Biotin, or vitamin H, is actually a part of the vitamin B complex group. All of these work with your body to process your food into energy, and they help to promote healthy skin, eyes, liver and hair. If you have a biotin deficiency, you may experience hair loss, along with other adverse side effects. Talk to your doctor about adding vitamin H to your diet or supplement regimen to improve the health of your hair.
Metabolism of Nutrients
In order to make use of the nutrients you eat, your body needs to metabolize them, and biotin aids in this process. If you do not get enough vitamin H or other B complex vitamins, it can slow your body's ability to metabolize nutrients, which can in turn result in your hair follicle cells becoming undernourished. Undernourished hair cells may not grow properly, or they may become brittle and split easily, leading to an uneven texture and even hair loss.
Scalp Conditions
Biotin also works to maintain the health of your skin, including your scalp. Dry and scaling skin is another side effect of a vitamin H deficiency, and this can harm the health of your hair if the skin problems spread to your scalp. Scalp conditions like seborrheic dermatitis are characterized by an itching and flaking scalp, or even temporary hair loss if the flaking skin becomes built up enough to clog your follicles. Make sure that you meet the RDA for biotin may help prevent this from occurring.
General Hair Health
Consuming an adequate amount of biotin helps to maintain the strength and texture of your hair, as well as regulates its growth. If you have weak, thin, splitting or brittle hair and nails, you doctor may recommend you begin taking vitamin H to help strengthen them. For this reason, many cosmetic products contain biotin. Furthermore, the combination of biotin, zinc and topical clobetasol propionate has been used as a treatment for alopecia, an autoimmune condition that results in hair loss.
Sources, RDA and Precautions
Adults over the age of 19 need 30 mcg of biotin per day, though your doctor may recommend you take as much as 100 mcg to 1,000 mcg a day, depending on the condition you are treating. You can find biotin in foods like brewer's yeast, egg yolks, sardines, whole grains, cauliflower, bananas, mushrooms, soybeans and walnuts. The less processed these foods are, the more biotin they will contain. Always check with your doctor before adding a biotin supplement to your diet, since they may interfere with certain medications, such as antibiotics and anticonvulsants.
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