How Biotin Can Help You Handle Hair Loss 

All opinions are mine and mine alone.

How Biotin Can Help You Handle Hair Loss 

 Hair loss can affect anyone and can happen for any number of reasons – age, stress, poor diet, protein deficiency, anemia, or thyroid conditions can all cause us to wake up with strands on the pillow, or a dreaded tuft that stays in the hairbrush instead of on the scalp. A biotin deficiency could also cause it. 

Biotin, also known as ‘the hair growth vitamin,’ is another name for water-soluble Vitamin B7. The body doesn’t produce biotin on its own. How does biotin help minimize hair loss?  

The Biology of Biotin  

Biotin helps to support proteins in the body, such as keratin – which is the protein the hair is formed of. It’s an essential part of something called ‘cell proliferation,’ which may sound scientific but means merely growth and development. Biotin reacts with cell enzymes to produce amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein, and therefore of hair.  

Biotin is proven to be one of the most effective hair loss treatments, with studies showing that increasing biotin intake can produce a significant improvement in hair condition in people who have the deficiency. If your hair loss is minimal, you may be able to help by incorporating more high-biotin foods, such as avocado, eggs, peanut butter, legumes, cauliflower, fish, nuts, sweet potato, dairy, and berries into your diet. 

 Choosing an Enriched Shampoo  

If food isn’t working, or your hair loss is a bit more extensive, there are lots of products that claim to help us maintain a full head of hair for longer. Several brands are creating biotin-rich shampoos, conditioners, and treatments. The number of products that are on the market is increasing year by year, which can make knowing which product and formula you should choose somewhat tricky. A comparison site such as Hairlossable is a great place to start looking.  

These shampoos can help improve the strength, elasticity, and thickness of hair and reduce breakage. If your scalp becomes flaky and dry due to a lack of biotin, the excess skin can stop your hair from growing. Biotin shampoos cleanse and rehydrate the scalp, encouraging hair’s natural growth cycle. But then, it’s not just about biotin. There are also ingredients you might want to avoid if you’re looking to reduce hair loss and promote growth. These less hair-friendly ingredients include:  

• Sodium lauryl sulfate 
• Propylene glycol distearate 

• Isopropyl alcohol 
• Disodium EDTA 

 The harsh chemicals in these ingredients can strip moisture out of the hair, causing it to break, and damage the scalp. Some of them are even found in antifreeze – definitely not something you want to be putting on your skin.  

 Know Your Body’s Biotin  

It’s worth knowing that if you do have a biotin deficiency, you may have other symptoms other than thinning hair or hair loss. These symptoms can include red, scaly skin around the eyes, nose, and mouth, general lethargy and tiredness, numbness in the hands and feet, brittle nails, and in severe cases, seizures, hallucinations, and depression. If you have any of these symptoms, seek medical advice immediately.