Iron-Skin Axis: Exploring the Interplay between Iron Homeostasis and Skin Disorders.

Iron is a pivotal element in cutaneous biology, influencing a wide range of physiological processes, including keratinocyte proliferation, pigmentation, immune response, and wound healing. This review explores the multifaceted role of iron in skin homeostasis and pathology, with a particular focus on the hepcidin-ferroportin axis as a central regulator. We discuss how iron imbalance contributes to inflammatory diseases, such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis; affects susceptibility to infections through modulation of nutritional immunity; and participates in ferroptosis, a form of iron-dependent cell death, linked to melanocyte destruction, photodamage, and tumorigenesis. Furthermore, we highlight how iron modulates hair physiology and skin pigmentation and review the therapeutic potential of iron-targeting strategies, including iron chelators, hepcidin modulators, and supplementation. Altogether, this review establishes the skin as an active participant in iron homeostasis and underscores the emerging potential of targeting the iron-skin axis in dermatologic therapies.