Thinning hair, weak nails? How biotin – vitamin B7 – could help strengthen both, and fix dry skin, and its other essential functions
- Vitamin B7, also known as biotin, plays a vital role in assisting enzymes to break down fats, carbohydrates and proteins in food, converting them to energy
- It is also key in the growth of keratin – a protein naturally produced by the body that keeps our hair, skin and nails healthy and strong
Last year, Anna Flores noticed that she was losing more hair than usual, particularly while shampooing and brushing her locks.
She read that biotin, or vitamin B7, was good for strengthening hair follicles, so she started taking a biotin supplement every day. Not long after, the hair shedding decreased – and she noticed that her skin looked healthier, too.
“Although more studies need to be done to show that biotin can help improve the health of our hair, skin and nails, I take the supplements regularly anyway because I’ve had positive results,” says Flores, who is in her “mid-to-late 40s” and is the founder of The Chaless Wellness and Beauty spa in Central in Hong Kong.
Cyrus Luk, a Hong Kong dietitian and an executive committee member of the Hong Kong Dietitians Association, says vitamin B7 is considered essential because it provides a range of functions.