Biotin deficiency affects hair and skin
ReviewIn children and adults, biotin deficiency causes hair loss and a scaly, red rash around the body openings. It is a nutritional or inherited deficit, not the general case5.
Biotin (vitamin B8)
Biotin, or vitamin B8, is a water-soluble vitamin declared in cosmetics to condition skin and hair1. The literature on hair mostly concerns the oral route and deficiencies34. For skin application, evidence is thin: laboratory trials and one study without a control group, funded by the maker of an encapsulated form67.
Biotin at a glance
Entry from our cosmetic ingredient glossary. Regulatory data from the European Commission's CosIng database1, safety according to the CIR expert panel2. Copy the identifiers in one click for your files.
- INCI name
- BIOTINAlso exists as salts and esters (MEA-biotinate, ethyl biotinate), with other INCI names1
- Other names
- Vitamin B8Vitamin H, d-biotin; international nonproprietary name: biotin1
- CAS number
- 58-85-5
- EC number
- 200-399-3
- Formula
- C₁₀H₁₆N₂O₃SMolar mass 244.31 g/mol
- CosIng functions
- Skin and hair conditioning"Skin conditioning - miscellaneous" and "hair conditioning" in the European nomenclature1
- Appearance
- White crystalline powderLimited solubility in water: encapsulated forms exist to dissolve it6
- EU status
- No restrictionAbsent from Annexes II to VI of Regulation (EC) 1223/200910
- Allergen to declare
- NoAbsent from the fragrance allergen list of Regulation (EU) 2023/1545
- Safety
- Judged safe in cosmeticsCIR panel 2001: safe as used in cosmetics2
What the research says
Each result shows the protocol and the level of evidence. The higher the level, the better the result carries over to a finished formula.
Clinical trialReview or consensusLaboratory
Scalp and hairHaircare
A deficit measured in 38% of women seeking care for hair loss
Observational studyA biotin deficit is found in 38% of them, and 11% of these women had a known risk factor. The author rejects oral biotin given routinely: the deficit must be demonstrated first and other causes excluded4.
Little evidence in people without a deficiency
ReviewIn the 18 cases found, the people had an underlying cause of impaired hair or nail growth and improved. The authors judge the evidence insufficient in people without a deficiency3.
An encapsulated form active on follicle cells
LaboratoryWater solubility is 20 times higher than that of free biotin. In culture, the encapsulated form increases the expression of hair keratins and dermal papilla genes6.
An encapsulated serum for 3 months, without a control group
Uncontrolled studyHairs removed in the pull test fall by 43.0% at 30 days and 76.1% at 90 days; median thickness increases by 7.6% at 90 days. With no control group and a manufacturer among the authors, the study cannot attribute the effect to biotin or support a claim of efficacy7.
Safety and useRegulation
Judged safe, with known use concentrations
ReviewThe panel concludes that biotin is safe as used in cosmetics. Only one case of hives is reported, despite a very large number of people exposed every day2.
Oral biotin skews some blood tests
ReviewBiotin supplements can skew assays (troponin, hCG, thyroid function) in either direction. Stopping them 48 h beforehand is recommended. This point concerns the oral route; the reviews do not describe it for a cosmetic product89.
This page summarizes published literature on a cosmetic ingredient. It does not describe the effect of a finished product, which depends on its formula, and it is not medical advice. For biotin, most of the literature concerns the oral route; only studies on skin or cosmetic application are kept below, and their limits are stated. Both studies on the encapsulated form are funded by its manufacturer.
Concentrations used in studies
The cited cosmetic studies do not state the biotin concentration tested. The CIR panel, for its part, reports cosmetic use concentrations from 0.0001% to 0.6%2. The final concentration is set with the formulator, depending on the biotin form chosen and its solubility.
Which products use biotin?
Our white label catalog includes 3 formulas with biotin: the key active in 1 of them, a supporting ingredient in the others. Every category can be customized (formula, fragrance, packaging).
2Hair
Encapsulated biotin as the key active in a conditioner; biotin complex depending on the version of a shampoo.
In our formulas, it is most often paired with
Vitamin E 2Caffeine (depending on version) 1Fortifying plant complex 1Rosemary extract 1Argan oil 1Biotin, panthenol, keratin or caffeine?
Four actives often combined in hair care. They do not exclude each other and are combined in several of our formulas.
| Biotin | Panthenol | Keratin | Caffeine | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family | Vitamin B8, water-soluble2 | Provitamin B5, see the panthenol entry | Protein, see the keratin entry | See the caffeine entry |
| Evidence on hair | Mostly oral and in case of deficiency; topical, one uncontrolled study347 | See the panthenol entry | See the keratin entry | See the caffeine entry |
| EU regulation | No restriction110 | See the panthenol entry | See the keratin entry | See the caffeine entry |
| Watch point | Oral supplements skew blood tests89 | See the panthenol entry | See the keratin entry | See the caffeine entry |
Frequently asked questions about biotin
What is biotin?
It is vitamin B8, also called vitamin H, a water-soluble vitamin. In cosmetics, it is declared under the INCI name BIOTIN as a skin and hair conditioner1. It also exists as salts and esters, with other INCI names.
What are the benefits of biotin for hair?
Studies mostly concern the oral route. They show interest in case of a demonstrated deficiency45, and insufficient evidence in people without a deficiency3. For topical use, a single study, without a control group and tied to the maker of an encapsulated form, measures fewer hairs removed in the pull test7. We promise no effect on hair.
Is biotin applied to skin or scalp effective?
What percentage of biotin should you use?
Cosmetic studies give no concentration. The CIR panel reports uses from 0.0001% to 0.6%2. The dose of a product is decided with the formulator, depending on the biotin form, its solubility and the format.
Is biotin safe?
Does biotin skew blood tests?
Can you manufacture a biotin product for my brand?
Yes. Our ISO 22716 certified laboratory offers 3 formulas containing biotin (conditioner, shampoo, lash and brow serum) to customize, or a custom formula. Free samples are included.
Sources
Peer-reviewed studies and official regulatory sources, checked on November 3, 2026.
- European Commission. CosIng, entry BIOTIN (CAS 58-85-5, CE 200-399-3). ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing
- Fiume MZ, Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel. Final report on the safety assessment of biotin. Int J Toxicol. 2001;20 Suppl 4:1-12. PMID 11800048
- Patel DP, Swink SM, Castelo-Soccio L. A review of the use of biotin for hair loss. Skin Appendage Disord. 2017;3(3):166-169. doi:10.1159/000462981
- Trüeb RM. Serum biotin levels in women complaining of hair loss. Int J Trichology. 2016;8(2):73-77. doi:10.4103/0974-7753.188040
- Mock DM. Skin manifestations of biotin deficiency. Semin Dermatol. 1991;10(4):296-302. PMID 1764357
- Duchi S, Rebollo Torregrosa P, Hajuj A, et al. The formulation and in vitro evaluation of WS Biotin, a novel encapsulated form of D-Biotin with improved water solubility for hair and skin treatment applications. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2024;46(1):119-129. doi:10.1111/ics.12914Tagra Biotechnologies, Dermaclaim Lab
- González Fernández D, Duchi S, Fernández Gómez L, et al. The clinical evaluation of Serum WS Biotin, a novel encapsulated form of D-Biotin with improved water solubility, for anti-hair shedding applications. A prospective single-arm, nonrandomized, pretest-posttest study. Health Sci Rep. 2025;8(5):e70862. doi:10.1002/hsr2.70862Tagra Biotechnologies, Dermaclaim Lab
- Shing V, Aragon Sierra A, Shah AA. Benefits and risks of hair, skin, and nail supplements in older adults. Int J Womens Dermatol. 2025;11(4):e236. doi:10.1097/JW9.0000000000000236
- Gifford JL, de Koning L, Sadrzadeh SMH. Strategies for mitigating risk posed by biotin interference on clinical immunoassays. Clin Biochem. 2019;65:61-63. doi:10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2018.12.007
- European Parliament and Council. Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products, consolidated version of May 1, 2025: Annexes II to VI. eur-lex.europa.eu
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