Melatonin and Hair Growth: What the Science Says

Melatonin is a hormone associated with maintaining healthy sleep patterns. Topical melatonin is being studied as a possible treatment for hair growth. While these studies have shown some success on women, the overall benefits are unknown.

Melatonin

• Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland in the brain. Melatonin production is triggered by darkness. The production of melatonin regulates sleep patterns and other restorative body functions.

Conditions

• Melatonin is used to treat sleep disorders caused by jet lag, insomnia, depression and Alzheimer's.

Dosage

• Recommended dosage for healthy adults is 0.5 to 5 milligrams of melatonin nightly to regulate sleep patterns. If your sleep disorders are caused by other conditions, consult your doctor for dosage instructions.

Hair

• Liquid melatonin applied to the scalp once a day has been shown to increase the active growth of hair in women.

Solution

• Even though the studies of topical melatonin for hair growth have been positive, more research is needed to determine the long-term benefits of treatment.