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3 min read<\/p>\n3 min read<\/p>\n
It\u2019s normal to wake up some days looking a little…tired. But a new social media term suggests you might want to get your iron levels checked out the next time you notice pale lips, dark circles, and dull skin\u2014a combo now known online as \u201cferritin face.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not clear exactly who started this trend, but plenty of people are talking about it\u2014and some claim<\/a> that seeking medical attention for their ferritin face even led to a diagnosis and treatment that improved their health.<\/p>\n Of course, it\u2019s fair to have a healthy dose of skepticism around this new term, and healthcare providers say you should. But while ferritin face isn\u2019t an actual medical diagnosis, experts say there may be some truth in what noticing it can do for your health.<\/p>\n Meet the experts: Lisa Moskovitz, RD<\/a>, founder of NY Nutrition Group<\/a> and the author of The Core 3 Healthy Eating Plan; Jessica Cording, RD, CDN<\/a>, author of The Little Book of Game-Changers<\/a>; Joshua Zeichner, MD<\/a>, director of Cosmetic & Clinical Research in Dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital; and Scott Keatley, RD<\/a>, co-owner of Keatley Medical Nutrition Therapy<\/a> in New York City.<\/p>\n What is ferritin face?<\/p>\n Ferritin is a blood protein that stores iron, and healthcare providers may use a ferritin blood test to check your iron levels, per the U.S. National Library of Medicine<\/a>. Ferritin face, as a social media term, describes so-called visual signs of low iron. The suggestion is that when you have ferritin face, you may be struggling with anemia, a condition where your body doesn\u2019t have enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen to your tissues.<\/p>\n There are no exact signs of ferritin face (again: it\u2019s not a medical diagnosis), but symptoms that have been thrown around online include having dull skin, pale lips, dark circles under your eyes, and brittle hair.<\/p>\n Can you physically look like you have low ferritin?<\/p>\n Kind of. \u201cI wouldn’t say there is truly a ferritin face in that you could diagnose iron deficiency by looking at someone’s face,\u201d says Jessica Cording, RD, CDN<\/a>, author of The Little Book of Game-Changers<\/a>. \u201cThat said, there are physical signs that can occur with iron deficiency and iron-deficiency anemia.\u201d<\/p>\n Those range from pale skin to thinning hair, according to Joshua Zeichner, MD<\/a>, director of Cosmetic & Clinical Research in Dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital. \u201cIt can even lead to structural changes in your nails, making them resemble a spoon<\/a>,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n But it\u2019s not just your face and nails you have to think about. \u201cElsewhere in the body, iron deficiency may be associated with hair shedding, cracks at the corners of the mouth, or a sore, smooth tongue,\u201d says Scott Keatley, RD<\/a>, co-owner of Keatley Medical Nutrition Therapy<\/a> in New York City. \u201cMore common clues are not visual: fatigue, weakness, dizziness, headaches, feeling cold, shortness of breath with activity, a rapid heartbeat, restless legs, or cravings for ice or nonfood substances.\u201d<\/p>\n On the other hand, Keatley says it\u2019s also possible for someone to have low ferritin before developing anemia and not show any visible signs.<\/p>\n All that said, you can\u2019t determine whether someone has anemia just by looking at them. \u201cYou cannot diagnose it without a complete blood workup,\u201d says Lisa Moskovitz, RD<\/a>, founder of NY Nutrition Group<\/a> and the author of The Core 3 Healthy Eating Plan. \u201cThere are many reasons why someone might be experiencing a change in complexion, skin brightness, and under-eye circles, such as poor sleep, hormonal changes, diet changes, illness, and stress.\u201d<\/p>\n When to see a healthcare provider<\/p>\n