Did you know that you can use melatonin for hair growth? You may have already heard about this hormone, but probably not in this context. Here we’ll take a quick look at what melatonin is and how it could help boost your hair health.
What Is Melatonin?
Melatonin is a hormone our pineal gland naturally produces. Its main role is to regulate our sleeping pattern and help us stay awake during the day.
But even though this hormone occurs naturally in our bodies, some people may not have enough of it. This, in turn, can cause sleeping problems, which may become chronic if not treated. Luckily, there are many melatonin supplements that can help people who suffer from insomnia.
Can You Use Melatonin for Hair Growth?
In recent years, two large studies have found positive effects of melatonin for hair growth. In 2004, a group of German authors found that it can help reduce some types of hair loss in women. A few years later, the same authors found that a topical melatonin treatment can have the same effect in men, too.
As a rule, alopecia affects the hair follicle, limiting its ability to grow new strands. The hair then enters the telogen phase of the hair growth cycle where it starts falling out. But these two studies found that melatonin can induce the active growth (anagen) phase.
The authors don’t know how melatonin achieves this effect. According to them, this is likely due to one or more of its active components. They will need to conduct further research to gain more insight into this mechanism.
The Takeaway
Researchers say that using melatonin for hair growth works best in the early stages of hair loss. So, if you’ve recently started losing more hair than normal, melatonin supplements might help. But before you start taking them, you should talk to your doctor. They will determine if they’re safe for you and warn you about the possible side effects.
