Despite its popularity in the media and amongst consumers, biotin has no proven efficacy in hair and nail growth of healthy individuals. Only 1 study has shown decreased levels of biotin in healthy individuals, though this data was confounded by multiple factors, including patient history.
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.
It is widely agreed by doctors and scalp specialists that biotin helps hair grow stronger, quicker, and thicker. The benefit of biotin for hair growth is that it causes stronger and healthier hair follicles to grow in. In turn, stronger hair is less likely to break – ultimately protecting your hair's length.
If no home remedies work for your hair loss, use a daily biotin supplement for at least 6 months to start seeing results.
Most of the websites touting biotin for hair growth recommend taking 2-5 milligrams (2,000-5,000 mcg) of biotin in supplement form each day, and many supplements are sold under the name Biotin 5000, indicating a 5000 mcg (5 mg) size.
Increasing your intake of biotin may help make your hair stronger and more resistant to falling out. Biotin is a common over-the-counter supplement that is touted to promote healthy hair growth.
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.
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.”
Biotin is safe to take — even at high doses. But taking too much can sometimes cause side effects like stomach ache, trouble sleeping, and excessive thirst. Talk to your healthcare provider if you think you've taken too much biotin. You can also contact Poison Control if you're having trouble reaching your provider.
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.
Biotin can most definitely increase the rate at which your beard grows while making each hair thicker and healthier. If you wish to start taking biotin daily to maximize beard growth, there are plenty of products on the market today that are formulated for this specific purpose.
Laboratory tests: Taking biotin supplements might interfere with the results of many different blood lab tests. Biotin can cause falsely high or falsely low test results. This might lead to missed or incorrect diagnoses. Tell your doctor if you are taking biotin supplements, especially if you are having lab tests done.
“Vitamins are essential for healthy hair growth and may help in preventing hair shedding and thinning,” says Michele Green, M.D., a cosmetic dermatologist in New York. “The best vitamins for hair growth include B vitamins, vitamin D, vitamin E, zinc, biotin and iron.
Improved Skin and Fingernails
Research also shows that biotin helps improve skin's hydration, smoothness, and appearance. In addition, some studies show that biotin can strengthen fingernails and make them grow faster. Biotin is a versatile addition to your beauty routine.
Biotin is an essential vitamin for normal hair and nail growth. Leading medical clinics say that biotin 10,000 mcg is a safe maintenance dose with no known side effects.
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.
The most common B Vitamin you might already be familiar with is Biotin—also known as Vitamin B7. If you've been looking into growth vitamins to thicken your hair, you're likely familiar with Biotin at this point. It's an essential growth ingredient often added to supplements that promote healthy hair and nails.
Recommended dosage
However, according to estimates, an intake of 30 micrograms (mcg) may be adequate. The average intake of biotin in Western countries, excluding the United States, is an estimated 35–70 mcg per day.
6. Biotin (Vitamin B7) The brain is particularly sensitive to the delivery and metabolism of glucose. Biotin plays a key role in glucose metabolism and haemostasis, including regulation of hepatic glucose uptake, gluconeogenesis (and lipogenesis), insulin receptor transcription and pancreatic β-cell function [18].
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 most commonly recommended time slot to consume biotin supplements is with your morning meal. The water-soluble nature of biotin will ensure that your body is absorbing it with the other nutrients in your meal.
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.