Your skin is the largest organ in your body. It protects your muscles and organs from germs, helps control your body temperature, allows you to feel, and absorbs vitamin D, which keeps your bones strong and your immune system healthy.
People with iron overload may have:
- Change in skin color to a slate-gray or bronze color
- Jaundice, or yellow tint to the whites of their eyes and skin
- Broken veins in the skin
People can have iron overload and have no symptoms. Other people may mistake the signs and symptoms of iron overload for other conditions. For this reason, people with iron overload often don't know they have it until they have serious health problems.
If you've had or are having blood transfusions, be sure to ask your doctor about iron overload and how it may affect your skin. A simple blood test called the serum ferritin test can tell your doctor how much iron is in your body. If your serum ferritin level continues to be over 1000 mcg/L (micrograms per liter), you have iron overload and should talk with your doctor about treatment options.
