What Is Biotin?
Biotin is a commonly used vitamin for its hair, skin, and nail benefits. Today we will highlight this holy grail ingredient and give you all the information you need before incorporating it into your routine. There are many benefits biotin can provide for all skin types.
Breaking Down Biotin
Also known as Vitamin H or B7, biotin is a water-soluble that has health and beauty benefits. Biotin strengthens hair, prevents split ends, and increases nail thickness by working harmoniously with pantothenic acid.
Our bodies don’t store biotin because it can be found in various foods, intestinal bacteria, and supplements. This popular vitamin has an important role in healthy skin that most vitamins don’t provide.
Benefits Of Biotin
Biotin is most popular for its beauty enhancing benefits and is associated with the following skincare goals:
- Helps the formation of fatty acids that nourish the skin
- Helps create amino acids that form keratin
- Strengthen brittle nails
- Helps maintain skin moisture levels
What To Consider With Biotin
There are few side effects when taking biotin supplements as directed. It is recommended to take 2.5 to 3 mg of a biotin supplement a day for optimal results.
Another caveat to consider is that excess biotin can cause issues in acne-prone skin. When you have an excess amount of biotin in your gut it can lead to a decline in vitamin B5, which helps prevent breakouts. This is not a common side effect, but if you notice a surge of breakouts after introducing biotin, consult with a skincare professional.
When considering the use of biotin, it is important to remember that more is not always better. Don’t take more than the dosage listed on the package. Biotin is a water-soluble vitamin. Any excess of biotin you consume will not be stored by your body and will be excreted naturally.
When To Use Biotin
There are different forms of biotin you can choose from, like supplements, oil, and whole foods.
For supplements, it is recommended to take them with your morning meal. The water-soluble nature of biotin ensures your body will absorb it with other nutrients in your meal.
Biotin oil should be gently patted into your skin after your moisturizer. Choosing your biotin source depends on your preference and skin condition.
Speak to a skin care professional to help select which product will be best for you to use and how to include it in your routine.
How Long Does Biotin Take to Work?
It takes around 3 months for biotin to start working and produce noticeable results. Biotin is not an overnight solution and is not guaranteed to work for everyone. Your success depends on body composition. You will not get the same results as someone else.
Does Biotin Help Hair Grow Faster?
It depends, biotin can stimulate hair growth for those with a clinical biotin deficiency. There is not much evidence that shows significant hair growth in those taking a biotin supplement and no nutritional deficiencies.
Is Biotin Safe For My Skin? (Q3)
Yes, biotin doesn’t lead to toxicity in the body or your skin. Excess biotin will be flushed out of your system.
