A head of strong, thick hair, shiny nails and glowing skin may be a standard of beauty, but they don't sell it in a bottle. Hair and nail vitamins claim to make your hair less brittle and cause it to grow faster and fuller. Hair and nail vitamins claim to stop nail breakage and promote longer growth. In reality, hair and nail vitamin packages aren't miracle workers, but rather a mixture of vitamins and minerals you need for good health anyway. Unless you're deficient in any of the vitamins contained in these formulas, you may not see any effect. Vitamins are no substitute for good nutrition, nor should they be used as treatment for underlying medical problems that may be causing hair, skin and nail problems. Talk to your doctor before you begin such a regimen.
Assist in Replenishing Needed Vitamins
Vitamin deficiencies can affect your body's cells and thus, the growth and repair of your nails and hair. If you have a vitamin deficiency affecting these areas, hair and nail vitamins may provide a little extra insurance for resolving your underlying health problems. Generally speaking, however, taking a vitamin supplement by mouth is usually not the way to solve a vitamin deficiency. There may be problems with how much of the vitamin is left behind after it enters your system and is metabolized. Then, how much of the vitamins your body absorbs depends on a variety of factors, including what else you ate, medications you take and other health conditions you may have. Your doctor is better able to treat your hair and nail-related vitamin deficiencies than an over-the-counter supplement. Be mindful that if your hair and nail problems are not caused by a vitamin deficiency, taking vitamin supplements may do nothing to resolve your problem.
Fortify Your Metabolism and Protect from Oxidative Stress
Hair and nails are essentially made up of proteins, and they have a life cycle that is closely related to your nutritional status. Hair and nail formulas contain ingredients that lay the groundwork for healthy metabolism of protein. For example, they usually contain doses of vitamins A, B, C, E and biotin. They may also contain zinc, sulfur and magnesium. The marketing claims on the vitamin supplements suggest that the pills can strengthen and grow your hair and nails, a claim that is founded on the ability of B vitamins to improve your protein metabolism. In fact, just about all of the benefits that hair and nail vitamins claim are based on knowledge of what these vitamins in do for the body. For example, vitamin A helps to form and maintain your nails and skin. In addition, hair and nail vitamins may contain carotenoids, like beta carotene, which come from plants and turn into vitamin A in the body. Carotenoids are strong antioxidants, along with vitamins C and E, and can help with cell repair and protection from damage. Biotin is part of the B complex of vitamins, and according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, preliminary evidence suggests that biotin may help improve thin, splitting or brittle nails and hair.
Don't Be Fooled
The "Daily Glow" reports that sometimes hair loss could be a natural part of your normal hair life cycle or a temporary reaction to recent trauma, such as giving birth or major surgery. You could be duped into believing that the hair vitamin stopped the hair loss when the shedding was only temporary anyway. The Institute of Trichologists says there's no point in taking hair and nail vitamins unless you are vitamin deficient. Rather, the institute recommends you talk to a knowledgeable health-care provider who can diagnose your condition and devise a treatment plan. According to Dietitian.com, a balanced diet should provide all of your nutrient intake needs for healthy hair, skin and nails. Dieters, especially those on very low-calorie diets, may not get enough protein, and as a result, they may experience some loss of hair and lackluster nails; but vitamins as a form of therapy probably won't work to grow hair.
Help is Available
Medications are available to help stop hair loss and help it grow. Minoxidil and finasteride are approved for these purposes. Your doctor can also prescribe medications for disorders that show up in your fingernails, toenails and skin. These are drugs, however, not vitamins. In most cases, to get the most effective dose, you will need to see your health-care provider.
References
- "Clinics in Dermatology"; Nutrition and Nail Disease; Michael W. Cashman and Steven Brett Sloan; July-August 2010
- "Daily Glow"; The Truth About Hair Growth Vitamins; August 31, 2010
- Ask the Dietitian: Hair, Skin, & Nails
- Institute of Trichologists: Essentials Hair Loss Facts
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Vitamin H (Biotin)
- University of North Carolina Charlotte: Skin, Hair, Nails
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