Which Supplement Is Better for Hair Growth? Biotin and collagen are often recommended by dermatologists and hair experts because each supplement is believed to promote benefits for the hair, skin, and nails. However, they work differently from each other and collagen is thought to be better for hair growth.
Silica is a hair and skin beautifying mineral. Silica is essential for collagen production. So if you want to promote younger, healthier skin, bamboo tea may have biotin beat.
Nature's Bounty Biotin
This B vitamin is an ingredient in many different hair supplements—for good reason. “Biotin is a water-soluble vitamin that supports the growth of hair, skin, and nails by helping to break down fats and carbohydrates,” says Dr. Engelman.
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 an Amazing Hair Vitamin
Supplements can be used to help reduce hair loss and encourage nail growth. “Individuals with type 2 diabetes should also look into taking a biotin supplement,” says David Bank, MD, the director of the Center for Dermatology in Mt. Kisco, New York.
“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.
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.
So, while biotin supplementation may support skin health for those experiencing a biotin deficiency, collagen is the better, more tested bet.
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. “What I see most often is breakouts on the face, chest, and back,” Breana cautions.
Aloe vera, coconut oil, rosemary oil, lavender oil, castor oil, jojoba oil, tea tree oil, rice water, fenugreek seeds, shikakai, gooseberry, salicylic acid, retinol, redensyl, anagain, eggs etc are some proven ingredients for 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.
There are reports that excessive biotin supplementation can lead to insomnia. Since biotin supplements are needed to metabolize fats and carbohydrates and turn these into energy, excessive intake of biotin during nighttime might lead to a surge of energy. This surge of energy may make it difficult for you to sleep.
Lipoic acid competes with biotin for binding to SMVT [45], potentially decreasing the cellular uptake of biotin. Indeed, chronic administration of pharmacological doses of lipoic acid decreased the activities of pyruvate carboxylase and β-methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase in rat liver to 64–72% of controls [45].
Collagen appears to be a bit more impactful for hair growth than biotin. “Biotin helps provide the key energy needed to power hair production. It is only a part of supporting hair growth,” says Dr. Anzelone.
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.
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.
If no home remedies work for your hair loss, use a daily biotin supplement for at least 6 months to start seeing results.
Only riboflavin, biotin, folate, and vitamin B12 deficiencies have been associated with hair loss. Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) is a component of two important coenzymes: flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) [22].
The FDA approved the once-daily pill called Litfulo, created by pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, for people 12 and up to treat severe alopecia areata, or at least 50% hair loss.