Evidence check: Ferritin in the context of Haut

Ferritin is an iron-storage protein and a key biomarker for iron status. In the context of skin (Haut), well-established links exist: low ferritin (iron deficiency) can cause pallor, dry/scaly skin, and hair loss; high ferritin (iron overload, e.g., in hemochromatosis) may lead to bronze skin pigmentation ('bronze diabetes'). However, ferritin alone is insufficient for diagnosis—it must be interpreted alongside transferrin saturation, hemoglobin, and clinical signs. Acute inflammation can falsely elevate ferritin. The evidence for these skin associations is strong (human clinical studies, guidelines). Direct-to-consumer ferritin tests are generally accurate, but interpretation without medical oversight is risky, especially for iron overload which can damage organs. Caveat: skin changes have many causes; a single ferritin value does not replace a dermatological workup.