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Melatonin & Hair Growth

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.

  1. 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.

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