BIOTIN

📋 Quick facts

Description: BIOTIN — vitamin B7, supports skin barrier function.

All Functions: vitamin B7, supports skin barrier function

Quick Facts:

• Category: active

Proven Benefits At A Glance:

• Biotin is a B-complex vitamin involved in cellular metabolism and energy production
• True biotin deficiency is rare in healthy people who eat a normal diet
• The highest-quality study on biotin for hair growth found no difference between biotin and placebo
• Evidence supporting biotin supplements for hair, skin, or nails in healthy people is limited
• Biotin is considered safe as a cosmetic ingredient at typical use concentrations
• High-dose biotin can interfere with some medical blood tests, potentially causing false results

⚗️ Chemical Overview

5-(2-oxo-1,3,3a,4,6,6a-hexahydrothieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4-yl)pentanoic acid is a member of biotins. 5-(2-Oxohexahydro-1H-thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4-yl)pentanoic acid has been reported in Homo sapiens with data available. See also: Biotin (annotation moved to).

Source(s): ChEBI, LOTUS – the natural products occurrence database, PubChem, via PubChem

📊 Comedogenicity

🛡️ Safety rating

Safety tier is a starting heuristic from regulatory status and comedogenic rating, not a dermatological verdict — see our Terms for the full disclaimer. Research confidence reflects how many real cited studies back this ingredient, not the strength of their findings.

🌍 Regulatory Status

💧 Skin Type Compatibility

⚠️ Don’t Combine With

📚 Research & Evidence

🔬 The Science

Biotin, also called vitamin B7, is a water-soluble vitamin that acts as a cofactor—essentially a helper molecule—for enzymes involved in breaking down fats, amino acids, and glucose to produce energy in your cells (2026 peer-reviewed journal). Your body gets biotin from foods like eggs, nuts, legumes, and certain vegetables, and your gut bacteria also make some biotin naturally (2026 peer-reviewed journal). #1: For healthy people, biotin deficiency is uncommon. It mainly develops in specific at-risk groups, such as those on long-term antibiotics that kill gut bacteria, certain anti-seizure medications, or total parenteral nutrition (feeding through an IV) without adequate biotin added (2026 peer-reviewed journal).

#2: When deficiency does occur, early signs include fatigue, hair thinning or hair loss, and eczema-like skin rashes; if untreated, it can progress to nerve problems like numbness or cognitive issues (2026 peer-reviewed journal). Despite widespread marketing claims, the evidence for biotin supplements in healthy people is weak. #3: A 2024 review of biotin for hair growth found only three rigorous studies—the highest-quality one was double-blind and placebo-controlled, and it showed no difference between the biotin group and the placebo group (J Clin Aesthet Dermatol, 2024). #4: A 2017 systematic review identified 18 case reports of biotin use, but all involved people with an underlying condition causing poor hair or nail growth, not healthy individuals; while these patients improved, the authors concluded there is insufficient evidence to recommend biotin for healthy people (Skin Appendage Disord, 2017).

#5: A 2021 dermatology review concluded that current evidence is insufficient to recommend biotin supplements and called for large-scale trials before widespread use (J Am Acad Dermatol, 2021). Regarding safety: biotin is recognized as safe when used as a cosmetic ingredient at standard concentrations (Int J Toxicol, 2023). However, #6: high-dose biotin supplements can interfere with certain medical blood tests—particularly thyroid hormone tests and heart biomarker tests—potentially producing false-positive or false-negative results that could lead to wrong medical decisions (2026 peer-reviewed journal). This is an important consideration if you take biotin and have upcoming medical testing.

📄 Related Research

Matched by search — not necessarily verified support for every statement above.

• Patel DP et al. (2017). A Review of the Use of Biotin for Hair Loss. Skin Appendage Disord.
• Yelich A et al. (2024). Biotin for Hair Loss: Teasing Out the Evidence. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol.
• Fiume M et al. (2023). Biotin. Int J Toxicol.
• Cervantes A et al. (2026). Biotin Deficiency. a peer-reviewed journal.
• Thompson KG et al. (2021). Dietary supplements in dermatology: A review of the evidence for zinc, biotin, vitamin D, nicotinamide, and Polypodium. J Am Acad Dermatol.

🧴 Products Containing BIOTIN

• Dm,das gesunde Plus Multivitamin
• Natura Siberica Conditioning spray
• sebamed Flüssig-Wasch-Emulsion
• tola shampoo
• thick & full biotin & collagen shampoo
• Pantene Ampollas tratamiento intensivo Repara & Protege
• Nacomï White Black Face Mask
• Tónico
• Superdrug Vitamin e intesive all over body cream
• Deliplus Toallitas desmaquillantes Micelar & Oil
• Tula Tula bright start
• urban care Urban Care Biotin & Caffeine
• Hoito Saç maskesi
• Performans Enerji İçeceği, Bim Performans Enerji İçeceği
• LBD, Melyssa Poudre Libre Matifiante
• L’OREAL NORGE AS Elvital Shampoo Full Resist 250ml
• L’OREAL NORGE AS Elvital Maske Full Resist Power 680ml
• Tresemme shampoo collagen
• TRESemmé TRESemmé Moisture Rich Shampoo
• tresemme shampoo
• tresemme color revitalize
• Tresemme Conditioner
• OGX Thick & Full Biotin & Collagen Conditioner
• Unilever, Tresemmé Tresemmé Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Spray
• tresemme shampoo
• Tresemme Tresemme Conditioner
• Tresemme Tresemme Shampoo
• nioxin shampoo
• RoC RoC Multi Correxion 5 in 1 Anti-Aging Eye Cream
• Spring Valley Women’s Multi With Fruits & Vegetables
• Equate Shampoo
• Avalon Avalon Organics Rosemary Shampoo
• f.a.e. Nourishing Shampoo
• nioxin shampoo
• Briogeo Briogeo
• dr groot shampoo
• Avon organist Apple cider vinegar
• Roman revive shampoo
• Alberto vo5 avocado cream
• Oribe Oribe Supershine Moisturizing Crème