What Is Silica?
Silicon dioxide, also known as silica, is an oxide of silicon, a non-metallic chemical element. Silica combines silicon and oxygen and is primarily found in green leafy plants and available in hair growth oil, gel, and supplement forms. What Are Its Benefits? It prevents hair breakage, improves hair tensile strength, and stimulates hair growth. Who Can Use It? Anyone can take it except people who have respiratory issues. How Often? As prescribed by your physician. Caution Consult your doctor before adding silica supplements to your diet.
Our body needs silicon in trace amounts for collagen synthesis and improving skin strength and elasticity. Silicon helps prevent hair fall and maintains hair shine (1). No scientific evidence supports the claim that silica can promote hair growth. However, silica supplements may help improve your hair health. In the next section, lets take a look at the benefits of silica.
Benefits Of Using Silica For Hair
1. May Prevent Hair Loss
Silica may not directly influence your hair health. However, studies suggest that silicon content in the hair is crucial for maintaining its strength and may prevent hair loss (1). You may take silica hair growth supplements to improve the silicon content in your hair and prevent hair thinning.
2. Improves Tensile Strength
A study demonstrated that choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid (ch-OSA) supplements improved hair structure and tensile strength in women with fine hair. Orthosilicic acid is an amorphous form of silica and improves hair elasticity and break load, resulting in thicker hair (2).
How To Use Silica Supplements
The best way to use silica for maintaining hair health is by taking oral supplements. Silicon or silicon dioxide supplements are available in pill, powder, and gel forms. You may consume any of them. However, before taking supplements, consult a doctor to determine if your body has silicon deficiency. Do not self-medicate. You will also find hair growth shampoos, conditioners, and other hair products containing silicon. However, the efficacy of topical silicon is not studied. You may or may not get any results after using silicon-rich hair products. The supplements will work only in the right dosage. In the next section, find out how much silica supplement you may consume.
Dosage Recommendation For Silica Supplements
Silica supplements are used with other hair vitamins for managing issues related to the skin, joints, bones, and hair (1). The recommended dosage may differ, depending on the issues. If you are wondering if silica supplements have any health hazards, scroll down and read the next section.
Is Silicon Dioxide Safe To Consume?
There is no evidence that oral silica can cause any health hazard or side effects. The FDA considers silicon dioxide or silica as a safe hair growth food additive (3). However, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) raised concern over the use of nano silicon dioxide smaller than the nano threshold of 100 nm (4). EFSA further urged the European Union to regulate the use of nano silicon dioxide until further research is conducted to evaluate its health implications. To avoid any side effects, consult a doctor before using silica supplements. Is silica or biotin better for hair growth? In hair growth products, biotin is better than silica. However, you can take both after consulting your doctor to get the best results. Is silica safe in hair products? Yes, silica is safe in hair products. Is silica the same as silicone? No, silica is a combination of silicon and oxygen. Silicone is a synthetic polymer of silicon with carbon and oxygen. So don’t use silicone hair treatments interchangeably with silica products, unless recommended to do so by your hair care specialist. Which is better: silica or collagen? When it comes to hair growth, both silica and collagen are effective treatments. While you know the benefits of silica, using collagen for hair growth works as well. Collagen may help prevent hair thinning and damage, boosting hair volume in the process, among other benefits. Can you take silica everyday? Yes, you can take silica everyday. However, consult a doctor to determine the dosage. Is silica toxic? Silica is usually non-toxic. However, breathing in small crystalline silica particles may cause a lung disease called silicosis. Speak to your doctor for more information. How can I get silica naturally? Consuming bananas, leafy greens, green beans, cereal, brown rice, lentils, and beer may help you get silica naturally.
Illustration: Silica for Hair - Benefits Usage and Considerations
Discover the amazing benefits of silica for hair loss, dry skin, brittle nails, and bone health. Learn how to take it and see the results for yourself! Check it out!
