Hair troubles are a common concern for many individuals seeking effective remedies. Whether it's using deep conditioning shampoos, applying serums, incorporating hair SPF into routines, or dedicating time to scalp massages, people spare no effort in protecting and nurturing their hair.
Amidst these traditional methods, the Internet is buzzing with another potential at-home remedy for hair loss: the application of tretinoin.
Tretinoin, a derivative of Vitamin A and a type of retinoid primarily prescribed for acne treatment, boasts a myriad of benefits for the skin. These include reducing acne, stimulating collagen production, refining skin texture by enhancing the turnover of dead skin cells and promoting the growth of new ones, fading hyperpigmentation, unclogging pores, improving elasticity and firmness, and minimizing fine lines and wrinkles.
Dermatologists recommend applying tretinoin cautiously on acne-prone areas and comedones (blackheads and whiteheads) at night due to its potential to increase skin sensitivity to the sun, causing redness, burning, and mild peeling.
But can tretinoin also promote hair growth? Despite its proven efficacy in skincare, its application in hair care remains a topic of debate and limited research.
Dr. Kiran, MD, founder of Isya Aesthetics and author of Skin Sense, emphasizes the need for more research to understand how different retinoids, including tretinoin, might contribute to hair growth. She acknowledges certain properties of tretinoin that theoretically support its potential effectiveness in this regard.
Dr. Geetika Srivastava, dermatologist and founder of Influennz Skin and Hair Clinic, Delhi, while not recommending tretinoin for hair growth in her practice, suggests it could indirectly promote hair growth through its collagen-stimulating effects, which aid in overall bodily healing and possibly enhance blood vessel formation (angiogenesis).
Dr. Kiran points out that tretinoin's ability to promote cell turnover may rejuvenate hair follicles, while also potentially improving the absorption of other hair growth treatments like minoxidil. Moreover, its anti-inflammatory properties may mitigate scalp inflammation, creating a conducive environment for hair growth by increasing blood flow to the applied area.
However, Dr. Chytra V Anand, celebrity cosmetic dermatologist and founder of Kosmoderma clinic, notes that clinical evidence supporting tretinoin's standalone efficacy for hair growth is scarce. Some studies suggest benefits when combined with minoxidil, which enhances blood flow to the scalp, thereby fostering a favorable environment for hair growth.
Nonetheless, caution is advised against the unsupervised application of tretinoin on the scalp or hair due to potential side effects and the lack of substantial research validating its primary use for hair growth. Experts emphasize the importance of identifying and addressing underlying triggers of hair loss, such as environmental factors, lifestyle choices, nutritional deficiencies, stress, hormonal fluctuations, or specific product usage, before considering experimental treatments like tretinoin.
