Dry skin could be a red flag symptom of a serious illness

12 May 2023 , 19:22

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There are a number of symptoms that could lead to iron deficiency anaemia (Image: Getty Images)

Dry skin may not just been something solved by moisturiser and could be a symptom of a serious illness.

Having low iron levels is a common occurrence that could lead to iron deficiency anaemia and there are a number of issues that could be behind it.

People most at risk of this include pre-menopausal women as they need more than twice as much iron as men due to menstruation and the loss of blood.

Pregnant women also need 50 per cent more iron to help accommodate their growing baby.

Other risk groups include vegans and vegetarians as plant foods mostly contain non-heme iron, which is not as readily absorbed as the type found in meat.

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Dry skin could be a red flag symptom of a serious illness

Dry skins is something to look out for (Getty Images)

But these groups are not the only ones susceptible to an iron deficiency and if constantly feeling both cold and tired it could mean you need to top up your iron levels.

The main reasons for having low iron levels include:

Not eating enough iron-rich foods
Trouble absorbing iron
Blood loss.

So what are the symptoms of iron deficiency?

Always feeling cold

“Cold hands and feet can be a result of iron deficiency anaemia,” warns physician Dr Vikash Modi

“People with anaemia have poor blood circulation throughout their bodies because they don’t have enough red blood cells to provide oxygen to their tissue.

“If you’re not getting enough oxygen to your body tissue, you don’t have a normal sensation of hot and cold," he added.