In terms of your hair and scalp, taking too much biotin won't result in drastic damage. But while your magnificent mane might not be in danger, biotin could have adverse effects on your skin.
In fact, biotin is primarily used for alopecia — a condition that causes hair loss in all sexes. “Biotin helps maintain hair growth and helps with inflammation,” Dr. Bergfeld says. “The hair follicle, the skin and the nails all benefit.”
Regular intake of excessive quantities of certain nutrients can cause hair loss in some cases due to a temporary condition known as Telogen Effluvium. However, the effects of too much vitamin B7 - also known as biotin toxicity - remain unconfirmed.
While 5,000 mcg of biotin may work well for some people, for the most part, that may be too high for others who find that 200 mcg of biotin helps their hair grow. Look for a biotin vitamin that doesn't contain a ridiculously high dose amount like 10,000 mcg – this is usually excessive.
There is no specific antidote for overdosing on biotin. Excess in the body is rare, and since biotin is a water-soluble vitamin, it is excreted in the urine when in excess. Signs and symptoms of biotin overdose may include and are not limited to insomnia, excessive thirst, and urination.
Mayo Clinic states that 10,000 mcg is a safe dose, as no adverse side effects have been noted to date. Reassuringly, even “mega doses” of 300,000 mcg found no side effects in neurological research.
Can You Take Too Much Biotin? Not really! Even at higher dosages, excess biotin has not been shown to cause any harm. Biotin has been used in clinical studies and in the clinical setting in doses as high as 5 mg/day (5,000 mcg/day) for up to two years.
Biotin is generally safe even at high dosages. Side effects of biotin are minimal and easily reversed because excess biotin is easily passed by the body through urine. We recommend taking 500 mcg-5,000 mcg of biotin per day to support healthy hair, skin, and nails.
Takeaway. Your body makes enough biotin on its own through your dietary intake each day. Therefore, you shouldn't take biotin supplements unless directed by your doctor. There are some rare health conditions that can cause some people to need biotin supplements on a regular basis.
Yes, applying a biotin product or taking a supplement can cause skin irritation and rashes in people who are sensitive to the B vitamin or other ingredients. Taking too much biotin can also cause a skin rash.
Biotin supplements are often glamorized as a treatment for hair loss and to promote healthy hair, skin, and nails. Although a deficiency of biotin can certainly lead to hair loss and skin or nail problems, evidence showing a benefit of supplementation is inconclusive.
Biotin. Biotin, also known as vitamin B7, is a complex B vitamin that is often touted for having hair growth benefits. And some of that hype may actually be worth it. Biotin has functions in “creating red blood cells, which carry oxygen and nutrients to the scalp and hair follicles,” says Dr.
If no home remedies work for your hair loss, use a daily biotin supplement for at least 6 months to start seeing results.
Hair can stop growing or grow slowly for a variety of reasons including age, genetics, hormones, or stress. You may notice your hair stops growing in one spot or seems to be growing slowly on one side. There are plenty of treatment options for slow-growing hair, including: medication.
If you want to keep your hair at the same length, get it cut every 6 to 8 weeks. But if you want to grow it a little longer, cut it every 8 to 12 weeks.
The bottom line. There's no strong evidence to support using biotin for hair growth or to prevent hair loss in people without a deficiency. Because hair thinning and poor hair growth are sometimes associated with a biotin deficiency, correcting a deficiency can help restore hair growth in some people.
Biotin is a common component of multivitamin preparations and at high doses it has been reported to cause interference in immunoassays resulting in abnormal thyroid function tests [2].
The normal recommended biotin dosage for adults is 30 to 100 micrograms (mcg) per day. But there's no evidence of high levels of biotin being harmful or causing toxicity, which is why you'll commonly see biotin supplements containing 5,000 to 10,000 mcg.
(1) The half-life of biotin within the body is about 2 hours, but may be longer in individuals with long term regular biotin intake. (2) Some studies document assay interference persisting for 24 hours following high dose biotin ingestion, with effects possibly lasting longer in pediatric patients.
Adults and teenagers—30 to 100 micrograms (mcg) per day. Children 7 to 10 years of age—30 mcg per day. Children 4 to 6 years of age—25 mcg per day. Children birth to 3 years of age—10 to 20 mcg per day.
High-dose biotin was defined as 1 milligram (mg) per day or more, which is many times greater than the recommended dietary intake of 30 micrograms a day.
Your individual needs: Getting enough vitamins and minerals is important for supporting healthy hair, but consuming too much of some, such as vitamins A and E, could lead to hair loss and even vitamin toxicity.