Biotin and hair growth
More products flood the market every year in the hugely profitable hair care industry. One of the hottest segments of this industry is geared towards promoting hair growth and preventing hair loss. However, not all hair care products are created equally. While some are very effective, others provide ways for businesses to make a quick buck or two at the consumers' expense. One of these widely used hair products is biotin. Biotin is purported to help hair grow faster; it's used either internally or topically. But does biotin really work?
Biotin: Vitamin B Family
Biotin is actually a member of the Vitamin B family. And it's true--biotin does assist with maintaining the health of many body parts, including keeping the hair and nails healthy. The reason why hair care companies jump on the biotin bandwagon is simple---biotin deficiencies actually cause hair loss. However, the answer to whether or not biotin products actually help hair grow faster is a little more complex. Biotin deficiencies are rare. Not only is biotin readily available in many foods, but also, friendly bacteria in our intestinal tracts actually produce biotin for our bodies. Certain medications may interfere with biotin production, but once they're stopped, everything should resume as normal. So, while taking or using biotin products might help someone with a true biotin deficiency in the hair growing department, no scientific evidence exists to support the claim that biotin helps the general public with hair growth.
Biotin Claims
Another dilemma regarding biotin arises when considering how biotin is delivered to the hair. Biotin is available in both oral supplement form and within hair care products that are applied topically, like shampoos and conditioners. If biotin actually does make hair grow faster, then your best bet is to take it in a vitamin form. Most evidence points to biotin not being able to penetrate the scalp, thus making its use in topical hair products dubious. Using biotin enriched shampoos may make your hair appear thicker by adding volume to the hair shaft, but it's unlikely that it will increase the rate of hair growth. However, since biotin does contribute to overall health by helping both with metabolism and the manufacturing enzymes, it may possibly be helpful to take a supplement. And since it's water-soluble, there's virtually no risk of overdosing. However, there is also no guarantee that your hair will grow faster, so don't be lured in by any lavish claims of lengthy manes.
Tags: hair care, hair growth, grow faster, hair grow, biotin products