What is biotin (Appearex)?
Biotin is a form of vitamin B, present in many foods and available as a supplement.
Biotin is sold under many names, including Appearex, vitamin B7, vitamin H, biotin, biotin and coenzyme R.
Many multivitamins and vitamin B supplements also contain biotin.
Biotin works by breaking down food into sugar that your body can use for energy.
Biotin is important for the health of the skin and nails, and also keeps the eyes, liver and nervous system functioning properly.
During pregnancy, biotin is important for normal fetal development.
Biotin is not stored in the body. Because of this, you can reduce biotin if you do not get enough in your diet.
Although biotin deficiency is rare, it can develop during pregnancy or in people who have poor nutrition or experience rapid weight loss.
Symptoms of biotin deficiency include hair loss, dry skin, scaly rash around the eyes or mouth, dry eyes, fatigue and depression.
Many people take biotin supplements in the hope of treating hair loss, cradle infants and brittle nails.
Some people also take biotin supplements to treat diabetes and nerve pain associated with diabetes, although there is not much evidence to support this type of use.
Some research also suggests that a deficiency in nutrients that include biotin might contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes.
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Two studies in 2012 found that biotin improved blood sugar and insulin levels in people with type 2 diabetes when taken together with chromium supplements.
The researchers concluded that taking biotin supplements can be beneficial for both people with diabetes and those who are obese.
Biotin for hair
Biotin is a popular supplement for hair, skin and nails, although there is little evidence to suggest that taking biotin supplements can stop hair loss or stimulate hair or nail growth.
Similarly, the use of biotin shampoo or other hair products is unlikely to produce any benefit.
There is some evidence that taking biotin supplements with other medications can help control the hair loss associated with childhood alopecia.
Biotin warnings
Always check with your doctor before taking any supplement. Some conditions and medications can cause low levels of biotin.
Tell your doctor if you are:
- On dialysis
- Smoking cigarettes
- Eat two or more raw egg whites a day
- Take medicine for seizures
- I have been on a long-term antibiotic course
- Biotin is a safe vitamin that is unlikely to cause side effects.
However, before taking biotin supplements, tell your doctor if you are pregnant, can become pregnant, or if you are breast-feeding.
Side effects of biotin
If you want to have hair as long as Rapunzel's, you've probably heard about biotin, biotin shampoo, biotin scalp treatments and the biotin supplements that become more popular and difficult every day to avoid in terms of treatments to grow your hair in question, since its main promise is to give you thick and healthy hair ..
Because of its ubiquity, it seems to be an opportune time for a definition: Biotin (also known as vitamin B7 or vitamin H) belongs to the group of B vitamins. It is found in foods such as egg yolk, salmon and vegetables from green leaf, and also occurs naturally in our body by intestinal bacteria. Our organisms do not really require a lot of biotin to get by, but since it plays a role in cell growth, it is cataloged as a way to lengthen the hair and strengthen the nails.
Lately it has become very popular and many people trust it blindly; It's like a secret formula that is supposed to help you have long and healthy hair in an almost magical way. Those who have tried it or have consumed it can tell how their experience has been, but looking at it from a scientific point of view, it is not proven that the body needs more biotin than it produces.
As evidenced in a study done in Into the Gloss, taking it in supplements does not hurt, but it can produce some side effects of biotin if you give more doses to your body than you really need.
Biotin can cause acne? Biotin: Contraindications
Some dermatologists still recommend biotin, since it is not harmful to take it mainly because of its water-soluble characteristic. It is not really designed for people without biotin deficiency, so "there is no consensus on the dose of biotin for hair and nails health," says Dr. Jessica Weiser, a board-certified dermatologist for the Dermatology Group New York. "However, the most commonly suggested dose is 2,500 mcg or 2.5 mg a day."
Some of those contraindications of biotin is acne. As Dr. Jessica Weiser says, consuming more vitamins than we need can produce an imbalance that weakens the protective layer of the skin.
This layer is what prevents environmental substances from entering the pores easily, and therefore, the one that protects us from pimples and blackheads.
"Both biotin and pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) are absorbed from the intestines through the same receptors," he explained. "By taking biotin supplements, the amount of biotin in the intestine is much greater than the amount of vitamin B5, which leads to a relative deficiency of vitamin B5. Pantothenic acid is believed to regulate the barrier function of the surface layer on the skin and can reduce acne lesions. Therefore, a deficiency of pantothenic acid or excess biotin could lead to acne lesions. "
Excess biotin
If excess biotin is ingested, there will be an imbalance of vitamin B5, and skin imperfections will be more likely to appear on the face. In any case, each organism works differently, and it may be helpful for some people to take biotin for hair, and not experience the side effects of biotin.
In simpler terms, you could be giving yourself a B5 deficiency by consuming too much biotin, and that is what is causing your skin to deteriorate and generate acne.
Biotin Causes Obesity Dr. Jessica J. Krant, a board-certified dermatologist at the New York Center for Laser and Skin Surgery, has heard about these side effects of biotin, too. "Many reports indicate that excess ingested biotin can lead to rashes and acne breakouts," he said. "You do not have to be a great scientist or do a lot of scientific research and placebo-controlled trials to prove this, but if you start taking biotin and your acne gets worse, biotin may actually be the culprit."
Your solution? Stop taking the blessed biotin. "I have personally stopped recommending it to patients with nail or hair problems," said Dr. Krant. "If someone asks me about it, I explain that I am not against it, but only help a few people in rare, specific cases."
On the other hand, if you are seeing improvements in hair or nail health when taking biotin (just because there are no scientific studies to back it up, does not mean it is impossible), you do not have to give up taking it. Dr. Weiser suggests taking vitamin B5, along with biotin, to restore balance and avoid the possible side effects of taking biotin. Or you could simply wait for your hair to grow naturally.
Anyway, if you have a tendency to have acne problems and you want to try biotin, it is better to consult a doctor who will know how to advise you in the best way.