Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Biotin Hair Loss Treatment: The Vitamin That Promotes Hair Growth

People deal with hair loss in different possible ways. Some immediately resort to surgeries, others manage to try out herbs when all else fail; while a few others just come to accept the reality and give it a rest.

Sadly, baldness remains without a cure. Baldness is a slow process of hair degradation until it falls out or stops growing. There are different potential factors that cause this phenomenon including heredity, stress, internal imbalances and illnesses.

With the help of essential vitamins and minerals, hair loss can be slowed down or better yet, reversed. A proper diet is of the essence and the inclusion of biotin can be an excellent natural hair loss treatment.        

Biotin, the Hair Vitamin

In 1924, researchers thought they had discovered three growth factors: ‘bios II’, ‘vitamin H’ and ‘coenzyme R’, only to know later that there has always been one substance in action: biotin.

Now, otherwise known as vitamin H or B7, biotin acts as a coenzyme in important reactions such as during DNA synthesis; production of energy; metabolising fats, carbohydrates, and amino acids.

Amino acids are the building blocks of protein of which hair is basically made up. For these reasons, biotin is referred to as the ‘nail and hair vitamin’. Aside from that, biotin can be part of a hair loss treatment as it helps relieve stress, which can cause hair loss in high levels.

Dietary Recommendations of Biotin for Hair Loss Treatment and Hair Growth

Biotin can prevent further hair loss and induce hair growth. It can promote the overall scalp and hair health. In fact, some hair care products contain biotin.

Walnuts, brown rice, almonds, brewer’s yeast and oats are excellent sources of biotin as well as other B vitamins, which also stimulate hair growth. In supplement form, the recommended daily dosage is 30 micrograms for adults.

Biotin deficiency is rare but it can happen due to excessive intake of alcohol, processed foods, egg whites, and a long-term intake of antibiotics. Biotin deficiency is usually under suspicion when symptoms such as hair loss, dry scaly skin, cheilitis, insomnia, depression and dry eyes occur.