If you are reading this, you probably suffer from hair problems like having thin, flat hair or hairless spots. Biotin is the main ingredient in all products that claim that they are able to speed up the growth of the hair and nails; it is the vitamin for beauty.
So the question now is what is Biotin?
Biotin, Vitamin H or B7 is a water soluble vitamin that is made in the intestine of the humans by gut bacteria but our bodies are not capable of storing it.
It has many functions including conversion of carbohydrates and fats into energy, helping the body’s metabolism, increasing the performance of nerves, digestive tract, skin cells and of course hair benefits.
Where can you find Biotin?
Taking Biotin from natural sources will enhance the appearance of results and also, the natural sources are better absorbed than the supplements.
Check out this article to know where you can find Biotin foods.
The recommended daily dose of Biotin varies according to whether you have Biotin deficiency or not in addition to your age and habits. You can know everything about the dosage and the proper usage of Biotin from here.
Let’s see how Biotin is great for hair growth.
1. Biotin and Hair Loss
Biotin is part of the vitamin B complex so it is essential for maintenance of health hair; that is why its deficiency causes hair loss, hair thinning and splitting hairs.
Unhealthy hair is fragile, breaks easily and eventually, it will fall out.
This becomes so clear in pregnant women who need extra amounts of all kinds of vitamins. During and after pregnancy, women experience hair loss that can even be severe in some cases. The American Pregnancy Association advises pregnant women to increase their intake of biotin either by taking biotin in foods or taking biotin supplements.
Biotin deficiency is rare in normal people so if your diet is adequate and includes one or more of the foods that are rich in biotin, you don’t need any kind of biotin supplements.
2. Biotin and Hair Growth
Some studies have shown that Biotin is great for hair growth. This works by improvement of the body’s keratin.
Keratin is an essential protein for your skin, hair and nails. It is proved by studies that Biotin increases Keratin.
A study that was done in 2015 showed that when you give women with thin hair a drug that contains Biotin 2 days per day for 3 months, their hair grow and cover the affected areas of hair loss. Check the whole study from here. Another study was made in 2012 showed the same results in hair growth improvement.
Biotin promotes hair growth leading to its thickening so it will appear more lustrous and healthier.
3. Biotin and Improvement of Scalp
Unhealthy scalp is one of the reasons of hair thinning and discoloration. Vitamins help your scalp to maintain its health in order to help your hair grow healthier.
Proteins are essential for the maintenance of the scalp and hair. Foods that are rich in B Vitamins like eggs and cheese are also rich in Biotin.
Biotin can also be found in shampoos and other hair products. Using such products will help both your hair and your scalp to remain healthy.
While showering, have your scalp massaged by the biotin shampoo. This will remove the dead cells of the scalp, enhance the circulation and help the growth of healthy, new cells.
4. Biotin and Hair Strength
Some studies at Harvard Medical School show that Biotin is an essential nutrient for the texture, appearance and strength of the hair.
Deficiency of Biotin will certainly result in hair loss and hair thinning. Deficiency is common in pregnant women, smokers and young adults so they need to take biotin supplements to compensate the loss.
Alopecia, dermatitis and psoriasis are all diseases that may result from Biotin deficiency which lead to hair and skin problems so you may need to take biotin supplements under the supervision of a dermatologist if you have one of these diseases.
The results usually appear after a while. They appear faster if you use topical treatment.
5. Biotin, Growth of Cells and Improvement of Skin
Biotin is not only essential for skin diseases that result from its deficiency but also for skin integrity and health generally. It makes the skin glow by nourishing it from the inside and from the outside.
It also helps in regulating DNA formation so the cells will replicate properly especially during pregnancy.
Having a healthy skin and cells will certainly have a good effect on the proper growth of the hair.
