Let’s talk about biotin for hair and skin. You may have even noticed biotin shampoo for hair loss—does it really work?

Biotin is vitamin B7. Biotin is especially important for pregnant women and children. A deficiency of biotin in a pregnant mother could lead to malformations in the growth and development of the child.

Biotin acts as a coenzyme in the formation of proteins. There are a lot of different fats and proteins that make up body tissue. It’s a helper enzyme in the formation of myelin, hair, and skin.

The microbes in the large intestine make just as much biotin as you get from your diet. But, the majority of biotin you get from your diet is not in a free form—the biotin made by your microbes is. Anything that destroys your microbes, especially antibiotics, can have a negative effect on biotin.

The RDA for biotin is not fully agreed upon, and it’s difficult to get biotin from your diet. However, a few foods rich in biotin are egg yolks, liver, kidneys, and certain cheeses.

The top causes of biotin deficiency are:

• Raw egg whites

• The keto diet (causes the demand for biotin to increase)

• Anti-seizure medication

• Smoking

• Alcohol

• Lowered stomach acid

• Pregnancy or breastfeeding

• High amounts of exercise

• Age

• Genetic issues

If you’re experiencing symptoms like keto rash, hair thinning, or hair loss on keto, it could be because of a lack of biotin in the diet.

A subclinical deficiency in biotin could lead to thinning hair, hair loss, or skin rashes. However, symptoms of a major biotin deficiency can be more severe.

Symptoms of a biotin deficiency:

• Alopecia

• Eczema

• Seizures

• Candida

• Depression

Biotin cream or shampoo can be absorbed through the skin and may be beneficial for a subclinical biotin deficiency. You may also want to include biotin in your diet and even take a supplement form.