Can Melatonin Improve Hair Growth And Reduce Hair Losses
It has been discovered that there may be a close connection between melatonin and how your hair follicles function. And, your hair follicles not only have receptors for melatonin, but they are also important sites for melatonin synthesis outside of the pineal gland in your brain.
A review study done on 5 trials involving topical melatonin for androgenetic alopecia found that topical application of melatonin may be a treatment option consideration for androgenetic alopecia. The review also states that the safety and tolerability of topical melatonin in all studies were good.
One double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study was conducted on 40 women who were dealing with androgenetic alopecia or diffuse alopecia. The women were randomized to apply either a 0.1% melatonin solution or a placebo solution to their scalp once daily for 6 months. At the end of the trial, the hair was assessed by a trichogram. The results reported that melatonin significantly increased the anagen hairs in the occipital region in women dealing with androgenetic alopecia, and it significantly increased the frontal hair in women dealing with diffuse alopecia as compared to the placebo groups. The authors conclude by saying that topical melatonin may influence hair growth in humans, and the mechanism may have to do with the induction of the anagen phase of the hair follicle.
Should You Try Melatonin For Hair Loss
If youre concerned about your hair loss, speak to a trichologist. They can help you find out whats causing your hair loss, and decide whether melatonin is a good treatment option for you. Theres also potential links between sleep and hair loss, so taking melatonin may help you establish a healthy sleep pattern and also promotes healthy hair.
Whichever treatment you choose, it is essential to take advice to get the right one. The Wimpole Clinic is happy to guide you through the process and discuss all treatments available to you.
Melatonin And Hair Loss
Melatonin is a hormone that is naturally created in your body by the pineal gland while you sleep. You may have heard that some people take melatonin as a short-term sleep aid to treat insomnia. It is also an antioxidant, which means it can combat oxidative stress to reduce the signs of aging.
Research has shown that there may also be a link between melatonin and hair growth. Hair follicles contain receptors for melatonin, which contribute to the hair growth cycle.
Hormones such as adrenaline, testosterone, dihydrotestosterone , and enzymes such as 5-alpha reductase are monitored and regulated during the sleep cycle when melatonin is generated.
Too little melatonin can allow these to go out of balance and that may result in thinning hair.
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Development Of A Pharmacological Formula
Based on the positive effects of melatonin on hair growth, ASATONA AG developed a topically applied cosmetic hair solution with a melatonin content of 0.0033%, which was intended to slow the hair’s aging process and be used as an adjuvant treatment for AGA. In addition to melatonin, this formulation also included ginkgo biloba, which also has pronounced anti-oxidative properties and a positive impact on hair growth by providing the hair roots with better nutrients, as well as biotin, which is an important micronutrient to support cellular functions.
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Made with clinically proven ingredients to stop hair loss and promote hair growth. Moreover, what makes us different is that hair restoration IS our specialty. As a hair transplant surgeon, this is what Dr. Max and his team work everyday. We wanted to offer a simple solution to protect your hair from hair loss and increase its density.
Both formulas are prescription-only and do require a formal consultation with Dr. Max. Come in today and learn more about which non-surgical hair loss treatment might be best for you.
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Does Melatonin Cause Hair Growth
Several types of research have been conducted on whether melatonin works for hair loss. In one study, a topical melatonin solution was used for six months by 35 men with AGA. Within three months, 54% of them experienced 29% hair growth, and after six months, 58% of them experienced 42% hair growth.
In another report, researchers found that the melatonin solution was more effective in improving hair loss than previously used products for hair loss problems, respectively.
Over the years, medical experts and dermatologists have believed that if used in minimal quantities, melatonin positively affects men and women with hair loss by reducing the progression and increasing the hair density.
However, its important to understand that melatonin is not an absolute solution to hair loss, as its effectiveness is still being researched worldwide. The cause of hair loss varies in different people, and similarly, they experience different results of melatonin. However, it is safe to say that melatonin is considered the best alternative for hair loss with fewer side effects.
Treatment For Hair Loss
Androgenic Alopecia or the most common form of hair loss can usually be treated or addressed through the use of laser therapy or with medical intervention.
Topical Minoxidil as a treatment for baldness
Another treatment course for baldness is the application of topical Minoxidil. This treatment comes in the form of foams, serums, sprays, shampoos, and conditioners that are directly applied on the affected parts. Minoxidil works by improving blood flow into the scalp providing nutrients in the hair follicles causing increased growth rate of hair as well as an improvement in hair density. Some common side effects of Minoxidil treatment are the feeling of a burning sensation on the scalp, the presence of unwanted hair growth in other areas of the body, and dizziness.
Recent clinical studies have found the application of topical Melatonin as an alternative agent for the treatment of the most common type of hair loss.
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Can Melatonin Help In Overcoming Hair Loss
Yes, melatonin does help men and women in overcoming hair loss and promote hair growth. In order to know how it works, we need to understand the human hair growth cycle.
Human hair growth is regulated by hormones and consists of three phases, namely:
The anagen phase is when the cells in the root of the hair cleave quickly to produce new hair strands. After the Anagen phase, your hair cycle goes into a short phase known as the catagen phase, which marks the end of active hair growth.
The third stage of the natural hair growth cycle is the Telogen phase – a resting period when strands remain in their follicles but are not actively growing. During the hair growth cycle disruption, the hair moves quickly from the Anagen to Telogen phase. This leads to hair loss.
Melatonin can counter the negative effects of hormone disruption leading to hair loss and brings hair growth cycle functions back to normal, promoting hair growth in the process.
What Is The Mechanism Behind How Melatonin Improves Hair Growth
Since topical melatonin is a relatively new route for hair loss treatments, there is not a full picture yet of just what this natural hormone is doing to deliver these potential hair benefits.
However, we have a few ideas as to what the mechanisms may be.
More research is needed to completely understand the full functionality of melatonin applied topically to the scalp and what role it may be able to play in hair loss treatment.
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Protection Of Hair Follicles
Hair loss is triggered by oxidative stress. Melatonin is a powerful antioxidant that fights oxidative stress. Hair follicles have melatonin receivers, implying that melatonin plays an important role in hair growth. Lab tests show that if used substantially, melatonin extends the growth stage and results in faster growth.
Melatonin And Hair Physiology: Reasons And Clinical Efficacy Data As A Topical Treatment Of Androgenic Alopecia
ABSTRACT
REFERENCES
Lerner AB, Case JD, Takahashi Y. Isolation of melatonin, a pineal factor that lightens melanocytes. J Am Chem Soc. 1958 80: 2587.
Malpaux B, Migaud M, Tricoire H, Chemineau P. Biology of mammalian photoperiodism and the critical role of the pineal gland and melatonin. J Biol Rhythms. 2001 16: 336-347.
Arendt J. Melatonin. Clin Endocrinol. 1988 29: 205-229.
Zawilska JB, Skene DJ, Arendt J. Physiology and pharmacology of melatonin in relation to biological rhythms. Pharmacol Rep. 2009 61: 383-410.
Hardeland R. Melatonin: signaling mechanisms of a pleiotropic agent. Biofactors. 2009 35: 183-192.
Reiter RJ. The melatonin rhythm: Both a clock and a calendar. Experientia. 1993 49: 654-664.
Reiter RJ. Pineal melatonin: cell biology of its synthesis and of its physiological interactions. Endocr Rev. 1991 12: 151-180.
Bai J, Dong L, Song Z, Ge H, Cai X, Wang G et al. The role of melatonin as an antioxidant in human lens epithelial cells. Free Radic Res. 2013 47: 635-642.
Tan DX, Chen LD, Poeggeler B, Manchester LC, Reiter RJ. Melatonin: A potent endogenous hydroxyl radical scavenger. Endocrine J. 1993 1: 57-60.
Lowes DA, Almawash AM, Webster NR, Reid VL, Galley HF. Melatonin and structurally similar compounds have differing effects on inflammation and mitochondrial function in endothelial cells under conditions mimicking sepsis. Br J Anaesth. 2011 107: 193-201.
Fischer TW. The influence of melatonin on hair physiology. Hautarzt. 2009 60: 962-972.
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Schedule An Appointment For A Hair Loss Evaluation Today
While melatonin may have a role to play in strengthening and keeping hair, research is still preliminary, and it may not by itself be able to reverse hair loss or stop it completely in its tracks. At the Miami Hair Institute, our skilled physicians diagnose and treat hair loss cases that cant be reversed at home. We can help patients suffering from hair loss through advanced hair restoration surgery techniques and alternative non-invasive treatments.
To receive a personalized evaluation and treatment plan, contact us online or call our office directly at 305-925-0222.
Should I Try Melatonin For Hair Loss
While the topical and oral use of melatonin has shown promise in treating hair loss in some patients, no treatment is perfect, and every persons body is different.
It is important to consider the potential side effects of any treatment. While generally safe, some of the side effects of melatonin include:
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Melatonin For Hair Growth: Everything Answered
Melatonin has been consistently gaining popularity among men and women for boosting hair growth. While there is a lot of information about this hair loss treatment on the internet, answers to the below questions are still not widely available:
How does melatonin work for hair growth? Can melatonin help overcome hair loss completely? Does melatonin have any side effects? What are melatonins best alternatives?
In this blog, Lordhair – the global hair toupees and wigs brand – will answer all such questions about using melatonin for hair growth. But before that, lets understand what melatonin actually is!
How Is Melatonin Usually Used For Hair Growth
When melatonin has been researched for its hair growth or hair loss slowing benefits, it is used as a topical application to the scalp in the form of a lotion or a solution. So, while the oral form of melatonin is what is used to induce sleep and help regulate your internal circadian rhythms, topical is most likely the route to use when aiming for the hair.
Since this is a new realm of potential hair loss treatment options, a set dosing strategy has not been established, although there are some commonalities between studies.
The strengths of topical melatonin seen in studies tend to be either 0.1% melatonin solutions or 0.0033% topical melatonin solutions. These lotions and solutions are also often applied only once daily in the trials.
For those who are concerned about excessive sleepiness from trying to use topical melatonin for hair loss, it should be noted that the topical applications seem to have only negligible effects on serum melatonin levels and feeling sleepiness from this type of use is unlikely.
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Does Melatonin Help Hair Grow
When we think of melatonin, its sleep properties are usually what come to mind. What you may not have been aware about is melotonins benefits for hair growth.
Melatonin is a hormone that is produced naturally in the body. Its a hormone produced in your brains pineal gland that helps regulate your circadian cycles. Essentially, as you get closer to the end of your day, more melatonin is produced by your body to assist you in sleeping.
Then it gradually lessens in the morning to assist you in getting out of bed. Simply put, melatonins actions assist your bodys sleep-wake cycles to be more consistent. Melatonin levels naturally decline as you become older.
While it can be taken orally to help with sleep, its most commonly used in a topical solution.
Oral melatonin supplementation has been increasingly popular in recent years. Theyre often made of synthetic melatonin and are said to assist with:
- Sleep disturbances caused by certain blood pressure medications
The Initial Causes Melatonin Topical For Hair Loss
The main cause of hair loss is stress. While most of us shed about 50 to 100 strands of hair daily, we also continue to grow new ones at the same rate. This shedding is normal, and its perfectly natural to replace lost hair with new ones. However, if youre losing hair that is excessively slow or isnt growing back, youre experiencing hair fall. There are many possible causes for this condition, but theres no one single solution.
Tinea capitis, also known as scalp ringworm, is a fungal infection that affects the scalp. Symptoms include bald spots and patches of hair loss. Infection may be caused by fungus, and scaly, red patches may develop. In severe cases, sores may develop on the scalp and oozing pus may be present. Treatment with a prescription may be necessary, but the long-term results of taking these medications are not always permanent.
In some cases, temporary hair loss may be the result of a hormonal imbalance. While some women experience hair loss due to hormonal fluctuations, others may experience permanent loss of hair. These changes can be caused by hormones in the body, such as those produced by the thyroid or by the adrenal glands. In severe cases, the loss of hair is caused by medical conditions. Inflammatory diseases can cause an excess of androgen, a male hormone. High levels of vitamin A in the blood and in the body can also result in hair thinning.
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How Does Hair Loss Happen
There are several types of hair loss, but for the purpose of this article, were only going to explore one: androgenetic alopecia.
Androgenetic alopecia is more commonly male pattern baldness and it affects an estimated 50 million men in the United States. Its believed to occur because of both genetic and hormonal factors.
Your body produces a hormone dihydrotestosterone , which is believed to be one of the main factors in male pattern baldness.
If your genetics predispose you to hair loss, DHT binds to receptors in your scalp and causes your hair follicles to retract.
Then, new hair stops growing, and thats what results in thinning hair or baldness.
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Exactly How Do You Utilize Minoxidil
Minoxidil comes as a lotion, liquid or foam, typically in a stamina of 2% or 5%. The higher concentration is normally just advised for use by males and is classified by ScalpMed as Bonus Stamina for Guy.
To have any type of favorable effect upon hair loss, Minoxidil must be used at least once a day, daily for as long as treatment is preferred.
The technique of application will differ relying on whether you are using cream or foam, yet the standard technique is to use a small amount really carefully to areas of the scalp impacted by balding and also to massage it into the skin.
If you are making use of fluid Minoxidil, it is most likely that you will certainly be provided with an applicator to make the process less complicated and also much more precise.
It is essential not to apply Minoxidil to inflamed or aching skin and to avoid getting it in your eyes. Minoxidil can likewise lead to unwanted hair growth if it is available in to exposure to various other areas of the body.