Hair Clinical Evidence — Published Research & MD Hair System Science
Hair Clinical Evidence
17-Week Restoration Study · Verbascoside Science · Published Research by Dr. Susan Lin, M.D. · Reviewed: May 2026
If you're here, you already know how it feels.
The strands in the shower drain. The thinner ponytail. The part line that won't hide anymore. The afternoon light catching a scalp you used to never see. The quiet panic of is this going to keep going?
You are not imagining it, and you are not alone. Women lose hair for many reasons — postpartum shedding, perimenopause and menopause, thyroid changes, stress, iron and ferritin depletion, autoimmune conditions, age. The fear of losing what defines so much of how you feel about yourself is real, and the existing options are usually drugs with side effects, hormones with risks, or expensive procedures.
I built MD Hair because my patients asked for something safer, more clinical, and more flexible than what the shelves were offering. The pages below show the evidence behind what I built — the independent studies, the ingredient science, the published research — so you can decide for yourself whether MD Hair belongs in your routine, beside your current treatment or instead of it.
— Susan F. Lin, M.D., Physician Founder, MD®
Non-Prescription — Use With or Without Your Current Treatment
The entire MD Hair system is non-prescription, formulated without minoxidil or finasteride, and physician-formulated. There is no minoxidil, no finasteride, and no prescription drug in any MD Hair product.
If you are already using minoxidil or finasteride and your physician has cleared it: MD Hair is designed to be used alongside your current regimen as a complementary scalp and follicle support system. If you are looking for a non-prescription alternative — perhaps because of side effects, plans to conceive, breastfeeding, or simply a preference for a non-pharmaceutical approach — MD Hair is designed to be used on its own. Either path is appropriate.
Summary of Evidence
The MD Hair system is supported by five converging forms of clinical and scientific evidence:
- A 17-week independent clinical study at Spincontrol North America Inc. in which hair density was assessed by photographic analysis; alongside the instrumental assessment, 71% of subjects reported an improvement in the appearance of their hair and 75% said they would recommend the product
- An internal 30-day office observational review of MD Nutri Hair in 30 subjects; high compliance and early improvements in hair strength and quality
- Independent bioavailability testing of MD Nutri Hair active ingredients at an analytical laboratory in Canada
- An MD Scalp Essential clinical evaluation at Medcin Instituto da Pele per Good Clinical Practices (GCP) and the Helsinki Declaration; in a 50-subject repeat insult patch test, no sensitisation was observed under study conditions
- Three published works by Dr. Susan Lin, M.D. on female hair loss and hair regeneration in Euro Cosmetics, The Link (American Hair Loss Council), and The National Hair & Skin Journal
The MD Hair system is non-prescription and formulated without minoxidil or finasteride.
Study 1: MD Hair Restoration System 17-Week Independent Clinical Study
Quick summary: An independent 17-week clinical study of the MD Hair Restoration System (the 2-step topical regimen combining MD Follicle Activator with MD Follicle Energizer) conducted at Spincontrol North America Inc. in participants experiencing chronic or acute hair loss. Hair density was assessed by photographic analysis. Alongside that instrumental assessment, subjects reported on the appearance of their hair.
Key outcomes
Instrumental assessment: hair density was measured by photographic analysis and analysed by the testing laboratory.
Subject responses:
| Outcome | % of subjects |
|---|---|
| Reported an improvement in the appearance of their hair | 71% |
| Would recommend the product (overall satisfaction) | 75% |
Study 2: MD Nutri Hair Office Observational Review
An internal 30-day office observational review conducted under Dr. Susan Lin's clinical oversight. Confirmed high compliance, tolerability, and early improvements in hair strength and quality consistent with the early phase of the hair growth cycle. Full clinical density changes typically require 3–6 months.
Study 3: MD Nutri Hair Bioavailability Confirmation
Independent analytical testing verified the stability and bioavailability of core active ingredients in MD Nutri Hair, ensuring effective nutrient delivery from the oral supplement.
Study 4: MD Scalp Essential Clinical Evaluation
Key outcomes
- Scalp health: Marked decrease in visible flaking and reduction in excess sebum production
- Irritation relief: Significant clinical reduction in self-reported scalp itching and redness
- Dermatological safety: In a 50-subject repeat insult patch test, no sensitisation was observed under study conditions
Published Research by Dr. Susan Lin, M.D.
Beyond the independent product studies above, Dr. Lin has authored three publications on female hair loss and hair regeneration in industry and professional-society journals — spanning a US trade journal, the voice journal of the American Hair Loss Council, and an international cosmetic-science publication.
R&D paper covering verbascoside (Lilac extract) action on 5-alpha-reductase isoforms 1 and 2, ORAC antioxidant data, biotinyl-GHK peptide mechanism, scalp microbiome / Malassezia inflammation pathway, and the rationale behind non-prescription combinations of plant phenols and signaling peptides for clinical hair-loss support.
Authored as Founder/CEO of La Canada Ventures Inc. for the voice journal of the American Hair Loss Council, the US professional society for hair-loss specialists. Discusses then-emerging stem-cell-derived peptide and cytokine technologies and their application to the next generation of hair regeneration products including the MD Hair Restoration System.
Two-page feature in the National Hair & Skin Journal covering the medical landscape of female hair loss, including evaluation, common causes (telogen effluvium, androgenetic alopecia, thyroid, ferritin and iron deficiency, autoimmune presentations) and physician-formulated options for support without prescription drugs.
The Science: Lilac Verbascoside and the MD Hair Peptide System
The active-ingredient strategy for the MD Hair system was published by Dr. Lin in Euro Cosmetics (April 2017) and is built on three intersecting mechanisms.
1. Lilac extract titrated for verbascoside — oral, in MD Nutri Hair
Verbascoside is a phenylpropanoid glycoside isolated from Lilac (Syringa vulgaris). It has independent third-party data in three relevant categories:
- Antioxidant capacity (ORAC). Independent ORAC testing measured a total antioxidant capacity of approximately 28,166 µmole TE/g for verbascoside, with contributions across all five major reactive species (peroxyl 6,756 µmole TE/g; hydroxyl 16,280 µmole TE/g; peroxynitrite 696 µmole TE/g; superoxide anion 2,877 µmole TE/g; singlet oxygen 1,557 µmole TE/g).
- 5-alpha-reductase modulation — isoforms 1 and 2. Verbascoside has been studied for action against both isoform 1 (predominantly inner and outer root sheath) and isoform 2 (predominantly dermal papilla) of the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme involved in the DHT pathway.
- Anti-inflammatory action on the scalp microenvironment. Androgen-related alopecia is commonly associated with chronic peri-follicular inflammation driven by Malassezia colonization, arachidonic-acid cascade activation, and miniaturization of the follicle. Verbascoside has been studied for direct anti-inflammatory action on this pathway.
2. Biotinyl-GHK peptide — topical, in MD Follicle Energizer
Biotinyl-GHK is a biotin-anchored tripeptide designed to be delivered topically to the scalp. Published comparative concentration data on biotinyl-GHK show measurable activity on hair-matrix proliferative markers at concentrations 10–30 times lower than concentrations required of other commonly-used topicals to achieve a comparable readout (per data discussed in Lin 2017, Euro Cosmetics).
3. Apigenin (citrus flavonoid) + oleanolic acid (olive leaf) — topical
Apigenin is a citrus-derived flavonoid included to support hair-matrix proliferation; oleanolic acid is included for microcirculatory and anti-inflammatory effects.
Office-study observation: MD Hair Restoration System pull-test outcomes
As reported in Lin (2017), Euro Cosmetics, an office observation of 30 subjects over 3 months reported improvement in pull-test outcomes. This was an uncontrolled office observation, not a controlled trial, and no comparison against any drug treatment is claimed.
Common Questions
Can I use MD Hair with minoxidil or finasteride?Yes. MD Hair is non-prescription and formulated without minoxidil or finasteride, designed to be used with OR without prescription hair-loss medications. Many users have a current minoxidil or finasteride regimen and add MD Hair as a complementary scalp and follicle support system. Others use MD Hair as a standalone non-prescription alternative. Either approach is appropriate; consult your physician if you are uncertain.
Is the MD Hair Restoration System clinically tested?Yes. In a 17-week independent study at Spincontrol North America, hair density was assessed by photographic analysis. Alongside the instrumental assessment, 71% of subjects reported an improvement in the appearance of their hair and 75% said they would recommend the product.
Is MD Scalp Essential dermatologically tested?Yes. Clinical evaluation at Medcin Instituto da Pele per GCP and Helsinki Declaration. In a 50-subject repeat insult patch test, no sensitisation was observed under study conditions.
Has Dr. Susan Lin published research on female hair loss?Yes. Three published works: "Novel Drug-Free Hair Loss Treatment" in Euro Cosmetics (April 2017), "Stem Cells: The Recent Innovation in Hair Regeneration" in The Link — American Hair Loss Council (2013, Issue 7, p. 5), and "Medical Female Hair Loss" in The National Hair & Skin Journal (Fall 2012, Vol. 16 No. 63, pp. 10–11).
Does MD Hair contain finasteride or minoxidil?No. The MD Hair system is non-prescription and formulated without minoxidil or finasteride — no prescription hair-loss drugs.
Has MD Nutri Hair bioavailability been tested?Yes. Independent analytical testing at a Canadian laboratory verified stability and bioavailability.
What is verbascoside (Lilac extract) and how does it support hair?Verbascoside is a phenylpropanoid glycoside from Lilac (Syringa vulgaris) with measured total ORAC antioxidant capacity of ~28,166 µmole TE/g, studied action on both isoforms 1 and 2 of 5-alpha-reductase in the DHT pathway, and direct anti-inflammatory effects on the scalp microenvironment that drives follicle miniaturization.
Is MD Nutri Hair safe during pregnancy or breastfeeding?MD Nutri Hair is non-prescription and formulated without minoxidil or finasteride. We have no safety data for use during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Please check with your physician. As a general principle of caution we recommend discussing with your OB/GYN or pediatrician before starting any supplement during pregnancy or lactation.
Related Clinical Evidence
Explore the clinical evidence behind other MD product categories:
-
Lash Clinical Evidence →
2008 peer-reviewed Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy publication, CRL93007 IRB-reviewed 4-week ocular safety evaluation in contact lens and sensitive-eye participants (n=35), independent RIPT/LLNA/Ames toxicology, EU Safety Assessment (EC 1223/2009), US Patent 8,206,695 -
Brow Clinical Evidence →
56-day independent consumer-use study of the brow formula: 78% of participants agreed their brows seemed thicker. Self-assessment results.
Educational only; not a substitute for individualized medical advice. Individual results vary. Always consult your physician about any new product before adding it to a medication regimen.
