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Are Hair, Skin and Nail Supplements Worth It?

Beauty supplements, or ingestible skincare, contain vitamins and minerals and contain herbs, hormones, microbes or animal derivatives and collagen powders. If you have noticed brittle nails or androgenetic alopecia, you might be deficient in certain nutrients that are causing these areas to wane.

Common vitamins and minerals in beauty supplements include vitamins A, C D and E, and B vitamins, as well as zinc and selenium, but food components like fish oils and collagen, and hormones and microbes like melatonin and probiotics are also common ingredients. Others include methlysulfonylmethane (MSM), Hyluoronic acid and horsetail (silica).

These all have scientific research behind them, but not all have enough evidence to support the claims made and not all require high doses.

Biotin, or vitamin B7, can be incredibly useful, as biotin deficiency can cause hair loss and thinning, depression, exhaustion and muscle weakness, but biotin deficiency is rare, as it’s found in many foods we eat, such as eggs, salmon, sardines, nuts, whole grains and bananas. The same is true with zinc, which is actually unsafe to consume in increased amounts for extended periods of time.

Iron deficiency can sometimes cause brittle nails, but so can frequent contact with water or chemicals, or simply aging. Vitamin C is another great vitamin known for its role in energy production but, unless deficient, high doses can actually increase oxidation rather than reduce it. Also, too much vitamin A can actually trigger hair loss.

How long does it take for hair, skin and nail vitamins to work? This depends if you’re deficient in the vitamins and minerals listed in the supplement, and, if so, you should generally experience benefits within a couple of weeks.

Keep in mind that these dietary supplements are not regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration, so manufacturers don’t need to provide any proof of safety, efficacy or quality prior to sale.

When choosing beauty supplements, make sure to look at the best hair, skin and nails vitamins reviews. You will experience hair, skin and nail vitamins side effects depending on the ingredients listed in the product, such as ones listed above.

If you’re experiencing hair, skin and nail issues, it might be a nutrient deficiency or hormonal imbalance. Speak with your doctor or dermatologist to check if you need anything addressed.