In a prior article, we mentioned the fact that vitamin B7 or biotin as it is better known is part of the B complex and is considered as a hair-friendly vitamin. A deficiency of this vitamin will result in poor hair health and excessive thinning eventually necessitating a hair replacement procedure. If your condition has not progressed to the point where some type of hair replacement procedure is necessary, beefing up your diet with foods that are rich in B7 may help you to avoid having replacement surgery.
How does biotin help thicken your hair and avoid hair replacement surgery?
Biotin helps the body produce keratin which is a protein that is typically found in the fingernails and hair. However, it has been shown in certain studies that it also helps to thicken the hair. There are certain conditioners and shampoos on the market today that contain biotin and can help you in this area. It helps to improve hair follicle health by penetrating the strands and thickening them in the process. Additionally, biotin penetrates the scalp and improves the health of that area of the body.
Vitamin B7 in common folk use
In the past, biotin was a common folk remedy for arresting hair loss and thinning so that hair replacement was not necessary. It was used as a remedy for alopecia areata, brittle hair, dandruff, and male pattern baldness. Although this was common folk practice in the past, there is no scientific evidence to support that biotin was effective in correcting the above conditions.
Other considerations regarding biotin and hair replacement – although it has been proven that taking biotin can help arrest the loss of one’s hair and even thicken it, biotin deficiency does not account for the majority of cases involving hair loss and thinning. Taking vitamin B7 will definitely help if your diet is biotin-deficient and is easily purchased over the counter in 500 to 1,000 mg doses. Ingesting 500 to 1,000 mg daily helps to enhance hair health and regulate your metabolism.
Risks involved
Taking vitamin B7, even if your diet is not biotin-deficient does not carry any significant health risks. Most importantly, it will correct any deficiencies involving biotin and can prevent further loss or thinning of the hair. It also enhances growth and thickening of the hair which means that having hair replacement surgery may not be necessary for quite a while.
