin face,” the latest viral trend, could be signaling low levels of an essential mineral that doesn’t always show up in blood tests.
A common problem for 1 in 3 adults, iron deficiency can happen in two ways — either there’s sufficient iron stored up in the body but insufficient availability, or there’s a severe reduction of iron stored up.
The latter has been making the rounds on social media, with people dubbing their pale, washed-out skin, dull lips and dark under-eye circles as “ferritin face.”
“I looked literally half dead,” one woman posted about the effect of her ferritin level on her face, while another wrote, “Low iron is looking like this even after 10 hours of sleep and being asked if you’re ok 24/7.”
While not a medical diagnosis, “ferritin face” could be a sign of low iron storage, or low ferritin levels, a reflection how much iron your body has in storage.
Low iron levels can show up in a multitude of ways, including fatigue, cold extremities, chest pain, loss of appetite, shortness of breath and more.
A lower-than-normal level of ferritin could also result in increased hair shedding, brittle nails, cracked heels and other symptoms similar to iron deficiency.
Iron deficiency also affects more women, with a 2024 report from JAMA Open Network finding that 34% of women ages 18 to 50 are iron deficient.
Dr. Tania Elliot, a board-certified internal medicine specialist, pointed out in an Instagram video that many women may be experiencing changes in their appearance without realizing they have low ferritin for two reasons.
“One, you have to ask to have a ferritin level checked because most doctors don’t usually do it,” Elliot said in the video.
“And two, your ferritin level can look like it’s in the ‘normal’ reference range and not be flagged by your doctor, even when it’s still causing these symptoms,” she added.
Ferritin levels usually fall between 20 to 200 nanograms per milliliter for women and 20 to 500 nanograms per milliliter for men.
A ferritin test is typically ordered if a complete blood count shows low hemoglobin levels, if there are low iron symptoms or if you’re at risk for iron deficiency due to pregnancy, heavy menstrual bleeding or certain health conditions.
Iron is a building block for hemoglobin, a protein in blood required for the production of the red blood cells that deliver oxygen throughout our bodies.
This mineral is also necessary for healthy skeletal and cardiac muscle function, hair growth and making brain chemicals like dopamine and serotonin.
