Dark under-eye circles may be more than a cosmetic concern.Doctors say they can sometimes signal low iron stores — a condition that's gone viral on social media under the name "ferritin face."Experts say there's some truth behind the trend — with important caveats.Ferritin can be thought of as the body's "iron storage vault," according to Dr.
Josef Hadeed, a double board-certified plastic surgeon at Hadeed Plastic Surgery in Beverly Hills, California.It is a protein that stores iron inside the body's cells and releases it when needed.LOW TESTOSTERONE? HEGSETH SPARKS CONVERSATION AS DOCTORS REVEAL WARNING SIGNS EVERY MAN SHOULD KNOW"When ferritin levels drop, the body struggles to produce hemoglobin, which is the iron-rich protein within your red blood cells that transports oxygen to the tissues," Hadeed told Fox News Digital.Low iron levels can compromise skin elasticity, which can make the tissue appear thinner and less resilient, the doctor said.Dark under-eye circles can sometimes signal low iron stores, a condition that's gone viral on social media with the name "ferritin face." (iStock)When hemoglobin is low, the skin can lose its healthy color and appear pale, making the naturally darker tissue beneath the eyes more noticeable, Hadeed noted.Besides pale skin and dark under-eye circles, other symptoms may signal that someone is lacking iron.CARLY SIMON REVEALS THE COMMON CONDITION THAT MASKED HER PARKINSON'S DIAGNOSIS"The severity of these symptoms generally increases as ferritin decreases," Dane Thomas, a Texas-based hematology/oncology physician’s associate who specializes in the care of patients with hematologic disorders and cancer, told Fox News Digital.Low energy, fatigue, dizziness, lightheadedness, headaches, fainting, brittle or thin nails, hair loss, cravings to chew ice, and restless legs syndrome are a few signs, according to Thomas."When ferritin levels drop, the body struggles to produce hemoglobin, which is the iron-rich protein within yo...