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: 

1. How does melatonin work for hair growth? 
2. Can melatonin help overcome hair loss completely? 
3. Does melatonin have any side effects? 
4. What are melatonin’s 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, let’s understand what melatonin actually is! 

 

What’s melatonin?

Melatonin is a hormone that helps our body make sense of night and day. While melatonin’s importance in terms of sleep cycle has been long established, its link to hair loss and recovery has only been confirmed quite recently. 

Hair loss in humans is aggravated by oxidative stress - a disturbance in the balance between the production of reactive oxygen species and antioxidant defenses. Melatonin is a powerful antioxidant with the ability to fight oxidative stress and stimulate hair growth. 

Although this hormone is found naturally in our body, medical experts have found ways to make it synthetically for hair growth. Apart from hair loss, melatonin can also be used to beat insomnia and improve sleep in different medical conditions. 

 

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: 

1. Anagen phase  
2. Catagen phase 
3. Telogen phase 

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. 

 

How does melatonin work?

According to dermatologists, melatonin for hair growth works in two different ways: 

1. Protecting hair follicles: Hair loss in men and women is also aggravated by oxidative stress. It’s the result of exposure of hair follicles to pollution, UV radiation, and passive smoke. Melatonin acts as a shield and protects hair follicles from these external stimuli. Results have shown that topical application of melatonin extends the anagen phase of the hair cycle.
2. Stimulate hair growth: Just like many hair loss prevention techniques, melatonin is also double-edged in nature. Besides protecting hair follicles from oxidative stress, it strengthens them and prevents shedding. It also improves blood circulation in the scalp and wards off soreness. Long story short, it can stimulate hair growth in a considerable way.  

 

Just like melatonin, these hair loss prevention tips will also help with recovery.

 

What are the side effects of melatonin? 

Every coin has two sides. While melatonin definitely helps men and women tackle hair loss and stimulate hair growth, it has its share of side effects too. 

Here are the popular side effects of melatonin when taken externally: 

1. Headaches 
2. Grogginess 
3. Hormonal imbalance 
4. Vivid dreams 
5. Nausea 
6. Certain allergies 

According to Mapleholistics, women who are expecting should keep away from this hair loss treatment as it can cause some serious complications. 

 

 

 

Should you really use melatonin? 

Apart from expecting women, healthy men and women can use melatonin for boosting hair growth. While the treatment is hailed as safe, there’s always the risk that synthetically made melatonin hormones may not respond the right way. 

Lordhair suggests speaking with a doctor before taking the hair loss treatment and seeking medical attention immediately if allergies or side effects occur. 

 

What are the best alternatives to melatonin? 

If melatonin doesn’t work wonders for your hair loss condition, these treatments and lifestyle changes may come in handy: 

 

#1 Healthy diet

The easiest way to fight temporary hair loss in teenagers and youngsters is a healthy diet. A well-balanced, healthy diet will not only boost hair growth but also improve texture. Consume foods rich in the following nutrients: 

1. Zinc: Promotes hair growth.
2. Iron: Prevents hair from breaking by providing adequate amounts of oxygen to hair tissues.
3. Biotin: Essential for producing keratin, a hair protein required for stronger, thicker strands. 
4. Vitamins C, A, and E: Protects hair from damage and boosts growth. 
5. Protein:  The most basic ingredient needed for hair generation.

 

 

#2 Hair systems 

Unlike melatonin, hair replacement systems have zero side effects. Also known as modern-day wigs, they are designed using real human hair hand-woven onto a base made of premium skin-friendly materials. Attached using clips, glue, or tape, hair systems blend seamlessly with real hair and deliver a hyper-realistic look.

Check out how cool Chris looks after wearing a hair system: 

 

Benefits of using a hair system 

While there are many benefits of using a hair system for hair recovery, we have listed only the best ones: 

 

1. Instant change in the overall look
2. An affordable as well as practical recovery solution if your hair loss is extreme 
3. Realistic and comfortable to wear 

 

#3 Dermarolling 

Another melatonin alternative for preventing hair loss, the Derma roller is a handheld tool with a small roller that is rolled on the scalp to make tiny apertures with fine microneedles. It pierces only deep enough to promote circulation and regeneration of cells, encouraging hair growth in the process. 

Although this treatment for boosting hair growth is loved by men across the globe, it has its share of side effects:

1. Bruising
2. Oozing from scalp punctures
3. Redness
4. Swelling
5. Pain

Everything you need to know about derma rolling for hair loss.

 

Melatonin hair recovery 

Melatonin acts as a natural hair growth booster when paired with other treatments and greatly prolongs the anagen phase. However, it doesn’t work for everyone, especially people with extreme hair loss. 

 

If you want to get rid of hair loss in less than a week, we highly recommend buying a hair replacement system. Browse our catalog of toupee hair replacement systems to shop hair systems according to your hair preferences.

 

Got any questions to ask? Send them to support@lordhair.com. Our hair experts will be more than happy to answer them for you.  

 

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