Do hair vitamins and biotin help with hair loss?

Do hair vitamins stop hair loss?

If you do not have a deficiency, there is no strong evidence that they do: in people without a deficiency, hair vitamins and biotin have not been shown to stop or reduce hair loss. It is different if there is a deficiency that contributes to the hair loss; correcting it may help reduce the shedding. For this, a doctor first needs to assess whether there really is a deficiency.

Products sold as “hair vitamins” are usually not a single vitamin but a mixture. They contain varying amounts of biotin, zinc, iron, vitamin D, other B vitamins, some amino acids (the building blocks of proteins) and sometimes plant extracts.

Genetic hair loss (androgenetic alopecia), the most common cause of hair loss, is not caused by a vitamin deficiency. In the temporary, widespread shedding that follows an illness, childbirth or severe stress, the cause is also usually not a vitamin deficiency; we explain this type of shedding in our article on telogen effluvium.

What does biotin do for your hair?

Biotin (also known as vitamin B7 or vitamin H) is a B vitamin that certain enzymes need in order to work; these enzymes help the body use fats, carbohydrates and proteins. It is found in foods such as egg yolks, nuts, legumes and liver. Because most diets provide enough biotin, deficiency is rare.

When there is a deficiency, hair loss or thinning may occur, sometimes together with a red, scaly rash around the eyes, nose and mouth. Biotin deficiency can be caused by a rare inherited enzyme deficiency, eating raw egg whites over a long period, certain epilepsy medicines or long-term intravenous feeding.

The publications that report a benefit of biotin for hair are largely about people who had a deficiency or another underlying hair or nail problem. Because biotin is a water-soluble vitamin, most of any excess leaves the body in the urine, and taking more has not been shown to bring any extra benefit for hair. Even so, when it is taken in high amounts, its level in the blood rises and it can affect some tests.

Which deficiencies are checked with tests?

When looking for the cause of hair loss, the doctor may order some tests based on your history and the examination findings. There is no single list of tests that applies to everyone. The conditions most often linked with hair loss are:

Thyroid problems are not a vitamin deficiency, but they are among the causes of hair loss that are often looked into; that is why thyroid tests are also commonly ordered.

If a deficiency is found, your doctor decides on the type of supplement, the amount and how long to take it; the cause of the deficiency is also looked into. That is why we do not recommend any brands, products or amounts in this article.

More is not always better. Taking too much of some substances, such as vitamin A and selenium, can cause hair loss, and taking high amounts of zinc for a long time can lower the body’s copper level. Using several supplements at once can lead you to take too much of the same substance without realizing it.

How does biotin affect test results?

Many lab tests make use of biotin’s ability to bind very strongly to certain proteins when taking measurements. If the biotin level in your blood is high, some of these tests may give falsely high results and others falsely low results. Whether a test is affected, and in which direction, depends on the method the lab uses.

Some products sold for hair, skin and nails contain biotin in amounts far above the daily requirement. The tests that can be affected include:

• Thyroid tests: The results may look as if the thyroid gland is overactive, which can lead to a wrong diagnosis or unnecessary treatment.
• Troponin: With some types of this test, which is used to diagnose a heart attack, the result may come out falsely low.

Certain other hormone tests and lab tests can also be affected. That is why, if you take a product that contains biotin, tell your doctor and the lab before the test. Whether you need to take a break from it, and if so when, depends on how much you take and on the test; ask your doctor about this. Also mention that you take biotin if you go to a healthcare facility with an emergency such as chest pain.

If you get an unexpected result while taking biotin, talk to your doctor before starting or stopping any medicine.

When should you see a doctor?

It makes more sense to find out the cause of your hair loss before you start a supplement. It is a good idea to see a doctor, preferably a dermatologist, in the following situations:

• Hair loss that increases noticeably within a few weeks or lasts longer than six months
• Hair loss in patches, or itching, pain, redness or scaling on the scalp
• Fatigue, heavy periods or unexplained weight changes together with the hair loss
• Hair loss that starts after a strict diet, rapid weight loss or a period of very restricted eating

Whether you have a deficiency varies from person to person; your diet, your periods, the medicines you take and how well your gut absorbs nutrients all play a part. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, take medicines regularly or have a chronic illness, talk to your doctor before starting a supplement. We explain the signs that need attention in our article on when hair loss is not normal.

What do we look at during the examination?

When you come to us about hair loss, we ask when it started, about your diet and about all the medicines and supplements you take, and we look at the type and pattern of the hair loss together. We do not diagnose from photos or messages. If the cause of the hair loss is not clear, we recommend seeing a dermatologist for tests and an assessment.

Whether some of the medicines used for genetic hair loss are suitable for you can only be determined by your doctor’s assessment. The evidence for supporting treatments such as PRP and hair mesotherapy is limited; if they are considered suitable, we discuss them as an additional option alongside treatment aimed at the cause of the hair loss. For areas where no hair follicles remain, we evaluate whether a hair transplant is an option.

If a hair transplant is planned, tell us in advance about all the medicines and supplements you take; we explain why in our article on preparing for a hair transplant. If there is anything you need to pause, we state it in the written instructions we give you; these instructions always take precedence over general information. Do not stop a prescription medicine on your own. Whether you are suitable for a hair transplant is determined during the examination; results also vary from person to person.