To Boost The Health Of Your Hair, Skin, And Nails Here Are Research-Backed Supplements

The Ultimate Guide To Skincare 

It's all about collagen, biotin, shark cartilage or frankincense, and even placenta? Claiming to restore or improve the skin, hair, or nails, every day, patients are asking about supplements, and also do they really work? 

Over-the-counter supplements are subject to little oversight, unlike medicines that are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. Making the supplement aisle the wild west of every pharmacy, there is no guarantee that their claims or ingredients are backed by science or even if the ingredients on the label are actually even in the tablet. There are a few that are backed by scientific research showing that they may have a positive effect on the strands, skin, or nails while no vitamin or supplement should ever be taken without consulting a physician first. We take a look at a few of them.

For skin cancer prevention: 

Shown to lower the risk of nonmelanoma skin cancers like those of basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma, as well as precancerous growths called actinic keratoses is the vitamin B3 also called nicotinamide. 500mg of B3 taken twice daily led to a 23% drop in new cancerous growth over 1 year in a 2015 New England Journal of Medicine study of more than 600 patients with a history of skin cancer. Whereas those stats aren’t too shabby for a vitamin, as sun protection remains the most important way to lower skin cancer risk 

For brittle nails: 

According to studies from the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology and Cutis, biotin was shown to increase nail plate thickness by 25% in patients with brittle nails while reducing splitting and improving nail smoothness. Dermatologists have suggested 2.5 mg daily for those with delicate nails, whereas the optimal dose isn’t known. Consider holding off on the vitamin before any bloodwork and be sure to let your doctor know if you take biotin as the FDA had issued a warning that it is found to be interfering with certain lab tests including some measuring cardiovascular and thyroid levels in 2017.  

For thinning hair: 

Unless there was a specific nutritional or medical issue to correct, the dermatologist never recommends dietary supplements for patients with sparse or shedding hair. They sometimes do for patients with male or female pattern hair loss that comes as gradual thinning for many of us prone to later in life. Showing a significant increase in hair density with reduced shedding over 3 to 6 months on a marine supplement called Viviscal is the small, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies of men and women with thinning hair as published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology and the Dermatology Research and Practice. 

According to a May 2018 study from the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, the plant-based Nutrafol led to an increased number of hairs with increased thickness, volume, and growth rate in women over 3 to 6 months. Here the ingredients included are said to reduce inflammation, as well as antioxidants to help guard against cell-damage, along with saw palmetto inhibiting hormonal factors that contribute to hair thinning. 

For psoriasis: 

A chronic condition of scaly pink skin that often affects the elbows, knees, scalp, and other areas, fish oil supplements may help alleviate rashes in those suffering from psoriasis. After supplementing with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids from fish oils which are eicosapentanoic acid, EPA, and docosahexanoic acid, DHA, a 2014 meta-analysis published in JAAD showed a moderate benefit in psoriasis. When used along with established psoriasis medications, the study authors suggested doses of 0.45 to 13.5 gms of EPA and up to 9 gms of DHA daily explaining that the supplements are expected to be most helpful. 

For whatever ails you:

Due to the powerful placebo effect, there is always a supplement you believe in that might just work. To actually see results, decades of research have shown that the expectation of results is sometimes enough. If a patient truly believes in them, this is the only reason they are not discouraging vitamins that have a decent safety profile. 

Be sure to talk to your doctor to find out if its right for you and whether it's safe to take with other medicines before starting any supplement. 

The Bottom Line 

With many other treatment procedures available with the dermatologist, we recommend you stick to the one best suited for you. In this case, the best one is always what your dermatologist suggests as they are aware of all the side-effects, as well as the cautions that have to be exercised.