Can Iron deficency cause serious hair loss? I am severely anemic and having alot of hair fall out could it be because of that? I am postpartum and taking birth control. Are all these things combined going to make me go bald? ???

I doubt you are going bald, but I understand how you feel.  Here's a (((((((( HUG))))))))) for you.

Yes, iron deficiencies can cause hair loss.  A change in hormones (being postpartum) most certainly can cause hair loss, along with stress.

Thyroid problems can also cause significant hair loss.  If you have not seen your doctor about your hair loss and anemia, I would recommend seeing one soon.

I hope  things turn around for you soon.

It sounds like you're going through a tough time. When your body is stressed, it takes a while to get back on track - and if I remember correctly, you are currently breast-feeding - another source of stress.

Didn't you say in another post that you were worried about the birth control causing hair loss? Has anything happened regarding that? I would go see your doctor, make sure you're taking iron supplements and some good multi-vitamins, and give your body another 6 months to adapt. Have you decided how long you want to breast-feed?

Hugs,
Kate

I'm anemic too... and my hair loss is normally horrendous. But since I've been taking a generic multivitamin with iron, my hair has fallen out slightly less. It's just a normal, Costco brand of multivitamin they compare to Centrum.  

Best of luck, Candylipsgurl.
xoxo
Anais

Anemia has been a problem for me my whole life but  I had long hair, so I guess it is just everything else. I was just concerned that all those things together would cause me to lose alot more hair. I went to the doctor and he said "it just happens" and didnt even offer to give me anything else, or try to find me anything else. I am planning to breastfeed for another 6 months. That is the recommended time, and I want my baby to be healthy so I guess I will just have to lose alot more of my precious hair. I dont have a very good doctor I go to a navy hospital and to tell you the truth they dont do a really good job there. :-/ I am on vitamins and iron I have been my whole life and its not doing anything really. I dont have thyroid problems or anything like that I already had that checked. I guess there is just nothing  I can do. Ill just have to wait it out and be hopefull. :) It will grow back I guess.

Sorry you are so frustrated with all this.  Try to work on eating healthy, take your vitamins, drink lots of fluids, be happy for your baby.  Try to minimize how often you comb/brush your hair.  Be gentle with your hair and try to not worry about your shedding.  I'm sure it will subside soon enough.

Military doctors - my family has had bad experiences with them too, so I can sympathize.  :-/

Hopefully a lot of the shedding is post-partum, where you're only losing the excess hair you grew during your pregnancy. Why don't you add a hair-specific vitamin (unless your other vitamins cover those needs) and just concentrate on taking care of yourself so that you feel good. Try not to think about your hair for a few months, just let it do its thing and let your hormones stabilise.

Here are some virtual cheer-up hugs, I'm thinking of you!
Kate

I have a slight iron deficiency as well which I used to take an iron supplement for, but don't anymore. I can't say whether it made any difference in hair loss however, since I shed alot from poor care anyway and now take much better care of it. I did seem to have more energy while taking the supplement, though.

So I guess I don't really have much to add...like everyone else has said, keep taking your vitamins and taking good care of yourself.

I hope things are going better for you and your hair!  :) ((HUG))
-Cairn-

I just recently discovered I had low iron storage and went from 39 (40 is the lowest normal) to 54 (above 70 is best for hair growth) but it took three months.  

Part of the problem for me is that I don't really eat meat and that is the most absorbable way to get it, the other is dark green leafy veggies, which I also don't eat  ::) I really don't plan for my diet to suck but there it is *groan*.

All of that to say I finally figured out that for me to have a decent level of iron I need to take iron daily.  My really bad hairloss did stop after three months approx.

Hang in there ...gabi