Many older adults can be deficient in vitamins B-6 and B and may need a daily multivitamin or B complex supplement that contains all eight B vitamins. Vitamin D for healthy skin. Another fat-soluble vitamin, D helps with skin cell growth and repair. It is found naturally in only a few foods, primarily fatty fish.

Small amounts are added to other food sources like milk, yogurt, some juices, and breakfast cereals. The easiest way to get vitamin D is sun exposure. The body converts sunlight into vitamin D, hence its nickname as the "sunshine vitamin. Yet, this can vary depending on location people living in states above the 37th parallel often get less sunlight than those living in states below and skin color African-Americans have, on average, about half as much vitamin D in their blood as white Americans.

People who have trouble getting vitamin D from food or the sun can also take a vitamin D supplement. Vitamin C for healthy skin.

Vitamin C, another water-soluble vitamin, also fights harmful free radicals. Foods rich in vitamin C include citrus fruits oranges and grapefruit , cantaloupe, strawberries, and vegetables like spinach and green and red peppers.

Even if you eat right and protect yourself from sun damage, skin problems like rashes, acne, wrinkles, and skin lesions can still arise. Skin rashes. Rashes frequently appear as red blotches that often burn and itch. They should be checked by your doctor as they could be caused by diseases and conditions like shingles and eczema.

Yet, the rash that affects most people is contact dermatitis , which occurs after the skin comes in contact with an offending substance. It can be caused by an allergic reaction, like poison ivy and oak, or by simple irritation from household items, such as detergents, harsh soaps, and nail polish.

Certain medications—such as topical antibiotics and anesthetics—can suddenly trigger this type of rash. If you take medication and develop a rash you should report this to your doctor promptly. The first step in treating contact dermatitis is to wash the area thoroughly with mild soap to remove any trace of the substance that may be causing the reaction.

Avoiding the trigger is the next step. Contact dermatitis usually clears up in about two to three weeks. Soothing lotions, over-the-counter corticosteroid or antihistamine creams, or ointments can help ease itching and swelling.

Other over-the-counter antihistamines such as fexofenadine Allegra, generic , loratadine Claritin, generic , cetirizine Zyrtec , and levocetirizine Xyzal also may help control itching. For severe cases, your doctor may prescribe prednisone, an oral corticosteroid. Although most common during the teenage years, acne may appear for the first time in midlife or worsen.

Acne results from inflammation around the hair follicles and oil-producing skin sebaceous glands. It appears as whiteheads, blackheads, and swollen red bumps, often filled with pus.

Several treatments are available to clear up acne, including some that you apply to your skin and others you take in pill form. First-line topical treatments typically fall into one of these two categories:. Salicylic acid washes. These formulas loosen dead skin cells and help dislodge plugs from pore openings, seen as whiteheads and blackheads.

Salicylic acid washes are available in over-the-counter and prescription formulations. Benzoyl peroxide gels, lotions, and washes.

These products fight bacterial growth and may help clear blocked pores. They are available in over-the-counter and prescription versions. Adopting proper hair care can help your thousands of individual hairs stay strong and healthy.

It involves providing your hair with certain nutrients, practicing basic hygiene, and following certain guidelines for using shampoo and other hair products.

A healthy diet is one of the best ways to maintain healthy hair. Specific vitamins are associated with improving hair health by how they convert food into energy.

The major ones are the B vitamins B-1 thiamin , B-2 riboflavin , and B-7 biotin. B-1 is found in fortified breakfast cereals, rice, trout, black beans, tuna, and acorn squash. B-2 is also in fortified cereals as well as oats, yogurt, milk, beef, clams, almonds, and cheese.

A good source of B-7 is eggs. Lower amounts are in fish, pork, beef, sunflower seeds, sweet potatoes, and almonds. As with skin health, most people can get their required vitamins like B vitamins through their diet, but taking a regular multivitamin or B complex supplement can help you get sufficient amounts.

Because B vitamins are water soluble, you usually don't have to worry about taking too much as your body excretes what it doesn't use. Keeping your hair clean is also essential for proper hair care. Washing your body and hair several times per week is plenty for most people unless you get dirty, sweaty, or have other reasons to shower more often.

Still, you may notice unusual amounts of hair falling out. You may notice more hair in your brushes, covering clothing, and clogging bathroom drains. Look in the mirror: you may see your hair has become thinner, your part wider, and your hairline higher. Even small bald patches may have suddenly appeared.

It is the most common cause of premature hair loss and thinning hair. Androgenic alopecia usually occurs from the interaction of three factors: an inherited tendency toward baldness, advancing age, and hormone imbalances.

In male-pattern baldness, the hairline along the forehead usually recedes first, followed by thinning at the top of the head and even over much of the scalp.

Gradually, the crown area becomes bald, leaving a fringe of hair around the back and sides of the head. In comparison, women typically experience thinning hair without going bald. Thinning occurs over the entire top or crown of the scalp but spares the front of the scalp. While hair loss is often considered a man's problem, at least a third of women experience thinning hair at some point in their lives.

Hair loss also can occur from medical conditions. One of the more common is the immune disorder alopecia areata. Here, the body's immune system attacks hair follicles, resulting in hair loss. The exact trigger for this immune response is unknown, although environmental factors, genetics, and stress may all play a role.

Alopecia areata usually begins as a sudden appearance of small, round patches of hair loss without redness or scarring. Rarely, this can progress to a complete absence of body and scalp hair, including eyebrows and eyelashes. Thinning hair or hair loss is not something you have to live with.

Many hair growth products are now available, including medicines, surgical procedures, and new laser and platelet-rich plasma treatments that may help stimulate hair growth. Minoxidil Rogaine. Considered the gold standard hair loss treatment, this nonprescription medicine is applied twice daily to the scalp.

Finasteride Propecia. This prescription oral medicine lowers blood and tissue levels of one of the hormones associated with androgenic alopecia.

However, it has only been shown to work in men and is not approved for women of childbearing age. Spironolactone Aldactone, generic. This prescription drug is also used sometimes to treat hair loss in women, although it is not FDA-approved for this use. Still, it blocks the effects of androgens sex hormones on the hair follicles and may work for some women producing an excess of these hormones.

In addition to potentially decreasing blood pressure, gotu kola may also stimulate collagen production. You'll also find green tea extract in this vitamin. A study has found that green tea extract may treat hair loss.

Note that some people prefer their vitamins without any additives. If you're one of them, this is not the vitamin for you. Revly's hair, skin and nail vitamin doesn't include vitamins outside of biotin and other vitamins. Always study the ingredients in any vitamin supplement.

If you are looking to support healthy hair, skin and skins, look for vitamins that contain biotin, collagen, vitamin C and omega-3s. Speak with your doctor before starting any supplements. You may have to take up to four pills each day, depending on the serving size.

Keep this in mind if you dislike swallowing a lot of pills. Also, the serving size directly affects how long a bottle will last you.

Even if you have a product with tablets, if you have to take four tablets a day, this will only last you 30 days. Vitamins and supplements come in either tablet, capsule, gel capsule or gummy foam. Depending on your personal preference, you should look for vitamins that fit your needs.

While dietary supplements aren't regulated by the FDA, there are a few verifications you can check for that ensure the product you're buying is safe to use. The FDA doesn't regulate vitamins and supplements, which means there are fewer quality regulations for companies to meet.

I haven't tested these products in-house; the choices are based on product research for vitamin and mineral ingredients, third-party certifications and consumer reviews.

Several vitamins and nutrients play a part in improving the health and appearance of your hair, skin and nails. Vitamin B7, collagen, vitamin C and omega-3s are all great supplements. Some help directly, in the case of biotin, while others, like vitamin C, help indirectly.

The research on the effectiveness of supplements is limited. Most hair, skin and nail vitamins are loaded with biotin, which is essential to keep your hair shiny, nails strong, and skin moisturized.

But if you eat a healthy diet, taking hair, skin and nail supplements won't make your hair grow faster or thicker. Vitamins balance out deficiencies in the nutrients our bodies naturally produce.

Wellness Nutrition. Best Vitamins for Healthy Hair, Skin and Nails of Are you missing out on essential nutrients such as biotin, collagen, vitamin C and omega-3s? Written by Taylor Leamey. Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks.

If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement. Taylor Leamey Senior Writer. Taylor Leamey writes about all things wellness, specializing in mental health, sleep and nutrition coverage.

She has invested hundreds of hours into studying and researching sleep and holds a Certified Sleep Science Coach certification from the Spencer Institute. Not to mention the years she spent studying mental health fundamentals while earning her bachelor's degrees in both Psychology and Sociology.

She is also a Certified Stress Management Coach. Expertise Bachelor of Science, Psychology and Sociology Credentials Certified Sleep Science Coach, Certified Stress Management Coach.

See full bio. Why You Can Trust CNET. Always take note of the dosage of each nutrient included in your vitamin selection. Always consider your medical conditions and current medication when choosing a multivitamin. Best overall vitamin for hair, skin and nails. Nature's Bounty Extra Strength Hair, Skin and Nails.

Best gummy vitamin for hair, skin and nails. Olly Undeniable Beauty Hair, Skin and Nails. Best vitamin for hair growth. Best organic hair, skin and nail vitamin. Garden of Life mykind Organic Plant Collagen Builder. Best subscription hair, skin and nail vitamins.

Persona Nutrition: Hair, Skin and Nails. Best budget hair, skin and nail vitamin Update: currently unavailable. Revly Hair, Skin and Nail Complex. Show less. Cons The vitamins are not third-party certified for purity Not an option for vegans because they contain gelatin.

Form Gel capsule. Serving size Three gel capsules. Supply 50 days. Show expert take Show less. Cons Not suitable for vegans as they contain gelatin Each serving contains 2 grams of added sugar. Form Gummy. Serving size Two gummies.

Supply 30 days. Pros Third-party tested to ensure there are no heavy metals or chemicals Offers a hair wellness quiz that matches you with supplements best suited for you Clinically studied to improve hair. Cons More expensive than other options on the list Four capsules a day is more than some may want to manage.

Form Capsule. Serving size Four capsules. Pros Certified vegan and organic Made from 30 whole foods Customer reviews have positive comments about hair and nail health after taking. Cons Not third-party tested to ensure purity Tablets are large. Form Tablet. Serving size Two tablets.

Pros Free of major allergens like eggs, dairy and shellfish, and they are non-GMO and gluten-free You have the opportunity to choose from the various hair, skin and nail vitamin supplements Persona offers Persona has a team of nutritionists who are available for free consultations.

Cons Not third-party tested for purity While not the most expensive on this list, still pricey. Form Tablet and capsule. Serving size One packet a day. Supply 28 days. Pros Revly is the budget hair, skin and nail vitamin.

Cons Contains herbs and extracts that some may not want in their multivitamin It's not clear if Revly is third-party tested. Serving size One capsule. Supply 90 days. Keep these factors in mind when searching for the best supplements for you.

Those verifications include: United States Pharmacopeia : A nonprofit that sets standards for dietary supplements. National Sanitation Foundation : This ensures standards set for the facility are met.

Consumer Lab : Private company tests supplements for accuracy of ingredient identity, content and purity. Dietary Supplement Verification : Program that ensures any product with a USP-verified label contains accurate, pure ingredients and has been manufactured using Good Manufacturing Practices.

Ingredients Always study the ingredients in any vitamin supplement. Serving size You may have to take up to four pills each day, depending on the serving size. Form Vitamins and supplements come in either tablet, capsule, gel capsule or gummy foam.

Although people seldom stop to appreciate their skin, it's much more than a way to hold bones and tissues. It is the body's largest organ, weighing about nine pounds, and performs several functions that help maintain health.

Skin forms a defensive barrier , protecting your inner organs from foreign invaders like bacteria and viruses. But it is not merely a passive wall. In the outermost layer of skin, cells actively ward off infections, forming the front-line defenses of the immune system.

In particular, damage from sun exposure, also known as photoaging, causes wrinkles, lines, brown spots, dry skin, and even skin cancer, making sun protection vital. This is why proper skin care is so crucial. Take care of your skin, and it will take care of you. A daily skin care routine is the foundation for keeping skin protected and healthy.

It includes properly cleaning the skin and using skin care products like sunscreen and moisturizers. Eating a plant-based diet offers the best vitamins for skin health, to repair damage, and keep it healthy.

It is almost always best to get vitamins and minerals through your diet. Certain vitamins are helpful for skin health. For example:. Vitamin A for healthy skin.

Vitamin A retinol is often touted for supporting bone growth and good vision from consuming beta carotene, which the body converts to vitamin A. But it also keeps skin healthy by speeding up healing and protecting the skin from damaging free radicals.

Sources of vitamin A include beef liver, ricotta cheese, Atlantic herring, fortified milk, and cereal. Beta carotene is found in orange-colored food like sweet potatoes and carrots. All of these are the best foods for skin health.

Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin, which means the body stores what it doesn't use. B vitamins for healthy skin. The eight B vitamins perform a wide range of essential bodily functions, including treating damaged skin and improving skin tone. They are water-soluble, meaning the body excretes excess amounts.

Many foods contain B vitamins, such as fortified breakfast cereals and milk, meat beef, pork chops, chicken, turkey, tuna, trout , rice, black beans, almonds, and peanuts.

Many older adults can be deficient in vitamins B-6 and B and may need a daily multivitamin or B complex supplement that contains all eight B vitamins. Vitamin D for healthy skin. Another fat-soluble vitamin, D helps with skin cell growth and repair. It is found naturally in only a few foods, primarily fatty fish.

Small amounts are added to other food sources like milk, yogurt, some juices, and breakfast cereals. The easiest way to get vitamin D is sun exposure. The body converts sunlight into vitamin D, hence its nickname as the "sunshine vitamin.

Yet, this can vary depending on location people living in states above the 37th parallel often get less sunlight than those living in states below and skin color African-Americans have, on average, about half as much vitamin D in their blood as white Americans.

People who have trouble getting vitamin D from food or the sun can also take a vitamin D supplement. Vitamin C for healthy skin.

Vitamin C, another water-soluble vitamin, also fights harmful free radicals. Foods rich in vitamin C include citrus fruits oranges and grapefruit , cantaloupe, strawberries, and vegetables like spinach and green and red peppers.

Even if you eat right and protect yourself from sun damage, skin problems like rashes, acne, wrinkles, and skin lesions can still arise. Skin rashes. Rashes frequently appear as red blotches that often burn and itch.

They should be checked by your doctor as they could be caused by diseases and conditions like shingles and eczema. Yet, the rash that affects most people is contact dermatitis , which occurs after the skin comes in contact with an offending substance.

It can be caused by an allergic reaction, like poison ivy and oak, or by simple irritation from household items, such as detergents, harsh soaps, and nail polish. Certain medications—such as topical antibiotics and anesthetics—can suddenly trigger this type of rash.

If you take medication and develop a rash you should report this to your doctor promptly. The first step in treating contact dermatitis is to wash the area thoroughly with mild soap to remove any trace of the substance that may be causing the reaction.

Avoiding the trigger is the next step. Contact dermatitis usually clears up in about two to three weeks. Soothing lotions, over-the-counter corticosteroid or antihistamine creams, or ointments can help ease itching and swelling.

Other over-the-counter antihistamines such as fexofenadine Allegra, generic , loratadine Claritin, generic , cetirizine Zyrtec , and levocetirizine Xyzal also may help control itching.

For severe cases, your doctor may prescribe prednisone, an oral corticosteroid. Although most common during the teenage years, acne may appear for the first time in midlife or worsen.

Acne results from inflammation around the hair follicles and oil-producing skin sebaceous glands. It appears as whiteheads, blackheads, and swollen red bumps, often filled with pus.

Several treatments are available to clear up acne, including some that you apply to your skin and others you take in pill form. First-line topical treatments typically fall into one of these two categories:.

Salicylic acid washes. These formulas loosen dead skin cells and help dislodge plugs from pore openings, seen as whiteheads and blackheads. Salicylic acid washes are available in over-the-counter and prescription formulations.

Benzoyl peroxide gels, lotions, and washes. These products fight bacterial growth and may help clear blocked pores. They are available in over-the-counter and prescription versions.

Adopting proper hair care can help your thousands of individual hairs stay strong and healthy. It involves providing your hair with certain nutrients, practicing basic hygiene, and following certain guidelines for using shampoo and other hair products.

A healthy diet is one of the best ways to maintain healthy hair. Specific vitamins are associated with improving hair health by how they convert food into energy. The major ones are the B vitamins B-1 thiamin , B-2 riboflavin , and B-7 biotin. B-1 is found in fortified breakfast cereals, rice, trout, black beans, tuna, and acorn squash.

B-2 is also in fortified cereals as well as oats, yogurt, milk, beef, clams, almonds, and cheese. A good source of B-7 is eggs. Lower amounts are in fish, pork, beef, sunflower seeds, sweet potatoes, and almonds.

As with skin health, most people can get their required vitamins like B vitamins through their diet, but taking a regular multivitamin or B complex supplement can help you get sufficient amounts.

Because B vitamins are water soluble, you usually don't have to worry about taking too much as your body excretes what it doesn't use. Keeping your hair clean is also essential for proper hair care. Washing your body and hair several times per week is plenty for most people unless you get dirty, sweaty, or have other reasons to shower more often.

Still, you may notice unusual amounts of hair falling out. You may notice more hair in your brushes, covering clothing, and clogging bathroom drains. The specific nutrients in hair, skin, and nail supplements include antioxidants like vitamins A, C, and E, or Coenzyme Q10, and also biotin, a B-­complex vitamin.

Hair supplements often contain manganese and selenium as well as fatty acids like fish oil and flaxseed oil. Deficiencies of these nutrients, ­although uncommon, may cause a range of hair—and, sometimes, skin and nail—changes.

Over time, for instance, insufficient intake of vitamins A and E can cause rough, scaly skin patches. A deficiency of biotin may cause eczema and hair loss. But for those with no clear deficiencies, experts say there's no good evidence that supplements can make a difference.

Two s studies did find that biotin supplements may help strengthen soft, easily breakable nails. But the studies were small and not rigorously conducted, and haven't been replicated, Cohen says.

A lot of hair supplements also have biotin, Katta says, but for people with normal levels, "we've never actually shown that taking a supplement will increase hair growth.

Most people get enough of the nutrients mentioned above through diet, but in rare cases, a medical problem may cause a deficiency or affect your hair, nails, or skin. People who take antibiotics long-term or use antiseizure drugs, for instance, are more likely to be biotin-deficient.

An over- or underactive thyroid may cause hair loss and dry strands. Iron-deficiency anemia can lead to brittle, oddly shaped nails. If you're experiencing chronic hair, nail, or skin problems for no clear reason, talk with your doctor. It's important for your physician to determine whether you're deficient in a particular nutrient, Katta says.

Keep in mind that dietary supplements are not tightly regulated by the Food and Drug Administration and might contain substances not listed on the label or have much less or more of an ingredient than promised.

For example, in , one brand of multivitamin was found to have times the labeled concentration of selenium—after it had caused hair loss and discolored, brittle nails in about people across 10 states.

If you choose to take supplements, can you ensure that they are safe? Some carry one of four seals that might have some merit : U. Pharmacopeia, NSF International, ConsumerLab.

com, and UL. Several lifestyle strategies can help you keep your hair, skin, and nails healthy. Try the following:. Eat enough protein. It's important to maintain a healthy diet for overall health. But getting 30 percent of your daily calories from protein preferably lean can help keep your hair in shape.

Treat them well. Be cautious with hair dye semipermanent is less damaging than permanent , blow dryers, flat irons, and styles such as tight ponytails. If you bite your nails, keep them trimmed or consider ­using a clear, bitter-tasting polish to help you stop.

Wear cotton-lined gloves when washing dishes, moisturize hands and nails daily, and use moisturizing soap. Moisturize skin frequently and take short, tepid showers. Run a humidifier in your bedroom or office to keep the air between 30 and 50 percent humidity. If you smoke, work at quitting.

Protect yourself from the sun. Exposure to its UV rays can cause premature wrinkling, sagging, spots, and skin coarsening. Limit sun time and use a broad-­spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF 30 daily. Consider Rx help. Prescription topicals such as tazarotene and tretinoin creams have been shown to reduce fine-line wrinkles, skin roughness, and sun and age spots.