Am I Biotin Deficient?

Therapeutic Efforts Supplements & Lifestyle
#1

Signs and symptoms of Biotin Deficiency from wikipedia:
Initial symptoms of biotin deficiency include:

1.Dry skin
2.Seborrheic dermatitis
3.Fungal infections
4.Rashes including red, patchy ones near the mouth, nose, and eyes (erythematous periorofacial macular rash)
5.Fine and brittle hair
6.Hair loss or total baldness (alopecia)
7. Achromotrichia (absence or loss of pigment in the hair).

If left untreated, neurological symptoms can develop, including:

1.Mild depression, which may progress to profound lassitude and, eventually, to somnolence
2.Changes in mental status
3.Generalized muscular pains (myalgias)
4.Hyperesthesias and paresthesias

There are certain side effects from a biotin deficiency that some researchers refer to as “biotin-deficient facies,” according to the Linus Pauling Institute. This facial side effect appears as an odd distribution of subcutaneous fat in the face. Other side effects seen on the face are a rash or rashes that appear around the eyes and the edges of the mouth and nose. The above-mentioned report from NC State University explains that the hair, skin and facial side effects of a biotin deficiency can appear as early as 3 to 5 weeks.

livestrong.com/article/24471-biotin-deficiency-side-effects/

Now, I have most of these symptoms (very minor in my case) which, until today, I have attributed to PFS. I just stumbled upon biotin deficiency today. Has anyone tried taking biotin? I heard somewhere it was a DHT blocker, but this doesn’t make sense to me. Can anyone help clarify the safety of taking this as a supplement? I read that biotin deficiencies can be caused by certain drugs/medications. Could Finasteride contributed to this? I will greatly appreciate the wisdom. Thanks.

The Duck <(" )

#2

Supplemented biotin before, has no effect on symptoms. Way off the trail.

#3

Specifically, which of the above symptoms are you suffering from?

#4

http://www.propeciahelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1247

#5

Well, from the symptoms you describe it does not seem like you have a Biotin deficiency.On the contrary, symptoms with an X next to them are symptoms that I have had for the past one and a half years:

Initial symptoms of biotin deficiency include:
1.Dry skin X
2.Seborrheic dermatitis X
3.Fungal infections
4.Rashes including red, patchy ones near the mouth, nose, and eyes (erythematous periorofacial macular rash) X
5.Fine and brittle hair X
6.Hair loss or total baldness (alopecia) X
7. Achromotrichia (absence or loss of pigment in the hair) X

If left untreated, neurological symptoms can develop, including:
1.Mild depression, which may progress to profound lassitude and, eventually, to somnolence X
2.Changes in mental status X
3.Generalized muscular pains (myalgias) X
4.Hyperesthesias and paresthesias X

For the past 3 days, since I discovered that I might have a biotin deficiency, I have taken 3,000micrograms of biotin a day. By the second day I noticed a HUGE improvement in everything. My skin quality seems better. The dermatitis around my nose, mouth, and eyes is gone. I have more energy and morning muscle aches are gone. Also, my erection quality and libido have gone up to pre-Fin levels. I hope things continue to get better as a supplement this a vitamin.

My hypothesis:
Finasteride was poison; that is a fact. However, a year an a half after I quit I began to develop symptoms consistent with Biotin deficiency. Until now, I just attributed everything wrong with me to Fin. I was young when I took Fin. I was 19 and I only took Fin for a month. Because of my age at the time, I believe my ability to bounce back hormonally was good, although I experience horrible acne and other symptoms while coming off of Fin.

I don’t know how I became Biotin deficient, maybe Fin did something. However, now that I’ve been supplementing, I feel like I’m getting much better. I haven’t felt this good in a long time and I hope it lasts. If I still feel the way I do in a month, I will be posting in the recovery section of this website.

#6

You haven’t had any tests to even measure Biotin (a B vitamin) levels, so you have no idea if you are even deficient.

As you allude to yourself, the issues you describe are likely unrelated to Finasteride use (for example, hair loss? That’s why people take the drug in the first place). Improvement in skin/hair issues would be nice, but biotin supplements aren’t going to cure anyone from persistent ED, gynecomastia, loss of libido, muscle atrophy, decreased semen volume etc.

#7

wtf? Recovery… more specifically, illness here, relates to sexual dysfunction, brain fog, and hypogonadal symptoms. You are recovered from that?

#8

You’re attitude is very unpleasant.

I have suffered from Propecia side effects, read my story if you care. I took the pill when I was 19. I recently discovered Biotin has made me feel much better, but I guess you don’t care. I am recovering due to good diet and much exercise and, most importantly, a postive attitude.

#9

2 months is a very short time period to claim recovery. Typically when treating with a single source like biotin the body will respond well at first and then the effect tapers off, it could be as long as a year for this to happen completely. Please give it more time than a month before posting in the recovery section or you lose credibility by giving false hope for another failed treatment…

#10

My attitude? Didn’t have an attitude, was just really confused.

I read your story. I was only asking if you were claiming biotin supps were curing the post-finasteride symptoms, because that’s pretty much unheard of and not correlated.

BTW a positive attitude doesn’t cure fuckall buddy. I have a positive attitude myself, but I’m not delusional.

#11

Mew, most of the symptoms of biotin deficiency can be confused with Finasteride side effects. Total alopecia, aka hairloss, may not just be on the head. It can also be the loss of body hair, facial hair, eyebrow hair, etc, which are also symptoms of hypogonadism.

Furthermore, many people on this site report of worsened skin since using Finasteride. This could be in the form of aging, dry skin, wrinkles or dermatitis.

Achromotrichia, or the lightening of hair color, is also a sign of hypogonadism. I started a thread not too long ago that touched on this subject.

Change in mental status and depression are also signs and symptoms of Finasteride’s negative effects.

As you can see, Biotin deficiency and Finasteride produce similar side effects.

In no way am I saying that everyone on here is suffering from Biotin deficiency.

But based on my symptoms, and my recent postive results from the supplementing my diet with Biotin, I was clearly Biotin deficient.

The best evidence for this was the dermatitis on my face which I thought was just skin issues related to Finasteride.

This dermatitis was around my eyes, nose and mouth. Since taking Biotin, the dermatits, which I have had for nearly a year, is finally going away.

This is why I believe I was Biotin deficient and if you still don’t think I have justifiable evidence to make such a claim, and if you think my general feeling better and the curing of my facial dermatitis is just a placebo effect; frankly, I could care less.

Peace.

#12

Yawn… please, spare me the fact that because you “believe” you are biotin deficient, that you therefore believe that Finasteride side effects are the same as biotin deficiency, because you’ve decided this is so in your own head. Just another pet theory du jour, trying to connect the dots based on nothing remotely scientific.

Yea, from neurosteroid inhibition, which is documented to occur from the drug – not “biotin deficiency”.

Review the Finasteride Studies section please before trying to connect completely unrelated substances and concepts.

Maybe it was, maybe it wasn’t – who knows?

Great, I’m glad it’s cleared up your cosmetic issues for whatever reason, biotin related or not! I’m not arguing this point – I’m glad you are seeing improvements.

However, as I mentioned in my previous post, biotin is not going to do anything for documented Finasteride side effects – loss of libido, ED, impotence, gynecomastia, decreased semen volume etc.

Perhaps you never had any issues from Finasteride in the first place and are blaming the drug when in fact you have some other issues going on which are completely unrelated?

Who knows – but I can tell you that persistent health and hormonal problems the medication has caused which have been documented by numerous physicians, have nothing to do with biotin deficiency.

Maybe if you had gotten tested for this “deficiency” and posted results before and after supplementation, which match your improvements, this would be better received. Again however, the fact you have cleared up your dermatitis is encouraging, wether its related to biotin supplements or not, but biotin, a B vitamin (or any vitamin) isn’t going to do jack for the rest of the post-finasteride syndrome symptoms.

#13

Duck… did you even have PFS symptoms for the last three years (you say you quit in 2007)?? Shrinkage, ED, muscle waste, watery /decreased ejaculate??? Yes, no? I’m thinking your issues were never PFS related. If only the rest of us were so lucky.

#14

Yes, except I didn’t have “shrinkage”. My most serious side effects lasted for about 2 and a half years. Recently, I’ve been getting much better.

#15

Mew,

I understand what your saying.

And I agree, to tell you the truth now, I’m not even sure why I posted this thread.

With that said, and I hope you can take this with a grain of salt since we are all dudes here:

If I ever saw you in person, just based on the way you talk, I would knock out all your teeth.

:laughing:

#16

Mew has been deal ing with false claims and temporary cures for a lot longer than most of us have been on this forum. Give him a break. As dedicated as I have been I would have given up my dedication a long time ago. You know how many people are posting here who are not thinking properly from finasteride and excited as he’ll because zinc or something else made them feel half way normal again? Then it fades. How many thousands of duplicate posts and false cures have been here? Enough to make a person pull what is left of their hair out…

#17

Fine way to appreciate someone who’s done 1800% more than you ever have to legitimize this condition. Fuck, if anything, you detract from our cause with double-talk (one minute Propecia caused your symptoms, the next it’s biotin insufficiency).

If you’re doing well, and you have nothing to assist in elevating awareness or research (and no, biotin insufficiency doesn’t add up), just stay on the sidelines.

#18

Come on duck, get with what everyone is saying. Nobody doubts your improved sense of well being, only that it may not last. I tell you what…get off the biotin for a few weeks and have a lab test done of a b vitamin panel. Then supplement again and see where you are. If you really think this is helping, and can give others that may possibly be deficient a cure, then do this forum a solid and run some tests. I would be willing to bet that if you were deficient then, you would be again if you cease the biotin.

I’d be ecstatically happy for you if this is your cure. That said, if this turns out to be a short-term stint, what’s next? You should at least prepare yourself for that scenario. That’s the point here. Many have gotten temporarily better and thought to be cured with simple things too. And I am one of those people.

#19

You didnt have shrinkage? You checked off “penile tissue changes, ie shrinkage” on your profile. You didnt have this?
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=4560

This side effect is the worst for me. My shrinkage was very extreme. If you had it you definately wouldnt forget it. I’m asking because if you DID have this as you indicated on your profile and DO NOT now obviously that would be some evidence that its possibly reversable.

#20

shrinkage is reversible. It has returned with me on the most part with antibiotics as long as i stay on them.