Biotin for Hair Growth: A Solution for Balding Men?

If you’ve spent any time researching hair loss solutions, you’ve probably come across more than a handful that include biotin. Biotin is everywhere. 

But just because shampoo and supplement makers are throwing something in their products, that doesn't necessarily make it a wise buy.

Some companies are only interested in making a buck. Google "hair loss cures," as you no doubt already have, and you’ll be met with countless results — quite frankly, many of them useless and a waste of your time and money.

So, where does biotin fit in?

Let’s start by telling you what biotin isn’t — a miracle cure for balding. There isn’t one. But, unlike many solutions that claim to offer fast and dramatic results, there is some evidence that increasing biotin consumption could slow hair loss and promote hair growth. 

Below, we'll also tell you more about: 

• What biotin is

• What its benefits are

• What the research says

• Whether or not you should consider a biotin supplement as part of your daily hair care routine.

The Benefits of Biotin for Hair Growth

Biotin is a B vitamin also known as vitamin B7. Experts sometimes refer to it as vitamin H or a coenzyme.

Like all B vitamins, the nutrient helps the body metabolize food. This means it turns carbohydrates into energy your body can use and breaks down proteins and fats.

Limited research suggests it may offer hair health benefits, including:

• Treating biotin-deficiency-related hair loss. If you’re highly deficient in biotin and also seeing signs of hair loss, addressing the deficiency might correct hair problems.

• Managing brittle hair. People with extremely brittle or uncombable hair can sometimes see their hair become more manageable with biotin supplementation.

• Boosting keratin production. Unlike many other supplements for hair loss, research shows biotin plays a role in keratin production. (Keratin is the protein that makes up your hair.)

See our blog on biotin versus keratin for hair loss for more insight.

The Research: What Does Biotin Do for Hair?

One 2016 study published in the International Journal of Trichology found that 38 percent of people complaining of hair loss were actually biotin deficient. However, the researchers concluded that biotin supplementation shouldn’t be used unless a biotin deficiency is suspected.

Another study published in the journal Dermatology Research and Practice found that biotin supplements helped boost hair growth. It’s important to note, though, that the supplements also contained additional ingredients that may have influenced the results.

The study looked at the effects of a supplement containing biotin, a marine protein complex, zinc, and other ingredients. A total of 60 women took part, with 30 taking the supplement and 30 getting a placebo. After 90 days, the supplement appeared to decrease hair loss and increase hair growth.

The study was also funded by the company that makes the supplement used in the study. Though this doesn’t negate the findings, it is worth pointing out.

Okay, what else?

A double-blind study published in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology suggests that biotin can help folks with thinning hair by speeding up hair growth.

Finally, in a review published in 2017, biotin supplements were found to reverse hair loss in some people. But the researchers were quick to note that supplementation might not benefit “healthy” individuals without biotin deficiencies.

How Much Biotin Do You Need?

So, what are the right amounts of biotin? For adults, the adequate intake (AI) is 30 micrograms (mcg) per day.

Adequate intake is different from a recommended daily allowance (RDA). It tells you the amount that’s probably ideal for most people.

AI is used when there’s not enough research to determine an RDA for a specific nutrient.

Biotin Sources

Biotin either comes from your own body (through the natural action of intestinal bacteria) or biotin-rich food.

A balanced diet for hair will include biotin-rich foods like:

• Egg yolks

• Sweet potatoes

• Carrots

• Bananas

• Pork

• Yeast

• Salmon

FYI: Cooking depletes biotin levels, so plant sources of biotin are best eaten raw if you’re concerned about increasing intake naturally.

If you’re trying to boost your consumption, you can also include biotin gummies in your daily routine.

Can Biotin Deficiency Cause Hair Loss?

Your body needs biotin, but the chances you’re lacking this vitamin are low.

On average, one out of every 140,000 people has a biotin deficiency.

So since hair loss is pretty common, this tells you biotin deficiency isn’t a common cause of hair loss. And experts don’t see a widespread need to up your biotin dosage with supplements.

But biotin deficiency does happen.

Who Might Have a Biotin Deficiency

You’re more likely to have a biotin deficiency if you:

• Regularly eat raw egg whites

• Have alcohol use disorder (AUD)

• Are malnourished

• Have a gut health condition, like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

• Have the genetic disorder biotinidase deficiency (BTD)

• Take anti-seizure medications

• Take retinoids

• Have had your stomach surgically removed

• Are pregnant or breastfeeding

A note on raw egg whites and hair thinning: You would have to eat raw egg whites daily for a very long time to see biotin deficiency as a result.

An easy solution? Cooking egg whites prevents the protein avidin from blocking biotin absorption.

But again, you’re unlikely to be biotin deficient.

Signs of Biotin Deficiency

However, if you aren’t getting enough biotin, symptoms of biotin deficiency include:

• Dry, scaly skin rash around the mouth, nose, eyes, or genitals

• Brittle nails

• Swollen, painful tongue

• Loss of appetite

• Depression

• Insomnia

• Hair loss

One final note: While biotin has proven benefits for hair growth in people with biotin deficiencies, it doesn’t affect female or male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia). This type of baldness is hormonal and genetic — and it can’t be treated with vitamins.

This doesn’t mean it’s a bad idea to supplement with biotin. Just don’t expect it to regrow your hairline and reverse genetic hair loss.

Is Biotin Good for Hair Growth?

Research supports the idea that, in people who are biotin deficient, supplementation yields healthy hair growth results.

Although biotin deficiency probably isn’t the cause of your hair loss, taking a biotin supplement might still benefit you.

Biotin isn’t known to be toxic, so taking a biotin supplement is unlikely to negatively affect your liver or other organs.

Data also show that people can safely consume biotin at much higher levels than the daily recommended amounts without creating any health problems.

However, while biotin doesn’t have many potential interactions, it’s still worth talking to your healthcare provider before starting a supplementation routine — especially if you currently take prescription medication.

One critical fact to remember is that biotin is a water-soluble vitamin that needs to be taken orally to be effective as a hair loss treatment.

This means that the biotin you see in some hair products, like shampoo, is unlikely to have any real effect on the thickness and strength of your hair.

Biotin Side Effects and Risks

Your body can typically excrete any excess biotin you get from food and supplements through urine.

But too much biotin can sometimes lead to side effects like:

• Insomnia

• Excessive thirst

• Increased urination

There are no reported cases of serious complications from taking too much biotin.

Still, people with diabetes should be cautious with biotin supplements because they might impact blood glucose levels. Biotin can also affect lab test results, in particular, thyroid hormone panels.

If you’re taking other supplements with biotin, be aware that alpha-lipoic acid and vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) can prevent your body from properly absorbing biotin — and biotin can prevent the absorption of these supplements too.

Using Biotin for Hair Loss: The Final Word

Biotin is a key factor in keratin production, but what can biotin actually do for hair?

Here’s what to keep in mind about biotin for hair growth:

• Biotin deficiency can lead to hair loss. It’s unlikely — though not impossible — that your hair loss is the result of a vitamin B7 deficiency.

• Hair loss is just one sign of a biotin deficiency. Think you could be lacking this essential B​ vitamin? Consider whether you have additional symptoms like dry skin or insomnia.

• It can help to talk to a healthcare professional. If you’re worried about biotin deficiency or hair loss, consult a healthcare professional online or see a dermatologist in person.

• Biotin overdose is unlikely. You can safely increase your biotin intake through foods rich in biotin and with supplementation. Since this nutrient is water-soluble, your body can typically easily excrete large doses.

• Biotin probably won’t help your hair grow, unless you’re deficient. There isn’t major evidence that biotin helps grow or preserve hair in folks with normal levels of this vitamin.

If you’re struggling with hair loss, consider FDA-approved, science-backed hair loss treatments like finasteride. This prescription medication works by inhibiting the production of 5α-reductase, an enzyme that converts your body’s testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is linked to hair loss.

Another option is minoxidil, a vasodilator that encourages blood flow (and with it, nutrients) to the areas on your scalp that need it most.

We’ve covered both of these options in more detail in our guide to minoxidil versus finasteride, including the science behind how they both work for hair loss.