Gummy Vitamins vs. Pill Vitamins: Which Are Better?

What Vitamins Can Do for Your Hair and Skin Health

Let’s start with how vitamins can improve your hair and skin. This is still a developing science that includes a range of professional opinions. It’s worth noting that if you’re interested in the vitamins and minerals that supplements provide, one of the best things you can do is look at your diet. 

Some people need to take supplements due to deficiencies, but many, if not most people, can significantly change their hair and healthcare by increasing their intake of vitamins in their whole food diet. Vitamin C, D, and Biotin – three of the most common supplements for hair health – can be found in natural foods. Whether you’re supplementing with dietary choices, gummy vitamins, or pill vitamins, what’s widely understood is that micronutrients can have a major impact on your hair health in the following ways.

Hair Strength

You can feel and see the difference between strong, healthy hair and hair that is weak and brittle. When our hair follicles are damaged from free radicals or undernourished from deficiencies, the hair they produce is weaker. Supplements can help foster healthier hair growth by ensuring our body has the necessary levels of vitamins and nutrients.

Hair Growth

When hair follicles are pushed to the extreme of deficiencies, they can either stop producing hair or produce hair extremely slowly. 

Deficiencies in Vitamin C, for example, can lead to reduced collagen production, a vital component for cell regeneration. Certain supplements can help restore the cell’s natural cycle of reproduction.

Skin Repair

If you deal with a condition like eczema, which leaves scaly patches and irritated skin on your scalp, you might want to consider taking a supplement. Some studies have found that Vitamin E, Vitamin B12, and Vitamin D had positive effects, though more research is needed. It’s important to remember that everyone’s experience is different, and finding what supplement regimen works for you may take some time and experimentation.

What’s the Difference Between Gummy Vitamins and Pill Vitamins?

Before we get into which supplement is more effective, we want to give a quick refresher on the various types of vitamins out there.

Gummies

Probably your first encounter with gummy vitamins was as a kid. They’re easily ingested, often fruit-flavored, and sometimes sugar-coated. It’s not uncommon to see gummy vitamins geared towards adults these days.

Pills

Then there are your standard pill supplements. Depending on the brand and the dosage, this type of vitamin can vary in size and form including capsules, soft gels, and traditional tablets.

Chewables

Lastly, there are chewable tablets. These are a little different from gummies. They’re dry, sometimes chalky capsules which you can chew before swallowing to make them go down a little easier. One of the most common reasons someone would go for a gummy or chewable tablet is that they have a tough time swallowing pills. That can be especially true if the vitamin is on the larger side or if you are also on other daily medications. 

Which Form of Vitamins Is Better?

Still, the question remains; are gummy vitamins as effective as pill vitamins? The short answer is no. Most doctors and medical professionals agree that gummy vitamins are inferior to pill vitamins in both their dosage and health benefits. Let’s get into the key differences.

Gummy Vitamins Are Generally Less Potent

Gummy Vitamins Generally Contain More Sugar

Gummy Vitamins Can Be Easier To Stomach

Which Vitamins You Should Consider for Hair and Skin Health

If you’re looking to restore balance due to a deficiency or want to try supplements to see if they can help your hair and skin health, here are some places to start.

• Vitamin D: Most scientists agree that Vitamin D plays an essential role in the hair growth process and that a deficiency can be linked to hair loss. Supplements can help get you back on course.

• Biotin: Biotin promotes the production of fatty acids, which nourish our hair and skin. Our Purifying Mask also includes Biotin as a key ingredient for a restorative weekly mask experience.

• Vitamin C: We’re all familiar with Vitamin C when it comes to the common cold, but did you know it can help promote healthier hair? Vitamin C helps fight free radical damage in the skin, reducing the impact of environmental stressors.

• Turmeric Root:  This natural ingredient is widely recognized for its anti-inflammatory and healing properties.

• Ashwagandha Root: A restorative ingredient that helps to combat stress and decrease inflammation. Stress and inflammation are linked to hair thinning and irritation on the scalp.

As with any supplement, you may want to talk to your doctor before introducing a new regimen to your body. Our microbiomes are highly sensitive, whether in our gut or our heads. A professional opinion can help guide you to the safest option. When you’re dealing with skin and scalp conditions, often, supplements need to be, well, supplemented with other treatments like medicated shampoos. A doctor can give you a plan and ensure you’re treating your condition in a regulated environment.

Last Thoughts on Gummy and Pill Vitamins

If you’re experiencing hair loss or weakness, or facing scalp discomfort, we know how challenging it can be. Deficiencies in our body’s levels of micronutrients can have a huge impact on the health of our skin and hair. It’s up to us to feed our bodies with the nutrients and vitamins it needs to healthily regenerate and reproduce cells for years to come.

Thats why we've formulated our science-backed Daily Scalp Essential with key vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that are known to support hair growth, stronger hair, and a more moisturized scalp. The impulse to reach for the vitamin bottle is a good one, it means you’re trying to help your hair and skin flourish.

Here’s a recap of what we’ve discussed:

• Vitamins can help your hair and skin strengthen and foster growth and regeneration. More research is needed to prove a vitamin's efficacy compared to dietary changes.

• Natural, whole foods contain many of the vitamins we need. Deficiencies due to immune conditions or seasonal changes are the top reasons doctors recommend supplements. 

• Gummy vitamins are generally less potent than pill vitamins due to their shorter shelf life. It’s also a challenge to produce each gummy with the exact same dosage.

• Gummy vitamins often contain sugar levels, which can counteract the vitamins' benefits.

• Gummy vitamins are an option for people who experience pill fatigue and have difficulty swallowing whole objects. However, chewable vitamins can help alleviate the issue of dosages and sugar while also making swallowing easier. 

Remember, hair health is health. Taking care of your hair means you’re taking care of yourself, and the steps you take towards a beautiful mane can also positively affect important microbiomes throughout your body.