Up to half of women may experience some form of hair loss before they turn 50, experts claim. However, people who are worried can ask their GP a specific set of questions to find out if there's a way to reverse the issue.

Dr Amir Khan is a practising GP who often appears on ITV programmes, such as Lorraine, Good Morning Britain, and This Morning, to discuss various health topics. On his TikTok page, he recently offered some advice to women who could be experiencing the especially difficult symptom.

He said: "If you're noticing your hair thinning, more strands in your brush or just not having the volume you used to have and you're still having periods or your perimenopausal, this could be a hint that your iron stores aren't quite optimal.

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"Now, iron isn't just about red blood cells. It's about delivering oxygen and nutrients to your hair follicles so they can grow. If your iron stores drop, the body prioritises vital organs over hair, and that means hair growth can suffer even when your haemoglobin is normal."

Dr Khan said that women who still have periods might be losing vital iron reserves during their cycle, especially if they have started having heavier periods or have noticed bleeding for more than seven days. He added that these irregularities are "very common" during perimenopause.

Fortunately, there are some steps women can take to help mitigate the issue. The first, and most important, step is to speak with your GP about getting tested for ferritin or iron levels, as well as your haemoglobin.

Dr Khan said: "Tell them 'I'm losing my hair, I bleed heavily and I have periods'. You want to know not just if you're anaemic, but whether your iron stores are sufficient for hair health. The two things are different."

When seeking medical advice, ask about ways to boost your iron levels through diet. Dr Khan added: "If your test shows low ferritin, your doctor may recommend an iron supplement. Don't self-medicate because high doses without guidance, excessive iron can be harmful."

The doctor also urged women not to focus on this one way to sort the issue and support hair growth broadly. He said: "Once iron stores are improved, hair shedding may reduce and growth may resume - but it takes time, often months, because hair grows slowly.

"Make sure you're thinking about other things, thyroid stress, hormonal changes, especially around that menopause. Adequate protein intake is super important for hair as well, and good scalp care."

To naturally increase iron intake, consume iron-rich foods such as lean red meat, poultry, fish, and fortified cereals. Additionally, include plant-based sources such as beans, lentils, spinach, nuts, and dried fruits.

Dark chocolate is also a good source of iron, with a single 28g serving containing approximately 3.4mg of iron, which is 19% of the daily recommended intake. To reap the most benefits from iron and other nutrients, opt for dark chocolate with a cocoa solids content of at least 70%.

Help boost your chances of absorbing this extra iron by incorporating vitamin C-rich foods into your diet, such as oranges, grapefruit, strawberries, tomatoes, broccoli, and peppers.