The Truth Behind Biotin: Is It Really The Secret Behind Better Hair?

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If you've spent time of social media, chances are you've come across influencers raving about the magic of biotin for hair growth. Or even walked down the supplement aisle at the grocery store and noticed biotin supplements being advertised as "Hair, Skin, and Nails". Biotin is being promoted as the go-to supplement for thicker, stronger, and shinier hair. But does it really work, or is this just another health trend?

Spoiler alert: the scientific evidence doesn't quite match up with the excitement.


What is biotin anyway? Biotin is a water-soluble B vitamin that helps your body convert food into energy. While biotin deficiencies are rare, they can occur in certain circumstances. Symptoms can include brittle nails, skin rashes, and yes - hair thinning. 

Biotin supplements are everywhere, however, there's very little scientific evidence to support their effectiveness in promoting hair growth or improving hair quality, especially for people who aren't deficient in the vitamin. For individuals with a true biotin deficiency - often due to genetic disorders, excessive alcohol use, or some medications - supplementation can be beneficial for hair, but these deficiencies are quite rare. Most people get sufficient amounts of biotin from their diets, with foods like eggs, nuts, seeds, and leafy greens.

So, the bottom line here: If you're looking for a miracle hair supplement and you're not deficient in biotin, you probably shouldn't take a biotin supplement. The truth is that biotin's reputation as a hair growth miracle is all based on marketing and social media - not science.

K.B.

Almohanna Azhar A Ahmed John P Tsatalis Antonella Tosti, H. M., Almohanna, H. M., Ahmed, A. A.,   Tsatalis Á A Tosti, J. P., & Tosti, A. (n.d.). The Role of Vitamins and Minerals in Hair Loss: A Review. Dermatology and Therapy, 9. https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.7398692

Soleymani, T., lo Sicco, K., & Shapiro FAAD FRCPC The Ronald Perelman, J. O. (2017). The Infatuation With Biotin Supplementation: Is There Truth Behind Its Rising Popularity? A Comparative Analysis of Clinical Efficacy versus Social Popularity. In J Drugs Dermatol (Vol. 16, Issue 5).

https://www.amazon.com/Hair-Skin-Nails-Vitamins-Formula/dp/B017DTBQLM

Comments

  1. ksu internsSeptember 26, 2024 at 1:03 PM

    I like how you bolded the spoiler alert in the middle - it really caught my attention! I have wondered about biotin before as I constantly see it on the shelves and being advertised. I also like how you included food sources of biotin that we can eat instead of relying on yet another supplement.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Kelsey FrittsSeptember 28, 2024 at 2:33 PM

    It's crazy how so many people are heavily influenced by marketing and social media when it comes to supplements! I think this is a great post, and I like how you emphasized on the fact that if you don't have a deficiency you probably don't need the supplement.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Erin CarbajalOctober 15, 2024 at 1:00 PM

    I like how you bolded the spoiler alert in the middle - it really caught my attention! I have wondered about biotin before as I constantly see it on the shelves and being advertised. I also like how you included food sources of biotin that we can eat instead of relying on yet another supplement. (the first comment was mine I didn't realize we had to sign in differently to comment)

    ReplyDelete

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