Media Coverage: Dr Asiya Maula Explains the Truth Behind ‘Ferritin Face’

Dr Asiya Maula, private GP at The Health Suite, has shared expert insight with Grazia into the viral ‘ferritin face’ trend, explaining how low iron stores can affect health and appearance, and why blood tests are more reliable than social media trends.

The term ‘ferritin face’ is gaining attention online to describe a pale, dull or tired-looking complexion, often accompanied by dark under-eye circles. However, Dr Maula highlighted the importance of understanding what ferritin actually measures and why these visible signs alone cannot confirm an iron deficiency.

Understanding ferritin and iron deficiency

Ferritin is a protein that stores iron in the body and releases it when needed. While haemoglobin carries oxygen around the body, ferritin provides an indication of the body’s stored iron.

Dr Maula explained that iron stores can become depleted before haemoglobin levels fall enough to cause anaemia. This means someone may have iron deficiency even when their standard blood count appears normal.

When iron levels become too low, people may experience fatigue, weakness, breathlessness and other symptoms that can affect everyday life.

Can low ferritin affect your appearance?

Although iron deficiency can sometimes cause visible changes, Dr Maula cautioned against relying on facial appearance to identify low ferritin.

She explained that a pale complexion, tired-looking skin and dark circles under the eyes can have several possible causes, including poor sleep, stress, dehydration and other nutritional deficiencies.

“The important message is that low iron can affect someone’s health and sometimes their appearance, but there is no single ‘ferritin face’ look, If someone is concerned about persistent fatigue, hair loss or looking unusually pale, it is better to investigate the underlying cause than to try to diagnose it from photographs or social media videos.”

Dr Maula said.

Her advice highlights the importance of looking beyond viral beauty trends and seeking appropriate medical assessment when symptoms persist.

How to support healthy iron levels

Dr Maula highlighted the role of a balanced diet in supporting healthy iron levels. Iron-rich foods include beans, lentils, chickpeas, tofu, fortified breakfast cereals, leafy green vegetables, nuts and seeds. Meat and shellfish are also sources of dietary iron.

She explained that pairing plant-based iron sources with vitamin C-rich foods, such as citrus fruits, berries, peppers and broccoli, can help the body absorb iron more effectively.

Tea and coffee can reduce iron absorption when consumed alongside meals, so leaving a gap between these drinks and iron-rich foods may be helpful for people looking to improve their iron intake.

However, dietary changes alone may not be sufficient for everyone. Where iron deficiency is suspected, a GP can assess symptoms and arrange appropriate blood tests to establish whether treatment is needed.

Through her contribution to Grazia, Dr Maula reinforces an important message: while social media trends can raise awareness of health concerns, accurate diagnosis depends on medical assessment rather than appearance alone.

Click here to read the complete article “5 Signs You Have ‘Ferritin Face’ – And How To Fix It Immediately According To Doctors” in Grazia.