Does biotin really help hair growth? We asked dermatologists

If you've ventured into the world of hair loss products in hopes of achieving the longer, thicker hair of your dreams, you've likely heard about biotin. In fact, its prevalence in everything from shampoos and serums to supplements and hair growth gummies would lead most people to believe that it's the secret to longer, lusher hair.

But as it turns out, it may not be doing as much for your hair as some believe. To help you get to the truth, we consulted dermatologists to get their thoughts on the popular hair loss solution. Keep reading for everything you should know.

What is biotin? | Do biotin supplements help with hair growth? | Does biotin shampoo help with hair growth? | Best products for hair growth, according to experts | How we chose | Meet our experts

"Biotin is part of the B complex group of vitamins," shares Dr. Elizabeth Bahar Houshmand, a double board-certified dermatologist in Dallas, Texas. It plays an important role in helping to convert carbohydrates into glucose, which is used for energy.

As Dr. Kathleen Suozzi, an associate professor in the Department of Dermatology at Yale University previously told TODAY, biotin is an essential nutrient for the body, particularly for the skin, hair and nails.

Because of its ability to help strengthen both hair and nails, it is a common ingredient in hair products, shares Houshmand. You’ll typically see biotin in one of two forms: either as a supplement or as an ingredient in a topical product, like a shampoo. More on each below.

In a normal, healthy person, a biotin supplement likely won’t have any effect on hair growth, shares Dr. Joyce Davis, a dermatologist in New York City. And if you’re already getting enough from your diet, it won’t be absorbed. “B vitamins, if they are taken in excess, just get excreted in the urine. So it’s not like you’ll get benefits from extra Biotin.”

As TODAY.com previously reported, adults need 30 micrograms of biotin daily. Most people can get this from a balanced diet, as biotin can be found in foods like meats, eggs, fish, seeds, nuts and vegetables like sweet potatoes, says Houshmand.

Some people do have biotin deficiencies, which can cause hair loss or thinning. And while Houshmand says that biotin supplementation can help in these cases, deficiencies are rare.

While there's no real toxic level of biotin, "biotin taken orally in high doses can interfere with blood tests that measure thyroid and heart function," Houshmand says.

Just like with the supplement, using a topical product, like a biotin shampoo likely won't have any effect on hair growth, the experts share. And if you do start using a biotin shampoo and notice that your hair looks thicker or fuller, there's likely something else at play.

"There are different topical chemicals that could coat the hair, different conditioning agents that make the hair seem thicker, but in terms of topical biotin actually penetrating and doing anything down at the hair follicle, it’s wishful thinking," says Davis.

While it may not give you the growth you're hoping for, Houshmand says there is one potential benefit to using the ingredient. "Topical biotin can help with skin hydration of the scalp," she shares. "This can be beneficial if you have a dry scalp."

Given all that, if you are serious about kickstarting your hair growth journey, there are better ways to do it. That's why we asked the dermatologists to share some of the products that they recommend for hair growth. Plus, we're including some other expert-recommended picks that are worth adding to your cart.

Size: 2 oz. | Key ingredients: Rosemary, castor, jojoba oils

In the last few years, rosemary oil has gone viral as a natural solution for hair loss — and experts say that it may actually be effective.

This affordable strengthening oil is popular amongst those wanting to try out the ingredient. As compared to other products, this one doesn’t dilute the rosemary oil too much and is easy to use on wash days, Rogerio Cavalcante, a hairstylist in New York City, previously shared with us.

Size: 5.0 oz. | Key ingredients: Caffeine, redensyl, betaine

Green mentioned this treatment as one caffeine-containing that is designed to promote hair growth.

Along with the stimulating ingredient, it also contains redensyl, which board-certified dermatologist Dr. Michelle Henry previously told us is “similar to Minoxidil, without the irritation, without the excess hair growth.”

Size: 2.0 oz. | Key ingredients: Rosemary oil, jojoba seed oil, biotin, castor oil

For anyone interested in the ingredient, this hair stylist-approved oil does in fact contain biotin. However, it also contains rosemary oil and other beneficial oils, like castor and jojoba seed oils that may be beneficial for hair growth.

Size: 6 oz. | Key ingredients: Minoxidil

Minoxidil — more commonly known by its brand name, Rogaine — is routinely one of the top products for hair loss recommended to us by experts.

And this popular formula from Amazon contains Minoxidil at a 2% dosage. When used twice per day, the brand says that you may see hair regrowth in as little as four months. It’s designed to be safe on color-treated hair and is unscented. To use, the brand says you should apply one milliliter of the product, using the dropper, two times per day.

Size: 2.11 oz. | Key ingredients: Minoxidil

Both Davis and Houshmand suggested Rogaine's topical treatment for people looking for an over-the-counter solution. When applied once daily, the brand says you can see results in around four months.

"We have numerous studies that show this works on the scalp and eyebrows for hair thinning and loss," Houshmand says.

Size: 2.3 oz. | Key ingredients: Caffeine, lauric acid, niacinamide and sandalore

Houshmand also recommends this serum from Nioxin. She notes that when used in an eight-week clinical study, participants showed reduced hair loss due to improved hair anchorage.

The formula features ingredients like niacinamide, lauric acid and caffeine. Dr. Michele Green, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, previously told us that caffeine can help boost circulation in your scalp, so nutrients and oxygen can more easily be delivered to your hair follicles to keep them healthy.

There can be a number of reasons why hair loss may occur. As dermatologist Dr. Cameron K. Rokhsar, MD previously told us, these can include things like low iron levels, anemia, "changes in thyroid hormone (hyper- or hypothyroidism), changes in sex hormones (conditions such as polycystic ovary disease, which causes an increase in male hormones like testosterone) and autoimmune diseases such as lupus."

Dr. Rae Lynne Kinler, medical director of Ziering Medical in Connecticut, previously shared that the average person loses between 100 to 150 hairs per day. If you are noticing a significant amount of hair loss, it is a good idea to consult your dermatologist.

To choose the best products for hair loss, we consulted dermatologists and pulled from previous reporting and interviews with experts to get their top recommendations.

As an editorial team, we independently create content and determine coverage based on research, reporting and what we think TODAY.com readers would like to read about. Items are sold by retailer, not TODAY. Pricing and availability are accurate as of publish time. Learn more about Shop TODAY.

Emma Stessman is a writer for Shop TODAY.