Can Retinol Really Help With Hair Growth?

Whether it’s prebiotic sodas being the secret to curbing bloat or menstrual blood facials being good for your skin, TikTok seems to provide us with new, increasingly interesting “solutions” to a wide array of common health and beauty concerns. Most recently, users have been trying their hand at unconventional way to combat hair loss, this time through the powerful skin-care ingredients of retinoids and tretinoin. Before you go running to the skin-care aisle, here’s what the pros have to say about whether or not this trend is effective.

“With regards to the recent TikTok trend suggesting that retinoids and tretinoin can help with hair growth, it is important to note that hair loss and hair thinning are complex processes with multiple factors at play,” begins New York dermatologist Julie Russak, MD. “It involves the cells of the scalp, hair follicles, and scalp microbiome.” She explains that common hair growth treatments like minoxidil—more commonly known as Rogaine—targets the growth phase of the hair, while ingredients like retinol promotes the health of the skin cells within the scalp.

@thewilliamjknape

#stitch with @The Skin Doc Retinoids applied to your hairline can prevent hair loss and promote hair growth. #science #biochemicaltips #hair #hairloss #retinoids #health #hairgrowth #cosmetics

♬ original sound – William J. Knape | Science

“Retinol has been found to regulate cell proliferation and differentiation in the epithelium, which improves vascular proliferation and the delivery of nutrients to the hair follicle,” Dr. Russak says. “Studies suggest that combining minoxidil and retinol can have synergistic effects on their functions and the delivery of minoxidil to the hair follicle.”

But, like everything, there are risks to be considered. “While these findings are promising, it is important to exercise caution when using retinol and tretinoin for hair growth,” Dr. Russak cautions, “as retinoids can cause irritation and sensitivity in the skin, and overuse or misuse can lead to adverse effects. It is recommended to consult with a dermatologist before starting any new hair growth treatments, including the use of retinoids and tretinoin.”

Fellow New York dermatologist Doris Day, MD, echoes Dr. Russak’s concerns, explaining that “tretinoin can help with hair growth but it can also be irritating to scalp skin. Typically, concentrations of .02 to .05% of tretinoin are used, along with minoxidil and sometimes a little steroid to reduce irritation and increase absorption.” She also notes how “most of the formulas [of tretinoin] work best when combined with minoxidil but there are some who can’t tolerate or who don’t want to use it, so for them it’s good to have other options.”

Additionally, it’s easy for individuals who see shocking results on apps like TikTok to expect immediate results from these “unorthodox” treatments, but Dr. Day reminds patients that “with any hair growth formula, it is important to understand that it can take months to begin to work, and once you stop using it, it stops working.”

It's Personal

At NewBeauty, we get the most trusted information from the beauty authority delivered right to your inbox

Find a Doctor

Find a NewBeauty "Top Beauty Doctor" Near you

Select a state State Virtual AL AR AZ CA CO CT DC FL GA HI IA IL IN KY LA MA MD MI MN MO NC NE NJ NV NY OH OR PA SC TN TX UT VA WA WI Select a state Specialty Cosmetic Dentist Dermatologist Facial Plastic Surgeon Hair Restoration Specialist Oculoplastic Surgeon Periodontist Plastic Surgeon Prosthodontist Vein Specialist Select a state Treatment Abdominal thread lifts Accent your Body Acne Treatments Alexandrite Laser Arm Lift Asclera Bellafill Belotero Blue Light Body Body Lift Botox Botox Browlift Brachioplasty Brazilian Butt Lift Breast Augmentation Breast Augmentation with Fat Grafting Breast Implants Breast Implants with Saline Breast Implants with Silicone Breast Lift Breast Lift with Implants Breast Reconstruction Breast Reduction Browlift Butt Enhancement Carboxytherapy Cellulite Treatment Cheek Augmentation Cheek Augmentation with Fat Grafting Cheek Implants Cheek Lift Chemical Peels Chin Augmentation CO2 lasers Cool Lipo CoolSculpting CoolTone Crowns Dental Bonding Dental Implants Dimpleplasty Diode Laser Dysport embrace Active Scar Defense Emsculpt Endermologie Endoscopic Browlift Endoscopic Facelift Endoscopic Tummy Tuck Erbium Lasers Exilis Ultra 360 Eyelift Eyelift with Fat Grafting Face Facelift Facelift with Fat Grafting FaceTite Fat Melters and Fat Reducers Fat Transfer Forma Fractional CO2 lasers Fractional Resurfacing Lasers Fractora Glycolic Peels Glytone Enhanced Brightening Cream Gum Dermabrasion Gum Lift Hair Hair Removal Hair Transplant Hair-Loss Treatment Injectables & Fillers for Cheek Augmentation Injectables & Fillers for Eyelift Injectables & Fillers for Lip Enhancement Injectables And Fillers Injectables and Fillers with Fat Grafting Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Invisalign Isolaz Juvéderm Juvéderm Volbella Juvéderm Voluma Kybella Lactic Acid Peels Laser Liposuction Lasers Lateral Tension Tummy Tuck Limited Incision Facelift Lip Enhancement Lip Enhancement with Fat Grafting Lip Implant Lip Lift Liposculpture Liposuction Liquid Facelift Long Pulsed N: Yag laser Lower Blepharoplasty Lower Body Lift Lower eyelid surgery Lower Facelift MACS Lift Mandelic Peels Microdermabrasion Microinjection Microneedling Microwave Laser Treatment Mini Tummy Tuck Mini-Facelift Mommy Makeover Nd: Yag Neck Liposuction Necklift Nonsurgical Facelift Nonsurgical Rhinoplasty Obagi Blue Peel Otoplasty Perlane Phenol Peels Photobiomodulation Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) Photofacial PiQo4 Plasma Resurfacing Lasers Power Assisted Liposuction Prevelle Pulsed Dye Radiesse Radio Frequency with Microneedling Radio Frequency-Assisted Lipolysis Red Light Restylane Restylane Defyne Restylane Lyft Restylane Refyne Restylane Silk Revision Rhinoplasty Rhinoplasty Salicylic Peels SculpSure Sculptra Aesthetic Selphyl Silhouette Instalift Skin Skin Tighteners Skin Treatments Slim Lipo Smart Lipo SMAS facelift Smile Smile Makeover Smoothshapes Straightening Stretch Mark Treatments TCA Chemical Peels Teeth Whitening Thermage ThermiTight Thigh Lift Titan Tooth Contouring Traditional Facelift Tumescent Liposuction Tummy Tuck Ulthera Ultherapy Ultrasound Assisted Liposuction Umbilicoplasty Upper Blepharoplasty Upper eyelid surgery Vanquish ME VASER Lipo Vein Treatments Velashape Velasmooth Veneers Xeomin Search