Do Vitamins for Hair, Nails and Skin Really Work?

Taking vitamins to improve the appearance of hair, skin and nails has been effective for individuals who lack certain vitamins in their daily diets. There are specific vitamins that aid in the processes by which hair, skin and nails grow. The effectiveness of supplements is dependent on an individual's specific needs. Working with your health care provider is the most effective way to find out the best course of action to improve your hair, skin and nails.

Facts

The processes by which hair, skin and nails grow require most of the same vitamins and minerals. Beta-carotene, vitamin B complex, vitamin C, vitamin E, magnesium, sulfur and zinc are all vital for growing healthy hair, skin and nails, according to the Vitamins and Nutrition Center. Multivitamins include most, if not all, of these vitamins. There are multivitamins specifically for hair, skin and nails that will contain all of the aforementioned vitamins.

Whether or not you will see results from taking a multivitamin, or from any of these vitamins individually, depends on whether or not your body needs that vitamin. The human body absorbs the nutrients it needs from the foods and supplements you consume. Your body does not store additional vitamins; it flushes them out. This means that if you are already getting the vitamins your body needs to grow healthy hair, skin and nails, adding more of any one vitamin is not likely to improve the condition or stimulate growth. However, if you are lacking in any of these vitamins, you may see anywhere from a mild to a drastic improvement.

Warning

It is wise to contact your health care professional if you suspect that your hair, skin or nails are not as healthy as they should be. Splitting nails, dry hair or any kind of skin problem may be an indicator about the condition of your general health. While taking a supplement may improve your condition, knowing exactly what the condition is will provide a more specific and possibly more effective treatment. If you have any preexisting medical conditions, consult your doctor before taking a multivitamin.