Vitamins work wonders for our bodies. We consume them in our diet and when needed, we opt for external supplements. As you might know, there are different types of vitamins and each of them proves beneficial for a particular organ of our bodies. 

Sometimes, the side effects of vitamins override their benefits. You need to exercise caution when consuming the supplements. In this blog, I’ll elaborate on five of the most important questions you should ask before consuming hair, skin, and nail vitamins in the form of supplements. Biotin has a major role in the health of your hair, skin, and nails. Thus, most of the questions relate to it.

Let’s get started.

What are the side effects of taking hair, skin, and nail vitamins?

You will encounter minor side effects when taking such vitamins. Constipation, diarrhea or an upset stomach may occur. They are usually temporary and disappear as your body adjusts to the intake of the vitamins. 

Remember, if your doctor has prescribed this drug, then he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Most of the people consuming such supplements do not have serious side effects.

Is it safe to take biotin every day?

Yes, it is safe to let biotin enter our bodies every day.

For people who follow a decent diet and have a good metabolism, they are already getting biotin in a good amount from natural supplements. So they should not consume biotin in addition to that.

Biotin should be consumed exclusively only when recommended by your doctor. Never exceed the recommended dosage. Also, tell your doctor about other medications you’re taking and any medical conditions you have before taking biotin. Sometimes, vitamins and supplements have a negative effect on some medications and medical conditions.

Currently, there are no known adverse side effects of biotin when taken as a prescription or through normal dietary intake. According to the NIH, research shows that there are no adverse effects on the average person taking 10,000 to 50,000 micrograms of biotin daily. Furthermore, even patients with biotin deficiency who receive up to 200 milligrams or 200,000 micrograms of oral biotin or 20 milligrams of intravenous biotin daily do not have any risk of a biotin overdose.

Can biotin make you gain weight?

According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), biotin is not linked to weight gain. It doesn’t contain any calories by itself and cannot increase your weight.

But there are some rumors of biotin helping with weight loss. After taking biotin, your resting metabolic rate is elevated and food breaks down faster. This is why there’s a link to biotin and accelerating weight loss. Research with respect to this interpretation is still preliminary and we cannot call biotin a weight loss pill.

Can you take hair, skin, and nail vitamins with multivitamins?

Yes, you can take biotin as hair, skin, and nail vitamins along with other multivitamins. As mentioned previously, biotin does not have any side-effects but this perk does not apply to the other vitamins.

An overdose of vitamins A, D, E, or K can cause life-threatening side effects. Certain minerals present in a multivitamin may worsen the overdose symptoms if you take too much.

If you are not suffering from a serious deficiency, take a holiday from vitamins or consume biotin and other multivitamins on alternate days. Check with your healthcare professional if this is possible. 

Do hair, skin, and nail vitamins help hair grow?

Hair, skin, and nail vitamins include vitamins A, B, C, D, and E. Let’s look at each of them if they help your hair grow.

Vitamin A helps skin glands secrete an oily substance called sebum, which moisturizes the scalp and helps keep hair healthy. Deficiency of vitamin A may lead to hair loss.

Biotin is a well-known B vitamin linked to hair growth. Other B-vitamins help in the creation of red blood cells, which carry oxygen and nutrients to the hair follicles and scalp. These processes are crucial for hair growth.

Free radical damage blocks the growth and causes your hair to age. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that protects against the oxidative stress caused by free radicals. Moreover, your body needs vitamin C to create a protein called collagen that is an important part of the hair structure.

Low levels of vitamin D can cause alopecia (a technical term for hair loss). Research shows that vitamin D may help create new follicles: the tiny pores in the scalp from where new hair can grow.

Like vitamin C, vitamin E is also an antioxidant that prevents oxidative stress. In a particular study, people with hair loss experienced a 34.5% increase in hair growth after taking vitamin E for 8 months.

Conclusion

Never consume any vitamin or multivitamin product without asking such questions. The list can go on but these five questions are the most basic ones. Take care!