Silica: The Overlooked Mineral for Hair, Skin & Connective Tissue

Silica is often called the “beauty mineral”, but its role extends well beyond hair and skin.

Silicon is a naturally occurring trace element involved in the structure and integrity of connective tissue, including collagen-rich tissues such as skin, hair, nails, cartilage and bone.

While research is still developing, silicon is an increasingly interesting area of nutritional science, particularly when we look at hair strength, skin structure and connective tissue health.

What is silica?

Silica is silicon dioxide, a compound made from silicon and oxygen. In the body, silicon exists in several forms, with orthosilicic acid being one of the more bioavailable forms studied in human research.

Unlike nutrients such as calcium and vitamin C, there is currently no established recommended daily intake for silicon.

This doesn't mean it is unimportant. It means our understanding of its precise nutritional requirements is still evolving.

Silica & Hair Health

Hair is primarily composed of keratin, a structural protein.

Silicon has been investigated for its role in maintaining hair structure, strength and elasticity.

An earlier randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial found that women with fine hair who supplemented with bioavailable silicon for nine months experienced improvements in hair tensile strength and hair thickness compared with placebo.

More recently, a 2025 randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial investigated a supplement containing biotin and plant-derived silica in 105 participants.

After 90 days, researchers reported improvements in measures including hair fall, hair growth rate, skin elasticity, skin hydration and nail quality.

Importantly, the study used both biotin and silica, so the individual contribution of silica cannot be separated from the combination. This is promising evidence, but not proof that silica alone treats hair loss.

And that distinction matters.

Hair shedding is multifactorial. Iron status, protein intake, thyroid function, hormones, stress, inflammation and overall nutritional status can all influence the hair cycle.

Silica may be one piece of the puzzle, not the whole picture.

Silica & Skin

Skin is a highly structured tissue made up of collagen, elastin, glycosaminoglycans and other components of the extracellular matrix.

Silicon appears to be involved in connective tissue formation and has been investigated for its potential effects on skin elasticity and structure.

Clinical research using choline-stabilised orthosilicic acid has reported improvements in aspects of skin elasticity and texture.

Rather than thinking of silica as an “anti-ageing” ingredient, it is more useful to think about it as one nutritional component involved in maintaining healthy connective tissue.

Silica, Nails & Keratin

Hair and nails share something important: both are largely made from keratin.

Research has investigated bioavailable silicon for its potential to support nail strength and reduce brittleness.

If nails are weak, peeling or unusually brittle, however, silica should not be the first assumption.

Iron, zinc, protein, thyroid function and other nutritional factors can all influence nail health.

Structural health starts with nutritional foundations.

Silica & Bones

One of the most fascinating areas of silicon research is bone health.

Bone isn't simply calcium. It consists of an organic collagen matrix that becomes mineralised with calcium and other minerals.

Silicon appears to interact with processes involved in collagen formation and bone mineralisation.

Recent reviews suggest that the biological evidence is compelling, but human research is still limited and more clinical trials are needed.

This is an important distinction: silicon is interesting for bone health, but it isn't a replacement for established nutrients or medical treatment for bone disease.

Where Do We Get Silicon?

Silicon occurs naturally in a range of plant foods.

Dietary sources include:

• Oats

• Barley

• Whole grains

• Rice and bran

• Green vegetables

• Cucumber

• Root vegetables

• Legumes

• Certain fruits

The amount and bioavailability can vary depending on the food and how it is processed.

Traditional herbal sources such as horsetail and nettle are also naturally associated with silicon, although their actual silicon content and bioavailability depend on the plant and preparation.

Do You Need a Silica Supplement?

Not necessarily.

There is currently no established recommended daily intake for silicon, and there isn't enough evidence to suggest that everyone needs supplementation.

For hair, skin and connective tissue, the bigger picture matters.

Before reaching for a single nutrient, consider the foundations:

Protein.
Iron.
Zinc.
Essential fatty acids.
Vitamin C.
Adequate energy intake.
Hormonal health.
Stress and sleep.
Digestive function and nutrient absorption.

Because healthy hair, skin, nails and connective tissue aren't created by one ingredient.

They are built from the nutritional environment you create every day.

The Ritual & Remedy Perspective

Silica is not a miracle mineral.

But silicon is an intriguing trace element with emerging research around hair, skin, nails, connective tissue and bone health.

The most interesting question isn't simply:

“Should I take silica?”

It's:

“Do I have the foundations my body needs to build healthy tissue?”

Beauty isn't built from the outside in.

It's supported from within.

The Evidence

• Wickett, R. R., et al. (2007). Effect of oral intake of choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid on hair tensile strength and morphology in women with fine hair. Archives of Dermatological Research, 299, 499–505.

• Barel, A., et al. (2005). Effect of oral intake of choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid on skin, nails and hair in women with photodamaged skin. Archives of Dermatological Research, 297, 147–153.

• Patel, M. N., et al. (2025). The role of biotin and plant-derived silica extracts in promoting hair, skin and nail health: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study. Cureus, 17(7).

• Pritchard, A., & Nielsen, B. D. (2024). Silicon supplementation for bone health: An umbrella review attempting to translate from animals to humans. Nutrients, 16(3), 339.

This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute individual medical or nutritional advice. Supplementation should be individualised, particularly during pregnancy, breastfeeding, when taking medication or when managing a health condition.