Iron deficiency without anemia common with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis

Medical Xpress / Nutrients ^ | Dec. 23, 2025 | Lori Solomon / Małgorzata Ponikowska et al

[ConservativeMind]

Iron deficiency without anemia is a common feature of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD), according to a study..

Małgorzata Ponikowska and colleagues characterized iron status in patients with AD and examined its relationship with disease severity and quality of life. The analysis included 86 adult patients with moderate-to-severe AD.

The researchers found that abnormalities in circulating iron biomarkers, indicative of iron deficiency, were prevalent in patients with AD: 45% of patients had low transferrin saturation (Tsat; <20%), 37% low ferritin, and 26% reduced serum iron, despite largely normal hemoglobin.

Patients with pro-inflammatory activation (as measured by elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein >5 mg/L) had a pattern characterized by lower iron and Tsat and higher soluble transferrin receptor levels.

Lower serum iron remained associated with worse Dermatology Life Quality Index scores in a multivariable analysis, while higher transferrin was associated with greater disease severity, measured by the Eczema Area and Severity Index and SCORing Atopic Dermatitis.

"In conclusion, our study identifies dysregulated iron homeostasis—indicative of iron deficiency—as a prevalent systemic feature of atopic dermatitis. These disturbances are linked to disease severity and impaired quality of life, suggesting that altered iron metabolism may represent a potentially modifiable systemic correlate of the AD phenotypes," the authors write.

"Future studies should explore whether targeted correction of iron deficiency can improve patient outcomes."

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TOPICS: Health/Medicine
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[ConservativeMind]

Adding iron sources would be an easy thing to do, to see if it helps.

The amount of low iron was just above what would cause overt anemia, so people may not commonly get other symptoms a greater iron deficiency would bring.

[ConservativeMind]

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[Cold Heart]

Covid vaccine gave me iron deficiency, gets a little worse each year. So far I can keep up with it with iron supplements.

[telescope115]

I’m chronically anemic. I take iron supplements, and my labs look good, but I STILL have problems with dermatitis and eczema. I have a dermatologist appointment scheduled.

[Bobbyvotes]

Are you eating red meat regularly?

[vis a vis]

Do you take Omeprazole (Omeprazole is sold under several brand names, including Prilosec, Prilosec OTC, Losec, Zegerid, and Talicia ) because the side effects include

Omeprazole has been associated with various skin reactions, including eczema.

Long-term use of omeprazole, especially for over a year or at higher doses, is linked to an increased risk of iron deficiency anemia

Search the internet for a more complete list of side effects.