So biotin is working all over our bodies, all the time. It is critical for good health. Luckily, most people never become deficient in biotin . Among adults, people who are most likely to be deficient are those with absorption problems. People who have Crohn s disease, an intestinal disorder, may be deficient because they don t absorb enough biotin from food.
Some infants have a genetic inability to use biotin .
Lacking the support of this hardworking vitamin, they develop skin problems, such as an oily, flaky rash around their ears, noses, and mouths and on their buttocks. Eventually, they may also develop muscle weakness and potentially fatal nerve damage. Even if you don t have a biotin deficiency that affects your health, the lack of this vitamin might be evident in some parts of your body. One study found that an additional 2,500 micrograms a day of biotin helped to strengthen and thicken brittle fingernails. Certain fatty acids that our bodies use to make hair and nails can t be utilized unless biotin is on hand.