Which vitamins are good for hair, skin and nails?
The honest answer is the ones you are short of. No nutrient is authorised in the UK to grow hair, and a 2017 review found too little evidence for extra biotin in healthy people. The authorised claims are about keeping hair, skin and nails normal. Zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal hair.
Can vitamin deficiency cause hair loss?
A shortfall can, and iron is the one the NHS names. It lists iron deficiency among the causes of temporary hair loss, alongside illness, stress, cancer treatment and weight loss. Pattern baldness is permanent and usually runs in the family.
Some loss is normal: the NHS says we can lose between 50 and 100 hairs a day. It adds that hair loss caused by a medical condition usually stops or grows back once you have recovered.
The NHS advises seeing a GP if you are worried about hair loss, and before going to a commercial hair clinic. Sudden loss, bald patches or hair coming out in clumps are good reasons to book, rather than reaching for a supplement.
Is biotin good for hair growth?
Only if you are short of it, as far as the evidence goes. A 2017 review on PubMed found that every reported case of hair or nail improvement with biotin involved an underlying problem, and concluded there is not enough evidence for biotin supplements in healthy people.
The NHS adds that bowel bacteria can make biotin. There is no authorised UK claim for hair growth from any nutrient. The authorised wording is about maintaining normal hair. Biotin contributes to the maintenance of normal hair.
The NHS says taking 0.9mg or less of biotin a day from supplements is unlikely to cause harm, and that there is not enough evidence to know the effects of high daily doses. And the MHRA warns that biotin can interfere with thyroid blood tests, with the risk rising at higher doses, giving falsely high or low results. Tell whoever takes your blood that you take it.
Which nutrients have authorised hair, skin and nail claims?
These are the authorised GB claims for hair, skin and nails, word for word, with the amount in one VH Life sachet. Each nutrient is at or above 100% of the NRV, well over the 15% needed. Every claim is about keeping things normal, not changing them.
| Area | Nutrient | Amount per sachet (%NRV) | Authorised claim, exact wording |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hair | Biotin | 1,000µg (2,000%) | Biotin contributes to the maintenance of normal hair. |
| Hair | Zinc | 15mg (150%) | Zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal hair. |
| Hair | Selenium | 70µg (127%) | Selenium contributes to the maintenance of normal hair. |
| Hair | Copper | 1mg (100%) | Copper contributes to normal hair pigmentation. |
| Skin | Vitamin C | 900mg (1,125%) | Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of skin. |
| Skin | Biotin | 1,000µg (2,000%) | Biotin contributes to the maintenance of normal skin. |
| Skin | Zinc | 15mg (150%) | Zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal skin. |
| Skin | Vitamin A | 900µg (112.5%) | Vitamin A contributes to the maintenance of normal skin. |
| Skin | Niacin | 16mg (100%) | Niacin contributes to the maintenance of normal skin. |
| Skin | Riboflavin | 1.4mg (100%) | Riboflavin contributes to the maintenance of normal skin. |
| Skin | Copper | 1mg (100%) | Copper contributes to normal skin pigmentation. |
| Skin | Iodine | 150µg (100%) | Iodine contributes to the maintenance of normal skin. |
| Nails | Zinc | 15mg (150%) | Zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal nails. |
| Nails | Selenium | 70µg (127%) | Selenium contributes to the maintenance of normal nails. |
Biotin at 1,000µg is above the NHS 0.9mg figure mentioned above.
Does collagen work for skin?
No collagen claim is authorised in Great Britain. The collagen entries on the GB register, including ones about skin firmness and elasticity, are listed as non-authorised.
The authorised wording that mentions collagen belongs to vitamin C. Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of skin. You get that from vitamin C itself, in food or a supplement. VH Life contains no collagen.
How fast do nails grow?
Slowly. In a small study of 22 healthy young adults published on PubMed, fingernails grew by an average of 3.47mm a month and toenails by 1.62mm. So any change to a nail takes months to grow out, and anything you try needs judging over months, not weeks.
Can you have too much?
Yes, and more is not better for hair. The NHS says too much selenium causes selenosis, which in its mildest form can lead to loss of hair and nails. It advises taking 350µg or less of selenium a day from supplements, and not more than 25mg of zinc a day from supplements unless a doctor advises it.
Vitamin A needs care too. The NHS advises keeping vitamin A from food and supplements to 1.5mg a day or less, and not taking supplements containing vitamin A if you eat liver every week. If you take two products, add the labels together.
Where does VH Life fit?
VH Life is a once-a-day all-in-one sachet, not a hair treatment. Each 11.8g berry sachet gives the nine nutrients in the table, other vitamins and minerals, and named botanicals, greens, mushrooms, amino acids, enzymes and live cultures without individual amounts. No authorised claim exists for those, so we make none.
It has no iron and no collagen. If you only want biotin, zinc and selenium, a single hair, skin and nails tablet may cost less, so compare the price per serving. VH Life makes more sense if you would otherwise buy that tablet plus a multivitamin.
On subscription VH Life is £49.99 for 28 sachets every 4 weeks, which works out at £1.79 a day. There is also a 7-day trial (7 sachets, £12.99, one per customer) and one box of 14 sachets for £34.99, with free UK delivery. Read more on our VH Life skin, hair and nails page or see the full label on the VH Life Berry product page.
Questions people also ask
Is biotin the same as collagen?
No. Biotin is a B vitamin (vitamin B7). Collagen is a protein. Biotin contributes to the maintenance of normal hair. No collagen claim is authorised in Great Britain. The authorised claims that mention collagen belong to vitamin C. Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of skin.
Is zinc good for skin?
Zinc has an authorised skin claim. Zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal skin. The NHS says women need about 7mg of zinc a day and men about 9.5mg, and that you should be able to get all you need from your diet. Do not take more than 25mg a day from supplements unless a doctor advises it.
Can biotin affect blood tests?
Yes. The MHRA warns that biotin can interfere with thyroid blood tests and that the risk rises with higher doses, which can give falsely high or low results. If you take any product containing biotin, tell your doctor or the person taking your blood before the test.
What helps hair loss in perimenopause?
The NHS lists hair thinning or loss among perimenopause and menopause symptoms, and HRT is the main treatment it describes. See a GP to rule out causes such as low iron. Our guide to perimenopause supplements in the UK explains what supplements can and cannot claim.
What is the best supplement for hair growth in the UK?
No authorised claim exists for hair growth, so treat any growth promise with care. If a GP finds a shortfall such as iron, treat that. Otherwise, the authorised hair claims in the table above are about maintaining normal hair, not growth.
Sources
- NHS: Hair loss, accessed 21 October 2026.
- PubMed: A review of the use of biotin for hair loss (Skin Appendage Disorders, 2017), accessed 21 October 2026.
- NHS: B vitamins and folic acid, accessed 21 October 2026.
- GOV.UK: MHRA Safety Roundup, May 2025 (biotin interference on thyroid function tests), accessed 21 October 2026.
- PubMed: Growth rate of human fingernails and toenails in healthy American young adults (2010), accessed 21 October 2026.
- NHS: Others (selenium, zinc and other minerals), accessed 21 October 2026.
- NHS: Vitamin A, accessed 21 October 2026.
- NHS: Symptoms of menopause and perimenopause, accessed 21 October 2026.
- GOV.UK: Great Britain nutrition and health claims (NHC) register, accessed 21 October 2026.
Food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. One sachet a day. Not suitable for children, adolescents, or pregnant or breastfeeding women. Biotin can interfere with some blood tests. VH Life is a food supplement, not a medicine. If symptoms persist, see your GP or pharmacist.