If you're experiencing alopecia, your doctor may recommend certain biotin supplements or a higher biotin-rich diet as a way to combat hair loss. They may recommend upping your dosage to 3 milligrams (or 3,000 mcg) a day.
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.
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.
Biotin is often touted as a hair loss treatment. However, the research only backs this up if a person has hair loss due to a biotin deficiency. Biotin supplementation is effective in the treatment of biotin deficiency. Check with your healthcare provider before taking a biotin supplement.
Strengthens and thickens: Biotin "is well known for its positive effects on hair including growing stronger thicker strands," says Friese. Protects: Because biotin strengthens hair, it is less likely to break off at the ends, promoting and protecting length, explains Friese.
How Fast Does Biotin Work For Hair Growth? Research pertaining to how quickly vitamins work in the body is limited, however, we have found that some begin to see and experience benefits approximately 30 days after you start taking biotin. It may take up to 90 days or longer for some individuals.
However, they work differently from each other and collagen is thought to be better for hair growth. As a vitamin, biotin primarily supports hair health by breaking down macronutrients in the body for cell renewal and growth.
Ask a doctor before using biotin if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Your dose needs may be different during pregnancy or while you are nursing. Do not give any herbal/health supplement to a child without medical advice.
The truth is: you probably won't see significant hair growth results after taking biotin for just one week. The hair growth cycle lasts several months, so even if biotin supplements do have an impact, it's likely to be a few months before you see results.
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.
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.
Biotin also promotes hair growth and regrowth in those who are experiencing hair thinning, hair loss, or are having it hard to grow out their hair. This process can take time with consuming the supplement daily for a period of 4-6 weeks minimum to a few months for optimal hair growth.
Studies on biotin use and hair quality have been limited, but promising. For instance, a study published in The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology found that women with thinning hair who took biotin supplements had thicker hair than those who took a placebo after 90 days, and experienced no side effects.
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.
Can biotin be harmful? Biotin has not been shown to cause any harm. However, supplements that contain biotin above recommended amounts may cause false results in some lab tests, including those that measure levels of certain hormones, like thyroid hormone.
No side effects have been reported for biotin in amounts up to 10 milligrams a day. However, check with your health care professional if you notice any unusual effects while you are taking it.
Instead of making your skin flawless, an overdose of biotin can lead to skin rashes. 5. It can also lead to problems with insulin release and interfere with the functioning of your liver.
Hair Loss
Biotin therapy infuses liquid vitamin B7 into the shaft which can increase the rate of follicle growth. Whereas in Keratin treatment, keratin protein is used which helps to make hair stronger and less prone to breakage and gives the illusion of hair growth, but it is less likely to stimulate hair growth.
“Biotin is a B vitamin that is often marketed for hair growth. While biotin deficiency has been linked to hair loss, research on the effectiveness of biotin supplements for hair growth is inconclusive,” says Chun.
Should I Take Collagen Supplements for My Hair? Taking collagen may improve the health of your scalp and hair, but there isn't much objective evidence that it will result in hair growth for everyone who takes it. Other potential collagen benefits include improvements in the health of skin, joints and bones.
It's rare to be deficient in biotin. Symptoms include hair loss, dry scaly skin, cracking in the corners of the mouth (called cheilitis), swollen and painful tongue that is magenta in color (glossitis), dry eyes, loss of appetite, fatigue, insomnia, and depression.
Symptoms of biotin deficiency start gradually and can build up over time. Symptoms can include thinning hair, progressing to loss of hair across the body, and a scaly, red rash around body openings, including the eyes, nose, mouth, and anus. Conjunctivitis can also develop.