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Do You Have ‘Ferritin Face’? Here’s What It Looks Like and What to Do About It.

Dark circles, pale skin, and fatigue may accompany low ferritin, but a doctor says only blood testing can confirm an iron deficiency.

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The internet has a name for everything today, including physical signs of health conditions like high cortisol (“cortisol belly”) and, in this case, low ferritin (“ferritin face”).

Many people self-diagnose low ferritin based on appearance alone. They see dull skin and dark circles under their eyes and immediately assume it’s related to low iron levels. But is this actually the case?

I spoke with a doctor about “ferritin face” and the actual diagnostic tools used to identify low ferritin.

What Is ‘Ferritin Face’?

Ferritin face refers to the appearance of someone experiencing low ferritin levels. It often presents as dull skin, dark eye circles, and an overall look of exhaustion. 

“‘Ferritin face’ is just another trend on social media,” says Dr. Stephen Cosentino, CEO and Founder and Medical Director at Empire Medical Training. “There is some basis for the trend since iron deficiency, especially when it leads to iron deficiency anemia, can affect the hemoglobin levels, resulting in lack........

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