Is your hair falling faster than you could even spell the word “Hair”? Hair fall is an everyday concern for a girl. Thin hair is already making you sad, and an insult to injury, your floor, washroom, pillow all display a shouting show of your falling hair. However, how to solve this hair problem? Whenever one encounters any issues with her hair, nails, or skin, most will suggest biotin as a magic fix. However, what is biotin? Should you take biotin for hair growth? Biotin is a common over-the-counter supplement that is reputed to boost hair growth. It’s a water-soluble part of the vitamin B family that stimulates keratin production and increases the growth of follicles in your hair.
What Is Biotin?
Biotin, aka vitamin B-7, aka vitamin H, is an essential nutrient that fulfills your body’s vital functions. You can get it naturally in many foods like eggs, salmon, nuts, cauliflower, avocado, soy, etc. Few bacterias in your large intestine also manufacture biotin. Biotin helps your body to convert nutrients (carbohydrate, protein, and fat) into energy. It also plays a significant part in nourishing your hair, skin, and nail. If your body doesn’t get sufficient biotin, you may encounter extreme hair loss.
However, your food rich in biotin is capable enough for your overall health, including your hair. Many recommend biotin supplements for bonus benefits. The use of biotin for hair growth has become so popular that people start calling biotin “the hair food.”
Should You Take Biotin For Hair Growth?
Biotin improves your keratin; keratin, a primary protein in your body, makes your hair, skin, and nails. However, does biotin strengthen your hair growth? Many trichologists believe that biotin may help your hair to grow stronger and thicker. However, minimal evidence is there to prove consuming biotin can improve hair growth. Research also suggests that the supplements you take for hair growth contain both biotin and other potent ingredients. So, biotin alone can not take all the credit for your hair growth.
A small study suggests that biotin may stimulate hair growth in people with biotin deficiency or alopecia (loss of hair). However, it’s a rare condition that is unlikely to be seen in general people. Pregnant women and those who have alcohol dependency may encounter biotin deficiency. So, they may need a little “biotin boost.” How about folic acid and biotin for hair growth? They may help in improving your hair quality and are often put together in vitamin B complex tablets. However, more research is needed to support the fact.
In addition, foods rich in biotin also include other vitamins and minerals that are good for your overall health, including hair growth.
Biotin For Hair Loss: How Long To See Results
If you take a biotin supplement, you must wait for several months to see any significant change. Moreover, you must be consistent in your intake while taking any biotin supplement. Suppose you’re raising your biotin intake through food. In that case, you’ll need to eat various biotin-rich foods daily to ingest enough biotin to make a difference. Now, if you’re taking a supplement, you must take it as per your doctor’s instructions. However limited, a study found that you can see the result of your hair growth, strength, and radiance in around 90 days.
How Often Should You Take Biotin For Hair Growth
How many milligrams of biotin should you take for hair growth? From what age can you intake biotin? Experts recommend that anyone age 10 or older can intake biotin. Doctors recommend biotin, around 5000 micrograms a day, and daily consumption to get significant hair growth.
However, the usual recommended doses for biotin are:
- birth to 3 years: 10 to 20 mcg per day
- ages 4 to 6 years: 25 mcg per day
- ages 7 to 10 years: 30 mcg per day
- Over 10 years: 30 and 100 mcg per day
However, if you are pregnant or a breastfeeding mom, you may need more extensive levels of biotin.
Best Biotin for Hair Growth
What is the best biotin for hair growth? Are you asking this question to yourself? Your diet usually is sufficient to provide prominent growth in your hair. However, Dr. David Nazarian implies that not everyone receives enough through food. So, supplements may boost your nutrient level for healthy hair. Remember, before including a biotin capsule in your life; it’s best to consult with your doctor for maximum benefit with the correct dose and minimum side effects.
Side Effects Of Biotin
Should you take biotin for hair growth? Food rich in biotin doesn’t harm your health. However, biotin supplements may cause few potential side effects. So before you start intaking biotin, check with your doctor. Study shows that biotin may affect the accuracy of some lab tests, including thyroid test and troponin, monitoring a cardiac event. In addition, biotin may also cause acne.
However rare, you may notice unusual or unexpected skin rash due to an overdose of biotin.
Other Benefits of Biotin
Dr. David Nazarian emphasizes the regular consumption of B-complex vitamins, often known as B7 or Vitamin H, if you want to enhance your biotin intake. Not everyone receives enough B7 through their regular daily intake. Suppose you’re making a dietary change from one dominated by low-vitamin carbs. In that case, you may need a little vitamin boost: especially for pregnant women and people with biotin deficiency.
Though more research is needed to prove this, biotin renders few potential benefits to your body.
- Maintains a healthy metabolism
- Converts glucose from carbohydrates into energy
- Support amino acids in carrying out normal bodily functions
- Reduce inflammation
- Develop cognitive capacity
- Help lower blood sugar
- Increase HDL “good” cholesterol and decrease LDL “bad” cholesterol
Foods Rich In Biotin
Nutritious food is always best for your overall health. If you want to improve your hair growth, you can add foods rich in biotin to your diet.
Foods rich in biotin are:
- Egg Yolk
- Pork Liver
- Oat Flakes
- Wheat Germ and Whole Grains
- Nuts and Legumes
- Mushroom
- Rice
- Cauliflower
- Cheese
- Curds, And Cow’s Milk
- Pork, Beef, And Chicken
- Salmon
- Apples, Bananas, And Tomatoes
- Carrots, Lettuce, And Potatoes
Other Natural Remedies For Hair Growth
Few popular nutrients can help you have healthy and thick hair. However, there is no scientific support for a few listed below.
The food containing hair-health nutrients are:
- Caffeine
- Fish oil
- Zinc
- Vitamin A
- Selenium
- Vitamin C
- Saw palmetto
Bottom Line with Biotin
Should you take biotin for hair growth? Biotin is a healthy nutrient that we usually find in natural foods that may help improve your hair growth. Due to this possibility, biotin supplements are becoming popular these days.
If you want healthy hair growth, contact Dr. Nazarian about receiving a biotin injection or oral supplements. At MyConciergeMD, the specialized doctors are ready to help you manage your hormone and vitamin levels. Schedule a consultation today to see the desired changes in you.
