Melatonin for Hair Growth: What the Research Shows

Melatonin is best known as a sleep hormone, but hair follicles respond to it too. The hair research is on melatonin applied to the scalp: a placebo-controlled pilot in women found more hair in the growth phase, and a 2023 review found that eight of 11 human studies reported positive outcomes in androgenetic alopecia.

Here's what the studies show, how topical melatonin differs from supplements, and what to keep in mind.

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Key Takeaways

• In a double-blind pilot, 0.1% topical melatonin applied daily for 6 months increased the anagen (growth-phase) hair rate in women with hair loss compared with placebo.
• A review of five clinical studies found positive effects of a topical melatonin solution in men and women with androgenetic alopecia, but the studies were mostly uncontrolled before-and-after designs.
• A 2023 review of 11 human studies found most reported better hair growth with topical melatonin, especially in men with androgenetic alopecia.
• Most of the studies are of topical melatonin, not oral supplements taken at bedtime.

What Is Melatonin?

Melatonin is a hormone involved in many physiological processes, including those of the hair follicle.

Does Melatonin Help Hair?

The hair research is mostly on topical melatonin, and it's early. The review also cites an oral regimen, but most studies applied melatonin to the scalp.

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Using Melatonin Carefully

• Match the form to the evidence. Most studies used a topical solution.
• Be patient. Studies ran for 3 to 6 months.
• Talk to your doctor about melatonin if you're pregnant, breastfeeding, have a condition or take medication.

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What The Research Shows

A Placebo-Controlled Pilot

In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study of 40 women with diffuse or androgenetic alopecia, a 0.1% melatonin solution or placebo was applied to the scalp daily for 6 months. Melatonin significantly increased the anagen hair rate in occipital hair in women with androgenetic alopecia (n = 12; P = 0.012) and in frontal hair in women with diffuse alopecia (n = 28; P = 0.046). Plasma melatonin rose with treatment but did not exceed the physiological night peak. The authors called it a pilot study (Fischer et al., 2004).

Five Clinical Studies

A report of one pharmacodynamic study and four clinical pre-post studies found positive effects of a topical melatonin solution in men and women with androgenetic alopecia, with good tolerability. Studies included a 35-man TrichoScan study with hair density up 29% and 41% at 3 and 6 months, and a 3-month, 1,800-volunteer multi-center study in which hair-pull test positivity fell from 61.6% to 7.8%. Pre-post designs have no control group (Fischer et al., 2012).

A Review Of Human Studies

A 2023 review identified 11 human studies (2,267 patients with diagnosed alopecia) on melatonin. Eight observed positive outcomes after topical use in androgenetic alopecia. Most reported improved hair growth, density or thickness. Effective topical doses appeared to be a 0.0033% or 0.1% solution applied once daily for 90 to 180 days, versus 1.5 mg of oral melatonin twice daily for 180 days. The authors concluded the evidence supports melatonin use for scalp hair growth, particularly in men with AGA, and called for larger studies (Babadjouni et al., 2023).

See also: Niacin for Hair: What the Research Shows · Adenosine for Hair Loss: What the Research Shows

Melatonin is one of the ingredients in FullyVital's Hair Revival Serum. For how the evidence for each ingredient in the line stacks up, see our evidence-tier breakdown.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does melatonin help hair growth?

Topical melatonin showed positive results in several small human studies, but evidence is early and larger trials are needed.

Can I take melatonin pills for hair?

Most studies are of topical melatonin. The review also cites an oral regimen of 1.5 mg twice daily for 180 days, but oral use is less studied.

Is melatonin safe?

The studies reported good tolerability of topical use. Talk to your doctor before using melatonin in any form.

References

1. Fischer TW, Burmeister G, Schmidt HW, et al. Melatonin increases anagen hair rate in women with androgenetic alopecia or diffuse alopecia: results of a pilot randomized controlled trial. Br J Dermatol. 2004. PubMed
2. Fischer TW, Trüeb RM, Hänggi G, et al. Topical melatonin for treatment of androgenetic alopecia. Int J Trichology. 2012. PubMed
3. Babadjouni A, Reddy M, Zhang R, et al. Melatonin and the Human Hair Follicle. J Drugs Dermatol. 2023. PubMed