Please answer : Does biotin help promote hair growth?

Aug 19, 2014

Selam G.

Hey every one I have recently been thinking about buying some biotin pills to help my hair grow. I have heard some good things about the pills but I have also heard that they don't work. If it does work how long will I have to take it to start noticing some hair growth? and also if you know what the best brands are?
Thank you! 💕

Aug 19, 2014

Alyssa B.

You shouldn't use pills for hair growth they can have bad side effects and your hair growth depends on genetics.

Aug 19, 2014

Kat A.

If you aren't deficient in biotin, all you'll basically be doing is (tmi) peeing out all the money you spent on the pills. secondly, taking them if you're not deficient could result in side effects serious enough to put you in the hospital. having too much biotin will lower something else-no bueno. always talk to a doctor before taking any pills. I can give you tips on promoting hair growth if you'd like?

Aug 19, 2014

Shelley W.

I have long curly hair that goes just past my butt when stretched. Long hair can be achieved without popping pills...I don't pop biotin or any of the other nonsense in the market because long hair can be achieved thru proper haircare and diet. I highly advise against biotin because its not a cure all. Some people experience adverse reactions to it that is just far too risky in my opinion. Along with causing horrible acne if one doesn't consume a ton of water while taking this med its also hard on the organs having to process the stuff. I don't know of any studies discussing long-term use of the pill (hopefully someone will post some info for that if you're interested). The only pills I pop are a multivitamin and flaxseed tabs once a day. A healthy well-rounded diet concentrating on consuming Omega 3's (found in fish and eggs for example) and proper hair maintance should be your focus.

Aug 19, 2014

Shannon B.

It has bad side affects. Do not waste your money on it.

Aug 19, 2014

Danielle H.

Haha everyone one here hates it... But I love it! I use a brand called healthy hair skin and nails and I've been using it for years without any side effects.

Aug 19, 2014

Symone B.

This is a really good thread for reference http://www.beautylish.com/t/yinxyu/why-hair-pills-are-dangerous-please-read.

Aug 19, 2014

Allison B.

What helped my hair grow was changing to organic shampoo and conditioner cause regular shampoo and conditioner have sulfates. And sulfates damage your hair follicles and clog the pores.

Aug 20, 2014

Sammi B.

I used to take biotin religiously and I honestly didn't see any sort of results except lots more hair in areas you don't really want it lol I suggest to just let your hair do it's thing!

Aug 20, 2014

Maggie F.

I'm taking a multivitamin that has hair, skin and nails benefit. I thought nothing of it until I read this post, but it does have biotin. I haven't had any side effects. I do think it has improved my hair (less breakage, grows faster, less shedding), my nails grow super fast and my skin had been about the same.

Aug 20, 2014

Emily W.

I can post references to medical journals about this topic that demonstrate why you don't take supplements without a deficiency, should anyone request them. Honestly those stores/sections of the grocery store just shouldn't exist. It is a playground of dangerous and unguided medications, especially since they aren't regulated (you have no clue what you are really ingesting, especially with things like diet pills). Many supplements interact with prescription medications such as birth control, blood thinners, etc. and can cause life threatening side effects. Many can cause allergic reactions (herbal supplements in particular).

Biotin in particular is problematic. Our body requires very little biotin, and absorbs it from the food we eat. Spinach is a biotin-rich food, for example. Taking extra biotin does one of two things: your body filters out the excess through the kidneys and flushes it out with urine, sending your money down the toilet; or you end up with side effects ranging from acne to severe system failure (particularly kidney failure). Either way you waste your money, or end up with new and more expensive and difficult problems.

Focus on eating right and staying hydrated. Talk to your doctor and get a blood panel done to see if there is anything you need to work on (e.g. more iron in your diet, lower cholesterol, less salt, etc.). Leave the pills alone.

Aug 20, 2014

Alyx T.

^ that. What Emily said.

And you have to be so careful with pills interacting. I was on anti anxiety meds that were prescribed by a psychiatrist and I went to my doctor soon after, he said I had to take omega 3/fish oil and iron supplements due to me not eating enough meat or fish. So I went and bought some. The fish oil tablets I was taking had other ingredients in it that interacted with my anti anxiety pills and gave me bad side effects and sent me to the hospital. If I had continued to take the supplements and not gone to the hospital it would have led to kidney failure or liver failure. Both potentially fatal.

If you do take any supplements, talk to your doctor and do research on what can interact. If you're on birth control it can react to almost all supplements depending on what other ingredients are in it.

If you keep even a semi healthy diet, and even most of the times when you're keeping a junk food diet, you get most of what you need and taking pills can lead to side effects or you're just peeing them out. Unless you're deficient there is no point. Which the likelihood is slim, but if you don't eat fish or meat than you might be low on iron or omega 3 like I was, but don't take pills without talking to the doctor. My mom eats all the same food as me and doesn't eat a lot of meat or fish, and her levels of iron and omega 3 were fine. So she would have just peed it out or had overdosed and had bad side effects if she had taken them.