Although melatonin supplements are most often taken to improve sleep, the substance could have affects on re-growing hair. You might take melatonin supplements for a variety of health reasons, including treating insomnia and jet lag, but melatonin in a topical form may have benefits for certain people with hair loss. Before you try melatonin for hair re-growth, consult your doctor about the proper application, potential side effects and drug interactions.
Function
Melatonin is a hormone produced by your pineal gland that regulates your circadian rhythm, which controls your sleep-wake cycle, says the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Melatonin supplements are a synthetic form of the hormone. People with insomnia, schizophrenia and heart disease appear to have below-normal levels of melatonin, and melatonin levels seem to diminish as you get older, states the University of Michigan Health System. But the function of melatonin in re-growing hair is unknown, notes the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Benefits
Melatonin could have some benefits for hair re-growth among women, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. A double-blind study of women with thinning hair found that applying a topical form of melatonin stimulated hair growth, according to a 2004 issue of the "British Journal of Dermatology."
Other Uses
Other uses of melatonin supplements include treating cluster headaches, fibromyalgia, seasonal affective disorder, tardive dyskinesia, chronic indigestion, epilepsy, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and irritable bowel syndrome. Taking melatonin may help to support your immune system, reduce the effects of aging, support smoking cessation, prevent heart disease and support cancer therapies. In some cases, melatonin could help treat depression, macular degeneration, sunburns, age-related cognitive decline, glaucoma, sarcoidosis, migraines and myoclonus, notes the University of Michigan Health System. Additionally, melatonin may help treat Alzheimer's disease, support HIV/AIDS treatments, ease the symptoms of drug withdrawal and reduce the side effects of chemotherapy, states the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
Considerations
The use of topical melatonin for hair re-growth is based on the findings of a single medical study, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical System. So keep in mind that little scientific evidence supports the use of melatonin for treating hair loss or thinning. Most uses of melatonin involve taking oral supplements by mouth, so little is known about the potential side effects of using melatonin topically. Talk with your physician before using melatonin orally or topically to discuss the possible safety issues.
Warning
The side effects of topical melatonin are unknown, but oral supplementation with melatonin could be unsafe for some people, warns the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. If you are pregnant, are breastfeeding or have an autoimmune disease, taking melatonin supplements may cause dangerous complications, cautions the University of Michigan Health System. Oral melatonin may reduce sperm count and motility or stimulate breast growth in men. Melatonin supplementation could affect your sex hormones, specifically estrogen and testosterone, and it could harm your glucose tolerance and insulin function. Melatonin supplements appear to inhibit your normal blood-clotting actions and could cause side effects like headaches, stomach cramps, low libido and morning drowsiness. If you take the medication nifedipine, taking melatonin could increase your heart rate and blood pressure, says the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Melatonin supplements could also cause sedation when taken with fluvoxamine.
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