i recently just had an iron infusion about two weeks ago and i immediately noticed that my skin has turned darker than it normally is. it was a 1000 mg of dark brown fluid and im afraid it has darkened my skin. my eyes have since turned brown too. is this something i shouldve expected and is it permanant? will i go back to my old complexion, if so, when? i have heard that vitamin c decreases the iron levels in your body, is this safe to take for my complexion to go back as i thinkthis is due to the increased iron in my body.
Is hyper-pigmentation after iron infusion normal?
Question posted by genies on 29 July 2015
Last updated on 26 February 2024
24 Answers
Hi
I had monoffer iron infusion 1000mg on June 23/2023. The next day I woke darker. First it looked like a nice tan. Now 8 weeks later I have dark gray spots All over my face. I also had a rash swollen face. I’m so traumatized. I don’t know what to do. My face has been ruined and I don’t think it will get better. I have not been able to sleep at night because it’s caused me so much anxiety.
Hi I have received iron infusion 2 weeks ago and I’m having the same issue like dark skin colour specially my face my hands also my eyes looks too yellow . Please can anyone help regarding this is anyone here who’s skin got better ??? I’m very much concerned because it’s looks so bad especially my yellow eyes .
My hyperpigmentation resolved after a few months. I did make sure to use mineral sunscreen. I’m not sure if that helped but mineral sunscreen helps reduce post inflammatory hyperpigmentation. As to the yellowing of your eyes have you mentioned this to your doctor? Yellowing if the eyes is typically a sign of liver problems.
Thank you so much for your reply I will definitely see doctor . Thanks
Hi Alruba..I also faced the same issue as yours. I am very upset and worry. Did you get back your skin and eye color?
Hi Genies, May I please ask if your complexion got better and after how long? I noticed bluish green spots on my face and dark eyes after two days of having the iron infusion. It has been three weeks since the iron infusion, these are still there. I am quite stressed out and not able to see my reflection in the mirror.
Hi I have received iron infusion 2 weeks ago and I’m having the same issue like dark skin colour specially my face my hands also my eyes looks too yellow . Please can anyone help regarding this is anyone here who’s skin got better ??? I’m very much concerned because it’s looks so bad especially my yellow eyes .I’m
Hi, I also had iron infusion on May 7. I ended up in the emergency due to anaphylaxis. There was only about 5mls left when my body reacted to the iron. Upon coming home from the hospital, I immediately noticed that my skin got darker especially around my eyes and I now have dark patches on my face. I initially thought it was because of the allergic reaction as I was covered in hives. It has now been over two weeks and my complexion is still a lot darker. The patches on my face are quite visible still and I look like I have not been sleeping with really dark eye bags.
I am not due to see my haematologist again until June 4 but will definitely ask him about it as it wasn’t on the list of side effects they’ve told me.
I’m not even sure if the infusion was worth it as I don’t know if my iron levels have gone up. It is also quite scary to do it all over again after having anaphylaxis- the doctors have told me that it doesn’t necessarily mean that I am allergic to iron, but in case I need a top up it needs to be done in a controlled environment with an emergency department on site.
I have been on iron tablets for a number of years which gave me different side effects like constipation and headaches. The very last iron tabs I took was maltofer.
The iron infusion was meant to be the best solution to bump my iron levels up quickly. But apart from severe allergic reaction, I had really bad muscle pains and felt so weak the whole week following the infusion.
I was only told about the possibility of staining on the infusion site due to leaking but never about skin discolouration. :-(
I was given ferinject 1000mg
Thank you for sharing your experience. I had a Monofer transfusion on February 3rd. I have had it before (2015 and 2017). This is the first time I have had a change in skin colour: looks like I have a nice tan! More on the body than the face. It is ironic since my anemia leaves me pale most of the time. My skin is extremely dry and I look like I have aged 10 years. I hope that will pass.
I also have a strong allergic reaction to IV iron. It comes tree days after the transfusion. This time is the first time it has happened in hospital. I don’t think the medical staff had heard about the reaction before. I am a bit surprised how that medical staff dealing with anemic patients are not better informed.
I can no longer receive IV iron so I hope my iron induced tan may stay, the dryness and tired look disappear!
Did your original color return? I am reading so many comments but no one has given an update as to whether they got their skin color back or not.
Hey Everyone,
I am experiencing the same thing. I recently got an iron infusion, and my skin color change. I have dark circles on my eyes and my face is discolored. My self esteem is 0 right now and I don’t know what to do. I spoke with my GP but she isn’t helping at all. I am so sad. Did your hyperpigmentation ever go away?
Yes it went away, there is hope! I know how you feel even makeup couldn’t correct the hyperpigmentation for me. Mine resolved on its own. It’s been so long that I can’t tell you how long it took to resolve but it wasn’t more than 6 months.
Hi Lorena,
Thank you! I hope my face gets back to normal soon. I spend everyday researching about this topic
I am also in the same boat.
I received an iron infusion on the 15/01/2021 and noticed that my face has turned a yellow-golden colour. It is prominent around my nasolabial folds and the middle region of my face. It looks so unnatural and I’m quite upset about it.
My GP did not tell me that this would happen.
I am also still getting horrible headaches.
I’m going to report this skin side effect to Vifor Pharma and Aspen Pharmacare.
Fingers crossed that this skin discolouring isn’t permanent. I’m used to not wearing makeup and now feel like I need to wear foundation to hide the yellow.
Thanks
Jade
Jade,
I hope your case turns out like mine and your skin tone will return to normal in no time.
Hi There, I had Monofer infusion 1000mg in May 2019. Within a week of administration my skin darkened on my face and hands. I especially noticed the changes around my mouth, eyes and forehead. Any existing scars had become darker and more prominent - my skin started becoming dryer than usual. The doctor that administered the injection said he couldn't make the correlation and hadn't seen the side effect before. I have since found that the skin discolouration is a common side effect of ferritin overload where the body mimics the condition Hemochromatosis (similar side effects). I have donated blood five times (every 16 weeks) over the last 20 months and my skin is only starting to look normal. I am not sure if it will go back to the pre infusion colour however I am trying to balance blood donations with keeping my iron levels within a healthy range. I have been checking my ferritin levels regularly and they remain high and slightly outside of range.
Please note that whitening creams will not help with this issue. The best advice I can offer is to keep your skin well moisturised, get your ferritin levels checked and consider blood donation (after speaking to your doctor) which will help bring your levels down if high. The British Skin Foundation has a very good page on the above condition and lists other side effects you should look out for. I would also consider asking your doctor to administer smaller doses to build up the effect 200-300mg every few weeks with blood tests in between rather than a whopping dose of 1000mg in the future. Once in the body iron is only excreted by blood loss (injury/ menstruation) or sweating, it does not clear from the body quickly which contributes to the side effects lingering in the system for longer (hence why it took nearly two years for my skin to look normal). I hope that your skin colour returns to normal, I know how distressed I have been for the last year and a half.
I had an iron infusion about a week ago and my skin has darkened, only slightly on my body but on my face my forehead, round the sides of my nose and chin it is quite dark and dry.
I also just over the past day have come out with a rash on both my cheeks, it's just like little spots. I'm going to speak to the hospital and see if this is normal as there is nothing written in the side effects about this.
Hopefully it'll go soon, it would be ok if it was all over and even it would look quite nice ha ha.
Hey, my mum has the same issue its been 3 weeks, surprisingly the doctors said that they have never seen it before. Its not like a tan so its really annoying. Please let me know what your doctor says, or if you find anything that helps. Thanks
Hi everyone, my mum had iron infusion and she has the same side effects, hr doctor said she has never seen this before. I was hoping one of you guys could guide me on ways that could help relieve this symptom.
So this is more of a question. I'm scheduled to get my first infusion tomorrow. I was wondering is the skin discoloration your talking about only at injection site or all over?
I experienced darkening around my chin. I have an olive skin tone. After the infusion the area around my chin became almost purple. It was noticeable even makeup but resolved.
Hey Lorena, I was hoping if you could tell me whether your side effects went away and did you take anything special to relieve the symptoms?
Thanks for any help
I had the same thing happen. A dusky tan a day after my last iron infusion along with very bad muscle and joint aches. I put it down to iron infiltrating the tissues. Got concerned, took 25 mg Benadryl and some Tylenol with codeine and went to bed. Totally resolved in morning. Any one else have any input?
I recent got iron fusion as well and notice the same symptoms . You are right it is because of iron fusion . Even my eye lids are darker and skin got more discolouration. I think it’s the side effect from iron infusion . I am consulting a skin specialist
Hi,
I had iron infusion on December 18 ,2019.
Yess my skin get very darker too, I’m much worried as I wasn’t expecting this. It’s really making me more depressed, my skin colour never seemed so, but now it’s too dark to believe.
I don’t know it’s not written in pamphlets that Hospital staff gave me. In side effects there’s no written for complexion darkness.
It’s happened with me, I’m continually browsing on Google for any remedy.
If anyone has any suggestions please tell.
I had a blood transfusion a month ago with two units of blood. Three days ago and a week prior to that, I had two infusions, but I don’t know how many milligrams. I do have more energy, but my hemoglobin was a 4.8, which apparently is very dangerously low. So I am pleased to see that I am feeling more energetic. I think it may have helped a bit with some of my pain as well. I am having a complete lumbar fusion, in about six weeks. That is how they discovered my low hemoglobin. You have to have a lot of tests done before such a big surgery.
I began to notice that I had what appeared to be a tan right before the second dose. I have not been in the sun, so I thought it might be related to the iron. After the blood transfusion my hemoglobin rose to 7.4 and after my first iron infusion I was in at 8.4, which I’m very pleased about.
As was mentioned in a prior email, I too am very pale, so having my complexion appear to be darker, is just fine with me. The only drawback is my sunspots on my face and hands are also darker.
What brought me here was my most interesting and flattering outcome, but nobody has mentioned this as far as I can tell. I am soon to be 58 and I’ve had hooded eyelids for several years. Strangely enough, the droopy skin appears to be gone. My explanation for this is that I must’ve been so dried up from having my blood be down to 4.8, that my veins are plumping up and I have taken up the space/ droopiness of my skin. So I am pleased all around. I have more energy, I look tan, and my droopy eyelids have disappeared. I would be curious to know if anyone symptoms have gone away. Most people have only come here once and have not given us a long-term outlook.
Has anyone else experienced any of these outcomes? I wish you all the best.
Hi everyone , I can tell you that my skin is gradually going back to normal, I have to say health wise o feel fantastic , I have the energy to do so much, whereas prior to that I was always falling ill, getting the cold viruses etc , I would say the only downfall is it ruined my complexion which is gradually improving , but the main thing is I feel so good health wise xx how is everyone else ?
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skin, iron, infusion, pigmentation
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