Biotin hair products: Can they affect thyroid tests?

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May I ask what led you to Mayo Connect with such an interesting question? I love hearing these things, as they make me think and read. Your question led me to this article about biotin supplements and thyroid tests:https://www.thyroid.org/patient-thyroid-information/ct-for-patients/december-2018/vol-11-issue-12-p-3-4/ which of course doesn't address conditioners or other things you put on your body.

Here are some things to consider. The amount of biotin that is in shampoo or conditioner is really tiny compared to the 5-10mg of biotin that interferes with tests. What is put on hair only enters your body through scalp or skin, not the hair shaft so it's really tiny in amount. Finally, biotin placed on your hair will not promote growth, as it does not enter your body through the hair shaft, which is essentially dead. So if your body is deficient in biotin, to promote hair growth you need to get it inside you, either through a healthy diet or a supplement.

Does this answer your question?
Sue

hi @jenglish208, I added your question to the Endocrine System group. May I ask why you're having thyroid tests? How are you?

@jenglish208 Hi Jess. Welcome to Connect.

I take biotin orally and my endocrinologist told me it doesn't really affect you, but it conflicts with some of the tests used to measure your thyroid level - there's apparently more than one test that can be used. He said if I had a test coming up to just stop taking it a few days before the test.

I doubt that biotin in a shampoo would have an effect though, there's so little in it and even less or none would be absorbed into your bloodstream.
JK

I might have a thyroid problem I was tested but I was negative for thyroid issues I use shampoo and conditioner with biotin in it

so?

Which thyroid tests were done? Sometimes just the TSH alone doesn't reveal what is happening. Were any other tests done to check hemoglobin, vitamin and mineral levels? Sometimes deficiencies can mimic other conditions.
I still do not believe the tiny amount of biotin you could possibly absorb from shampoo and conditioner could have any effect on a test.
Sue

Jess, did you tell your doctor about using hair products containing biotin? Have they suggested re-doing the tests?

@jenglish208 I agree with @sueinmn, I doubt that the shampoo would make much of a difference. I take biotin tablets and was told by my endocrinologist to stop taking them two or three days before testing. It's not the thyroid that's affected, it's the test.

As @colleenyoung mentioned, you should probably mention it to your doctor and find out from them if shampoo and conditioner could be absorbed into your system enough to affect the test and if so have them redone. If your doctor says that could affect the test I hope you will let us know, especially if you have the test redone and the result is different.
JK