Hair, skin and nails are made from living tissue that draws on nutrients from your diet.
A varied diet, gentle care and checking with your GP about sudden changes come first.
This article looks at nutrients with authorised claims and where a supplement may fit.
What Hair, Skin and Nails Need
Hair and nails are made largely of keratin, and skin is renewed constantly. All three rely on protein, vitamins and minerals from food. Most people who eat a varied diet get what they need, and sudden or marked changes are worth raising with your GP, since they can reflect an underlying cause.[1]
Gentle Everyday Care
Avoid harsh chemical treatments and tight hairstyles, protect skin from the sun and moisturise, and keep nails short and clean.
Nutrients With Authorised Claims
The Great Britain Nutrition and Health Claims Register sets out the wording that may be used for nutrients.[2] The ones relevant here are:
- Biotin: contributes to the maintenance of normal hair and skin.
- Zinc: contributes to the maintenance of normal hair, nails and skin.
- Copper: contributes to normal hair pigmentation and to normal skin pigmentation.
- Niacin: contributes to the maintenance of normal skin.
These claims describe normal function. Food supplements are not treatments for hair loss, nail conditions or skin conditions.
Other Ingredients
Collagen peptides and keratin have no authorised health claims, so we make no claim about them.
Where a Supplement May Fit
In the supplement featured below, the label serving is four tablets a day, providing niacin 18 mg, vitamin B6 2 mg, biotin 2,500 µg, pantothenic acid 13.68 mg, zinc 15 mg and copper 1.65 mg, plus collagen peptides 2,500 mg, keratin 500 mg and bamboo extract.
Zinc at 15 mg is within the 25 mg a day that official guidance suggests for supplements, but it adds to what you get from food and other products. Ask your GP or pharmacist first if you take medicines, are pregnant or are breastfeeding.
Clinical Comparison: Everyday Care vs. Food Supplement
| Feature / Aspect | Everyday Care | Food Supplement |
|---|---|---|
| What it involves | Varied diet and gentle hair, skin and nail care. | A daily portion providing biotin, zinc, copper and niacin, plus collagen peptides. |
| What it does | Supports overall condition. | Biotin, zinc and niacin contribute to the maintenance of normal skin, and biotin and zinc to normal hair. |
| Can it replace the other? | Essential. | No. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do supplements change hair, skin and nails?
A: Biotin and zinc contribute to the maintenance of normal hair, zinc to normal nails, and biotin, zinc and niacin to normal skin. Food supplements are not treatments for hair or nail conditions.
Q: Does collagen have claims?
A: No health claims are authorised for collagen.
Q: When should I see my GP?
A: See your GP about sudden hair loss, nail changes or skin changes.
AI Doctor Verdict
A varied diet and gentle care come first. This site focuses on natural products, and the one we have chosen to feature contains biotin, zinc, copper and niacin, plus collagen peptides. Biotin and zinc contribute to the maintenance of normal hair, zinc to normal nails, and biotin, zinc and niacin to normal skin.
Continue the Skin Care Series
- → Post 1: Fragile Forearm Skin: Everyday Care and Nutrients
- → Post 2: Dry Skin: Everyday Care and Natural Support
- → Post 3: Skin Ageing and Sun Care: Everyday Habits
- → Post 4: Hair, Skin and Nails: Nutrients That Contribute (you are here)
- → Post 5: Skin Cell Energy: Niacin and Everyday Skin Care