Key takeaways
- Biotin is a B vitamin your body uses to maintain normal hair, skin and nails.*
- True biotin deficiency is uncommon, and research in healthy people is still limited.
- If you take biotin, tell your doctor before any blood work. It can affect some lab results.
Biotin might be the most famous beauty vitamin on the planet. It's in hair gummies, nail serums, shampoos and almost every "hair, skin and nails" formula you've ever seen. But is it worth it? Here's the honest answer, including the part most beauty brands leave out.
What is biotin?
Biotin, also called vitamin B7, is a water-soluble B vitamin. Your body uses it to help turn the food you eat into energy, and it plays a role in producing keratin, the protein that makes up your hair, skin and nails. You get biotin from foods like eggs, salmon, nuts, seeds and sweet potatoes.
What does the research say?
According to the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, biotin deficiency is uncommon in people who eat a varied diet, and the evidence that biotin supplements improve hair, skin or nails in healthy people is limited, mostly small studies and case reports. Where people are low in biotin, thinning hair and brittle nails are classic signs, which is where the vitamin earned its reputation.
So we'll be straight with you: biotin is not a miracle grow serum. What it is is a simple, well-tolerated way to make sure you're never running low on a nutrient your hair, skin and nails depend on.* The NIH notes no adverse effects have been found even at doses far higher than what's in supplements, and no upper limit has been set.
What's in our Beauty strips
Our Beauty strips pair biotin with two nutrients that support your whole body, not just your hair:
- Biotin, 5,000 mcg, the most common amount in hair, skin and nail formulas
- Folate (vitamin B9), 400 mcg DFE, which supports normal cell health*
- Vitamin D3, 20 mcg, 100% of your daily value of the sunshine vitamin
It's an orange-flavored strip that melts in seconds, with no water and no sugary gummy.
The safety tip most brands skip
This is important. The FDA has warned that high doses of biotin can interfere with certain lab tests, including some tests for thyroid function and troponin, a marker doctors use to check for heart attacks. Biotin can make results look falsely high or falsely low.
The fix is simple: tell your doctor you take biotin before any blood work. They may ask you to pause it for a few days beforehand. We'd rather you hear it from us than be surprised.
Getting the most from your beauty routine
- Be patient. Hair and nails grow slowly. Give any routine at least two to three months before judging it.
- Eat enough protein. Hair is made of protein, so your plate matters as much as your supplement.
- Be gentle. Heat, tight styles and harsh chemicals cause a lot of breakage.
- See a doctor for sudden shedding. Sudden or patchy hair loss can have medical causes that no vitamin will fix.
FAQ
How long until I see results?
Everyone is different, and biotin is most noticeable for people who were running low. Give it a consistent two to three months.
Can I take it with other supplements?
Check your other products' labels so you don't double up on biotin or vitamin D, and ask your doctor if you take medication.
Is it vegan?
Yes. Beauty strips are vegan, gluten-free and non-GMO.
DOSIS BEAUTY
Your daily glow ritual
5,000 mcg biotin, folate and vitamin D3 in an orange strip. 30 strips per tin, from $33.60.
Keep reading
Sources
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: Biotin Fact Sheet
- U.S. FDA: Biotin Interference with Troponin Lab Tests
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. DOSIS products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This article is for general education and isn't medical advice. If you're pregnant, nursing, taking medication or managing a health condition, check with your doctor before starting any supplement.