Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Biotin: The Magic Pill for Faster Hair Growth?

If you have been following my blog for a while you will know that I do not believe that there is anything that can "make your hair grow". Throughout my journey I have come across various products that women have used, some that I have even tried myself, to see if in fact these products actually enhance hair growth and have not been too impressed with the results. I will admit some of these things, namely JBCO and EVCO have definitely improved the quality of my hair. Despite my recent mishap, my hair is much softer, appears to be thicker and a lot shiner since I have incorporated these oils into my hair regimen. My hair breakage has also reduced significantly and my itchy scalp is a thing of the past, but I can not say whole heartly that these products, or any of the products I've tried have "made my hair grow" any faster. Now by definition when I say "make my hair grow" I mean a product that accelerates my general 1/4 inch per month to 1/2-1 inch per month. Hell I would even settle for 1/8 inch more per month, because it would be more than what I am currently experiencing, but nada I haven't seen it. Despite my reservations about growth aids, I have an open mind, and continue to look for information to incorporate into my hair routine and share, which leads me to my post. 

I recently came across a post calling women to join a "Biotin Hair Challenge" on one of the various hair networking sites that I am a part of--and no, it is not a challenge I will be joining, but I am interested in exploring the merit of this particular vitamin. Some women swear by biotin, reporting significant hair growth within 1-2 months of taking it. Research demonstrates that sufficient amounts of biotin can increase the elasticity of the hair's cortex, minimizing the chance of breakage and can increase the thickness and strength of the hair.  Some resources suggests biotin has no effect on hair at all. Unfortunately, some women taking biotin specifically for hair growth have reported unpleasant side effects as well, which include: acne and excessive shedding. Studies also indicate that constant overdoses of biotin (e.g. exceeding the daily recommended amount), over a longer period of time, may cause skin rashes or high blood sugar levels.

Apparently, the daily recommended amount of biotin (Vitamin B7) for adult women age 19 and older is only 30 mcg. Doses up 2,500 mcg can be used safely to treat hair conditions, however if you are eating a balance diet  that includes red meat, green vegetables, eggs and dairy, you are probably getting more than enough biotin to achieve healthy hair growth.  Additional dietary sources of biotin include brewer's yeast, liver, cauliflower, salmon, bananas, carrots, sardines, legumes and mushrooms. Because biotin is a water soluble vitamin it is very hard to "overdose" because any excess of the vitamin will get flushed from the body through the urine (if you drink sufficient amounts of water), which leads me to wonder how much you can really absorb when you take a supplement in excess of 2,500 mcg in once shot. Your body will only absorb what it need...

While doing my homework on the subject I also came across this post on You Tube:



So it seems the verdicts is still out on the power of biotin, but it seems to work for quite a few people. I'm not sure if I will be adding this supplement to my current round of vitamins simply because I currently take a multivitamin and a vitamin B complex, which already provides me with 800 mcg every day. I am definitely not knocking anyone taking biotin because I think biotin is a much better option than some of the other "growth aid" products I've heard about, for the simple fact that it is natural. I am all about healthy alernatives to achieving beautiful hair --emphasis on words "healthy alternatives"--don't over do it.  I strongly recommend that you always do your homework before jumping on any bandwagon. Vitamins can have a positive, but equally detrimental effect on your health if taken incorrectly. Check with your doctor before you start using biotin or any supplement for that matter. Some antibiotics and various medications interact with biotin supplements and cause side effects. I personally don't think hair is worth all of that. It grows all by itself without any help, you just need to learn how to keep it on your head!

2 comments:

  1. Great article! Biotin does work for most people, but it should really be taken in combination with other B vitamins and amino acids.

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  2. I will look into that. Thanks for posting :)

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