Melatonin Hair Loss Cream 50g
Melatonin Cream: prescription topical melatonin in a 50g cream for the scalp. Choose 0.1%, 0.2% or 0.3%, with optional minoxidil or tretinoin in the same jar.
Melatonin
Melatonin
Prices are shown below. You can choose a strength once you have completed the medical questionnaire.
Add Minoxidil? (optional)
Add Tretinoin? (optional)
£0.00
✓ Prescription Included
✓ Delivery Included
Description
Melatonin Hair Loss Cream (50g)
Prescription topical melatonin in a 50g cream, compounded fresh in the UK. A cream stays where you put it and absorbs as a moisturising film, which suits a scalp that reacts badly to the alcohol and propylene glycol vehicle used in off-the-shelf topical solutions.
Melatonin is a mild adjunct rather than a primary treatment. It sits alongside a proven active, and the configurator lets you put minoxidil in the same jar.
How topical melatonin may support hair growth
Melatonin is best known as a sleep hormone, but hair follicles carry melatonin receptors and produce melatonin locally. The mechanism believed to underlie any hair-supporting effect is antioxidant activity: melatonin scavenges free radicals around the follicle, and oxidative stress is one of the pathways implicated in follicle miniaturisation. It may also help hold follicles in the anagen (active growth) phase for longer.
What melatonin is not: it is not a DHT blocker. It does not inhibit 5-alpha reductase the way finasteride and dutasteride do, and it does not block the androgen receptor the way spironolactone does. If DHT-driven loss is the main problem, melatonin is an addition to a DHT-directed treatment, not a replacement for one.
The published evidence base is modest. A commonly cited study (Fischer et al, 2004) reported reduced hair-pull test positivity and improved growth over 6 months of nightly 0.1% topical melatonin in women with androgenetic alopecia. That work used a solution, and results from it do not transfer directly to a compounded cream.
Available strengths
0.1%: the strength used in the published work, and the usual starting point
0.2%: a step up where 0.1% has been tolerated without effect
0.3%: the highest we compound
Your prescriber decides the strength that is appropriate for you, and may approve something other than the one you select.
How to apply
Wash and dry your scalp, or apply to a dry scalp between washes
Apply a pea-sized amount to the thinning areas once daily, ideally in the evening
Part the hair and work it into the scalp with clean fingertips, not into the hair itself
Wash your hands straight after
Leave it on. Allow 15 to 20 minutes to absorb before styling or sleeping
A 50g jar is about a month of once daily use. Consistency matters more than technique, so missed days slow progress.
What to expect
4 to 8 weeks: some people report reduced shedding
3 to 6 months: visible thickening, if it is going to happen, is judged here. This is the window the published studies assessed
12 months: full effect, maintained with continued nightly use
On stopping: any hair-supporting effect fades over several weeks
Melatonin is a mild adjunct. Anyone who wants a stronger or faster effect is usually better served by adding minoxidil, or by a DHT-directed treatment.
Side effects
Topical melatonin has a low side effect profile, because absorption into the bloodstream from the scalp is negligible. Exact frequencies are not established for a compounded topical, so the list below is ordered by likelihood rather than precise figures.
More likely (local, at the application site)
Mild, brief itching immediately after application
Less likely
Contact dermatitis or dryness at the application site
Unlikely
Localised skin discolouration, which usually resolves on stopping
When to seek urgent medical advice
Signs of allergic reaction: facial or lip swelling, difficulty breathing, rash
Topical melatonin does not make you drowsy. Scalp application does not raise blood levels enough to affect sleep.
Who should not use Melatonin Cream
Not suitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding, because safety data in those groups is limited
Known allergy to melatonin
Under 18
Do not apply to broken or inflamed skin. Wait for it to heal first
Warnings and precautions
It does not cause drowsiness: unlike a melatonin tablet, scalp application does not produce meaningful blood levels, so it does not affect sleep.
It is not a DHT blocker: where hair loss is DHT driven, melatonin should be an addition to a DHT-directed treatment rather than a substitute for one.
Evening application: nightly use lines up with the follicle's own melatonin rhythm.
Cream or solution?
Cream (50g jar): for anyone who dislikes a wet scalp or a sticky finish, and for treating a defined area such as a widening part line. Moisturising rather than drying. About a month per jar.
Solution (TrichoSol base, 100ml): faster to cover a whole scalp, and the cheaper option over time at roughly three months per bottle. See Topical Melatonin in TrichoSol.
Combining Melatonin Cream with other treatments
This is a compounded jar, so other actives go into the same 50g cream when you configure it, rather than being bought as a second product.
Add minoxidil (5%, 10% or 15%, prescriber approved) for growth stimulation. Melatonin with minoxidil is a well tolerated combination for female pattern thinning.
Add tretinoin (0.01%) if you know you are a slow minoxidil responder. Tretinoin raises sulphotransferase activity in the scalp, which can improve the response to minoxidil.
Want a DHT blocker or a wider active palette? Our Custom Topical Solution compounds melatonin with finasteride or dutasteride, spironolactone, minoxidil, tretinoin and further actives in one 100ml bottle.
Prescription included
Complete the short online health questionnaire at checkout. A UK prescriber reviews your answers, and most approvals are the same day. Your cream is compounded fresh in the UK by a GPhC registered partner pharmacy, and delivery is included.
Frequently asked questions
How do I apply this treatment?+
Apply it directly to the scalp in the areas being treated rather than coating the hair, then wash your hands and let the scalp dry fully. Your dispensing label sets how much to use and how often, and it takes priority over any general guidance. Our full guide covers application, storage and what to expect.
What is Melatonin Cream and how does it work?+
A prescription topical melatonin cream, compounded to order in the UK in a 50g jar. Hair follicles carry melatonin receptors, and the mechanism believed to underlie any hair-supporting effect is antioxidant activity around the follicle, plus a possible lengthening of the anagen growth phase. It is not a DHT blocker.
Does melatonin cream make you drowsy?+
No. Applied to the scalp, melatonin does not raise blood levels enough to affect sleep. It is the oral tablet that has a sedating effect, not a topical.
Is melatonin cream a replacement for finasteride or minoxidil?+
No. Melatonin does not inhibit 5-alpha reductase and does not block the androgen receptor, so it does nothing directly about DHT-driven loss. It is best used as an addition to a proven active. Minoxidil can be compounded into the same jar.
What strengths does Melatonin Cream come in?+
It is compounded at 0.1%, 0.2% or 0.3%. The published work used 0.1%, which is the usual starting point. Your prescriber reviews the strength you select and may approve a different one.
How do I apply Melatonin Cream?+
Apply a pea-sized amount to the thinning areas of the scalp once daily in the evening. Part the hair and work it into the scalp rather than the hair. Wash your hands straight after, and leave it on overnight.
How is the cream different from topical melatonin solution?+
Same active, different vehicle. The cream stays where you put it and absorbs as a moisturising film, which suits a scalp that reacts to alcohol-based solutions. The TrichoSol solution spreads faster across a whole scalp and is the cheaper option over time, at roughly three months per 100ml bottle against about a month per 50g jar.
How long does melatonin cream take to work?+
Reduced shedding is often the first sign, at around 2 to 3 months. Visible thickening is judged at 3 to 6 months, which is the window the published studies assessed, with full effect at about 12 months of nightly use.
Can men use Melatonin Cream?+
Yes. The published work was in women with androgenetic alopecia, which is why melatonin is usually discussed for female pattern thinning, but the mechanism is not sex specific. For men with DHT-driven loss, melatonin is an addition to a DHT blocker rather than a treatment on its own.
How much does melatonin cream cost in the UK?+
From £80 for a 50g jar, which is about a month of once daily use. The price moves with the strength you choose and whether you add minoxidil or tretinoin to the same jar. UK prescriber review and UK delivery are included.
Can I return this item?+
Prescription and custom-compounded medicines cannot be returned once dispensed under UK pharmacy regulations. Non-prescription items may be returned within 14 days if unused and in their original packaging. See our returns policy at hairrepairclinic.co.uk/returns-policy for full details.
Disclaimer: this page is for general information only and does not constitute medical advice. Prescription treatments are not appropriate for everyone. Prescription only treatment is supplied only where a UK registered prescriber judges it clinically appropriate after reviewing your online medical questionnaire.
Last updated:
