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Skin & Hair

Skin & Hair verdicts ranked by evidence score. 174 verdicts in this category.

53 foods and supplements claimed to help skin and hair, ranked by evidence
Drugs and procedures removed — only what you swallow, ordered by how strong the evidence is.

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Skin & Hair Evidence Ranking

Within this category, verdicts with higher evidence scores appear first. Verdicts without a score stay lower in the same list.

A 86 Early endovenous ablation added to compression, using thermal or nonthermal closure of superficial venous reflux Faster complete healing of venous leg ulcers
A 80 Multilayer compression bandaging for venous leg ulcers Faster complete healing of venous leg ulcers
B 79 Topical adapalene (topical retinoid, Differin, nonprescription or prescription) Reduction of inflammatory and noninflammatory lesions in mild-to-moderate acne
B 79 Terbinafine (a prescription oral allylamine antifungal) Mycological and clinical cure of dermatophyte toenail onychomycosis
B 79 Mohs micrographic surgery (prescription skin-cancer surgery with comprehensive mapped margin examination) Prevention of long-term local recurrence in recurrent high-risk facial basal cell carcinoma
B 78 Isotretinoin (prescription oral retinoid) Lesion remission in severe, scarring-risk, or standard-treatment-refractory acne
B 78 Pembrolizumab (PD-1-inhibiting monoclonal antibody, Keytruda, prescription anticancer infusion) Prevention of recurrence and distant metastasis in completely resected high-risk stage III melanoma
B 77 Ipilimumab (anti-CTLA-4 monoclonal antibody, Yervoy, prescription anticancer infusion) Prevention of recurrence, distant metastasis, and death after complete resection of high-risk stage III melanoma as adjuvant therapy
B 77 Dabrafenib plus trametinib (prescription combination of BRAF and MEK inhibitors) Prevention of relapse and distant metastasis after complete resection of stage III BRAF V600-mutated melanoma
B 76 Dupilumab (IL-4Rα-targeting monoclonal antibody, Dupixent, prescription medicine) Improvement of pruritus and skin lesions in moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis
B 76 Secukinumab (IL-17A monoclonal antibody, Cosentyx, prescription biologic) Skin clearance and itch improvement in moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis
B 76 Finasteride 1 mg (oral prescription tablet) Slowed progression and increased hair growth in adult male androgenetic alopecia
B 76 Indoor tanning-device use Higher melanoma incidence
B 76 Prophylactic multilayer silicone-foam dressings on the sacrum and heels Reduced new pressure injuries in high-risk hospital or nursing-home patients
B 75 Baricitinib (JAK1 and JAK2 inhibitor, Olumiant, prescription medicine) Scalp hair regrowth in severe alopecia areata
B 75 Permethrin 5% (prescription topical pyrethroid acaricide for scabies) Mite clearance and clinical cure of classic scabies
B 75 Broad-spectrum sunscreen (functional sunscreen cosmetic or over-the-counter product) Prevention of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma through daily application
B 74 Topical fluorouracil 5% (pyrimidine antimetabolite; prescription cream) Reduced squamous cell carcinoma incidence and surgery in people at high risk of actinic keratosis and skin cancer
B 74 Prophylactic closed-incision negative-pressure wound therapy (a pump-based wound device and procedure) Prevention of postoperative surgical-site infection
B 73 Topical minoxidil 5% (nonprescription medicine) Hair regrowth in male and female androgenetic alopecia
B 73 Nivolumab (PD-1 immune-checkpoint antibody, Opdivo, prescription injection) Prevention of recurrence and distant metastasis as adjuvant therapy for completely resected stage III to IV melanoma
B 72 Nicotinamide (niacinamide) Prevention of recurrent nonmelanoma skin cancer in high-risk patients
B 72 Efinaconazole, a prescription topical triazole antifungal sold as Jublia Complete cure of mild to moderate toenail onychomycosis
B 70 Dutasteride (5-alpha-reductase inhibitor, Avodart, prescription) Increased hair count and width in male androgenetic alopecia
B 70 Spironolactone (prescription antiandrogenic diuretic; Aldactone; off-label for acne) Improvement of persistent or hormonally influenced acne in adult women
B 70 Abrocitinib (oral selective JAK1 inhibitor; Cibinqo; prescription drug) Improvement of skin lesions and itch in moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis
B 70 A two-second vapocoolant skin spray immediately before adult venipuncture or peripheral IV cannulation Reduced patient-reported procedural pain immediately after needle insertion
B 70 Fresh clean nonsterile examination gloves for uncomplicated laceration repair or minor skin excision No increase in post-repair wound infection versus sterile surgical gloves
B 68 Ivermectin (prescription macrocyclic lactone antiparasitic medicine, including Stromectol) Mite clearance and clinical cure of classic scabies
B 68 Imiquimod 5% cream (topical immune-response modifier; prescription Aldara) Nonsurgical tumor clearance and long-term treatment success for low-risk superficial or nodular basal cell carcinoma
B 68 Clascoterone (1% topical prescription cream) Improved treatment success and lesion counts in moderate-to-severe facial acne
B 68 Scalp cooling with a circulating cooling cap before, during, and after chemotherapy infusion Prevention of chemotherapy-induced alopecia in breast cancer
B 68 Topical pure silicone gel without another active scar ingredient Prevention and improvement of hypertrophic scars and keloids
B 66 Wide local excision for melanoma (appropriate surgical margin, prescription skin-cancer operation) Prevention of locoregional recurrence and melanoma death with a wider margin versus 1 cm for trunk or limb melanoma at least 2 mm thick by Breslow depth
B 64 Ketoconazole shampoo (topical antifungal; Nizoral) Reduced scalp seborrheic dermatitis, dandruff, itching, and recurrence
B 62 Benzoyl peroxide (topical antimicrobial and keratolytic, Benzac, nonprescription) Reduction of inflammatory and noninflammatory lesions in mild to moderate acne
B 60 Zinc Acne and skin
C 59 Ritlecitinib (a prescription JAK3/TEC inhibitor marketed as Litfulo) Scalp hair regrowth in adults and adolescents with severe alopecia areata
C 59 OnabotulinumtoxinA intradermal injections into the axillae Reduction of severe primary axillary hyperhidrosis and daily-life impairment
C 58 Silver-containing surgical dressing (antimicrobial wound-covering medical device) Prevention of surgical-site infection in closed surgical wounds
C 58 Topical ruxolitinib 1.5% cream, a prescription JAK1 and JAK2 inhibitor Facial repigmentation in nonsegmental vitiligo
C 56 Deucravacitinib (prescription selective TYK2 inhibitor) Clinical clearance or improvement of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis lesions
C 56 Home narrowband UV-B phototherapy (prescription phototherapy device) Control of psoriasis lesions and improvement of dermatology-related quality of life
C 56 Apremilast (oral prescription phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor; Otezla) PASI 75 and static Physician Global Assessment improvement in moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis
C 56 Tattooing Higher incidence of skin cancer
C 56 Air, viscous-fluid, or gel-and-foam skin-protection cushions installed in fitted wheelchairs Prevention of six-month ischial pressure ulcers versus segmented foam in high-risk nursing-home residents
C 55 Itraconazole (systemic triazole antifungal, Sporanox, oral prescription drug) Mycological and clinical complete cure of dermatophyte toenail onychomycosis
C 55 Oral tranexamic acid 250 mg as a prescription tablet Reduced facial pigmentation and MASI severity in adults with melasma
C 54 Azelaic acid (topical acne medicine, nonprescription and prescription product) Reduction of inflammatory and noninflammatory lesions in mild-to-moderate acne
C 54 Acitretin (systemic retinoid; oral prescription drug, Neotigason) Prevention of new cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in high-risk kidney-transplant recipients with multiple skin cancers
C 54 Guselkumab (prescription IL-23 p19 monoclonal-antibody biologic) PASI90 and IGA 0 or 1 skin-lesion response in moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis
C 54 Omalizumab, an anti-IgE monoclonal antibody Reduced itch and hives in antihistamine-refractory chronic spontaneous urticaria
C 54 Nemolizumab, a prescription interleukin-31 receptor alpha monoclonal antibody injection Itch response and skin-nodule clearance in moderate-to-severe prurigo nodularis
C 54 Risankizumab, an interleukin-23 p19 monoclonal antibody At least 90% improvement and clearance of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis lesions
C 54 Tapinarof 1% cream, a topical prescription medicine Achievement of clear or almost-clear lesions in adult plaque psoriasis
C 54 Dupilumab, a prescription monoclonal antibody targeting IL-4R alpha Clinically meaningful itch reduction and nodule improvement in uncontrolled prurigo nodularis
C 54 Cross-linked hyaluronic acid dermal filler, including injectable gels such as Juvéderm Visible correction and durability of moderate-to-severe nasolabial folds
C 54 Nonfermented skim milk consumed by adolescents Increased prevalence of adolescent acne
C 54 A total of twenty minutes of cool running water within three hours after a thermal burn Reduced need for skin grafting and hospital admission
C 54 Ultraviolet or UV/LED gel-nail curing lamps Increased incidence of skin cancer on the hands
C 54 Aquacel Ag or nanocrystalline-silver dressings Faster wound closure of partial-thickness burns than daily 1% silver sulfadiazine
C 54 Standardized twice-daily application of a fragrance-free pH 5-6 moisturizer to the arms and legs Prevention of skin tears in aged-care residents
C 54 Closure of simple lacerations with 2-octyl or n-butyl cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive Long-term cosmetic results comparable to sutures in clean, linear, low-tension simple lacerations
C 54 Paper tape applied continuously to a cesarean incision for 12 weeks Prevention of hypertrophic scar formation
C 54 Sucrose octasulfate-containing wound dressing Increased complete closure by 20 weeks in neuroischaemic diabetic foot ulcers
C 54 Secukinumab HiSCR50 lesion response in moderate-to-severe hidradenitis suppurativa
C 53 Autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP, an autologous blood-derived regenerative injection procedure) Increased hair density and hair count in men and women with androgenetic alopecia
C 50 Low-molecular-weight collagen (collagen peptides) Skin hydration and elasticity
C 50 Oral hyaluronic acid skin moisturization
C 50 Oral ceramides (rice- and wheat-derived) skin moisturization and barrier
C 50 Tomato nutrient complex (Lyc-O-Mato) Oral photoprotection and reduction of skin erythema
C 50 Lactiplantibacillus plantarum HY7714 Improvement of skin hydration, elasticity, and UV-related skin aging
C 50 NOVAROSE®, a standardized Rosa chinensis petal extract Improved skin hydration, wrinkles, and ultraviolet-related photoaging
C 50 Lactoferrin (milk-derived iron-binding glycoprotein used as an oral supplement) Reduced inflammatory and total lesion counts and severity in mild-to-moderate acne
C 50 Low-level red-light or laser helmet therapy Increased hair density in male and female androgenetic alopecia
C 50 Roflumilast foam 0.3% (topical prescription PDE4 inhibitor) Improvement of seborrheic dermatitis lesion severity and itch
C 50 Ruxolitinib 1.5% cream, a topical JAK1 and JAK2 inhibitor Improvement of lesions and itch in mild to moderate atopic dermatitis
C 50 Tirbanibulin 1% ointment, a five-day prescription topical treatment Complete day-57 clearance of actinic keratoses on the face or scalp treatment field
C 50 Oxymetazoline hydrochloride cream 1% (Rhofade) Improvement of persistent facial erythema associated with rosacea
C 50 Whole almonds, about 57 g daily Reduced facial wrinkles in postmenopausal women
C 50 Low-glycemic-load, higher-protein diet Reduction in acne lesions
C 50 Facial gua sha massage Facial contour improvement and lifting
C 50 Ear-piercing history Increased nickel contact sensitization
C 50 Selenium sulfide 2.5% shampoo Dandruff reduction
C 50 Broad-spectrum sunscreen immediately after fractional CO2 laser Reduced post-procedure pigmentation
C 50 Z-track technique for gluteal intramuscular injection Reduced medication leakage onto the skin after injection
C 50 Skin-care education plus individualized exposure counselling Improved clinical severity of hand eczema in healthcare workers
C 50 Fractional CO2 laser Improvement in inflammatory active-acne lesion counts versus Nd:YAG
C 50 Calcipotriol-betamethasone aerosol foam PGA treatment success versus the same ingredients in gel
C 49 Polypodium leucotomos extract Oral ultraviolet protection and erythema reduction
C 49 Viviscal AminoMar proprietary marine protein complex Increased hair density and growth in women
C 48 Oral tranexamic acid (prescription antifibrinolytic used off label for melasma) Reduction in melasma area and pigmentation intensity
C 47 Ingredients claimed to express aquaporin (AQP3). Representative: glyceryl glucoside. Ingredients that are claimed together but whose cited evidence does not confirm AQP3/skin-moisture matching (such as resurrection plant, aloe, trimethylglycine, etc.) are separated as “claimed but evidence not matched.” Skin moisture
C 46 Glutathione (oral) Whitening and skin tone
C 46 Proteoglycan (from salmon nasal cartilage) Skin and joints
C 46 Crisaborole 2% ointment, a topical PDE4 inhibitor ISGA treatment success in mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis
C 46 Approximately 2 L/day of water added to the usual diet Improved hydration and elasticity of normal skin
C 46 Raw vegetable salad with 0.5 g black pepper plus an emulsion containing 8 g canola oil Higher ten-hour plasma AUC and peak concentrations of total and individual carotenoids
C 46 VERISOL specific bioactive collagen peptides Increased nail growth and reduced cracking or chipping
C 46 Drug-free hydrocolloid acne patch Improved appearance and severity of mild-to-moderate inflammatory acne lesions
C 46 Five-minute cleansing of chronic colonized burn wounds with 2% hydrogen peroxide gauze immediately before grafting Increased percentage of skin-graft take at 21 days
C 46 Six-treatment HydraFacial Clarifying combination procedure Clear or almost-clear improvement of mild-to-moderate acne
C 46 Nutrafol Women's Capsules Hair growth in women with self-perceived thinning hair
C 45 High-intensity or microfocused ultrasound for nonsurgical facial lifting Improvement in the appearance of facial laxity and wrinkles
C 44 Elastin (hydrolyzed elastin peptides) skin elasticity and wrinkles
C 44 Keratin (oral keratin) Hair and nails
C 44 Choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid Improvement in skin elasticity and wrinkles, hair, and nails
C 44 Amla (Phyllanthus emblica) Improvement in female pattern hair loss and hair growth
C 44 Annurca apple extract containing procyanidin B2 Reduced hair loss and increased hair density and growth
C 44 Spermidine Reduction of telogen hair loss and prolongation of anagen
C 43 Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) Skin and collagen production
C 42 MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) Improvement of skin wrinkles, elasticity, and hydration
C 42 Topical caffeine (scalp shampoo or tonic, cosmetic) Reduced shedding and improved hair density in male or female pattern hair loss
C 42 Specific bioactive collagen peptides, marketed as VERISOL Reduction of thigh cellulite and skin waviness
C 42 Monopolar radiofrequency, including Thermage- and YOUMAGIC-type noninvasive tightening devices Improvement in the appearance of facial laxity and wrinkles
C 40 Squalene (from shark/olive sources) Skin and immunity
C 40 Redensyl (trademarked multi-ingredient active in scalp ampoules) Reduced hair loss and increased hair density
C 40 Oral sheep placenta extract (dietary supplement) Improved skin elasticity, whitening, regeneration, and anti-aging
C 40 Rosemary oil (Rosmarinus officinalis, aromatherapy oil applied to the scalp) Hair regrowth in androgenetic alopecia through scalp application
D 38 Microneedling (percutaneous collagen induction with a dermal roller) Improved appearance of atrophic acne scars
D 35 Probiotics (specific strains) Atopic dermatitis and eczema
D 35 Oral vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol 400 IU; fat-soluble vitamin and nonprescription supplement) Reduced pruritus and SCORAD severity in mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis
D 34 Sunflower-seed-containing food, 25 g/day Improved acne
D 34 Powered alternating-pressure air mattress with cyclic inflation and deflation of air cells Reduced new category 2 or worse pressure ulcers in high-risk acutely ill inpatients
D 34 Irrigation of a simple emergency-department laceration with potable tap water No increase in post-closure wound infection versus sterile normal saline
D 34 A donut-shaped cushion placed beneath the sacrum Prevention of pressure injuries
D 34 Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy feeding in advanced dementia Prevention of new pressure ulcers or improved healing of existing pressure ulcers
D 34 An online skin-care behavior program with personal and ward moisturizers Prevention of occupational hand dermatitis in nurses
D 34 Sericin-free antimicrobial silk garments worn day and night in addition to standard care Improved EASI severity in moderate-to-severe childhood atopic eczema
D 34 Negative-pressure wound therapy applied to open surgical wounds Shorter time to complete epithelialization in surgical wounds healing by secondary intention
D 32 Topical caffeine shampoo (a methylxanthine-containing cosmetic or nonprescription hair-loss product) Reduced shedding and improved growth or density in male and female pattern hair loss
D 30 Oral spironolactone 100 mg daily, a prescription diuretic with antiandrogen effects Added hair growth in female pattern hair loss when combined with topical minoxidil
D 30 Scraping out a honey-bee stinger versus pinching and pulling it out Reduction of local weal area according to removal method
D 30 Two-hour repositioning on a high-density foam mattress Reduction of three-week pressure-ulcer incidence versus three- or four-hour repositioning
D 30 A domestic ion-exchange water softener installed on the whole-house supply Improvement of existing moderate-to-severe atopic eczema in children
D 30 Single-agent bacitracin ointment applied daily for 7-10 days after dermatologic surgery Better prevention of postoperative wound infection than white petrolatum
D 30 Applying ordinary toothpaste to a minor thermal burn Removing heat and accelerating wound healing
D 30 Prophylactic systemic antibiotics for sutured simple hand lacerations Prevention of infection in uncomplicated hand lacerations without bone, tendon, nerve, or major-vessel injury
D 30 Hands4U multifaceted guideline-implementation program Prevention of hand eczema in healthcare workers
D 29 Oral minoxidil (5-mg tablet) Greater hair growth than topical 5% minoxidil in male androgenetic alopecia
D 28 Biotin (vitamin B7) hair-loss improvement and hair growth
D 28 Copper tripeptide-1 (GHK-Cu; topical scalp serum) Hair regrowth from scalp application in male and female pattern hair loss
D 28 Biotin (vitamin B7, water-soluble vitamin supplement) Thickening and strengthening brittle, splitting nails in adults without biotin deficiency
D 28 Intravenous glutathione, marketed as a skin-whitening infusion Whole-body skin lightening
D 28 Standardized device-assisted scalp massage Hair-thickness change in a randomized split-site comparison
D 27 Para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) Prevention of gray hair and restoration of hair color
D 27 Pea sprout extract (AnaGain Nu, trademarked ingredient in topical and oral finished products) Reduced hair loss and increased hair growth through oral ingestion
D 25 Snail secretion filtrate (snail mucin, cosmetic ingredient) Reduced inflammatory mask-acne lesions and improved post-acne skin recovery
D 22 Volufiline, a cosmetic trade ingredient containing a sarsasapogenin-rich Anemarrhena asphodeloides root extract in hydrogenated polyisobutene Filler-like correction of under-eye and cheek hollows by increasing fat volume
F 18 Contractubex gel (a nonprescription topical scar medicine combining Allium cepa extract, heparin, and allantoin) Superior improvement of scar color, thickness, and pliability and prevention of hypertrophic scarring after surgery or trauma versus other topical treatments
F 18 Oral probiotics containing live Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, or related strains Treatment of symptoms in established atopic dermatitis or eczema
F 16 Topical vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol or tocopheryl acetate; antioxidant cosmetic skin oil) Cosmetic improvement of postsurgical scars and prevention of hypertrophic scarring
F 10 Daily or at least four-times-weekly whole-body emollient or oil-bath use starting soon after birth Prevention of infant atopic dermatitis
F 5 Calcarea carbonica 30C homeopathic product Relief of infant cradle cap and seborrheic scalp dermatitis
C score not listed Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) skin and hair-loss improvement
D score not listed Brewer’s yeast hair-loss relief and hair
? score not listed L-cystine Improvement in diffuse hair loss and hair growth
? score not listed Millet seed extract (Panicum miliaceum) Reduction in hair loss and hair growth
? score not listed Horsetail extract and silica (Equisetum) Reduced hair loss and stronger hair and nails
? score not listed L-Methionine Hair growth and stronger nails
? score not listed Oral catalase Prevention of gray or white hair and restoration of original hair color
? score not listed L-proline Improvement of skin elasticity and wrinkles through increased collagen synthesis
? score not listed Polygonum multiflorum, Fo-Ti, or He Shou Wu Improvement of hair loss and restoration of gray hair to black
? score not listed Oral pearl powder (nacre, Margaritifera) Skin lightening, radiance, regeneration, and anti-aging
? score not listed Topical castor oil (Ricinus communis oil used as a scalp oil) Hair growth and reversal of hair loss through scalp application
? score not listed Topical beef tallow (rendered and refined bovine fat used as an occlusive moisturizing cosmetic ingredient or consumer product) Treatment-level improvement of itching, inflammation, and skin-barrier damage in atopic eczema
? score not listed Batana or ojon oil, an Elaeis oleifera kernel oil used as a botanical scalp cosmetic Follicle reactivation, hair regrowth, and reversal of androgenetic alopecia
? score not listed Oral sodium copper chlorophyllin (a water-soluble chlorophyll derivative sold as a supplement) Reduced acne lesions and cleansed skin after liquid or capsule ingestion
? score not listed Fermented rice water, including rice water or Oryza sativa fermentation filtrate (a starch-based topical scalp cosmetic, not a medicine) Stopping androgenetic alopecia and regrowing hair through scalp application or shampoo use
? score not listed Peppermint essential oil (menthol-based topical cosmetic or supplement ingredient) Topical promotion of hair regrowth in androgenetic alopecia
? score not listed Black sesame and sesamin supplied as oral foods or capsules and as topical scalp oils or products Improved androgenetic alopecia and hair regrowth after topical or oral use
? score not listed Houttuynia cordata extract (topical scalp tonic or shampoo) Suppression of androgenetic alopecia and hair regrowth after scalp application
? score not listed Cooked whole black soybeans Reduced hair loss and reversal of gray hair
? score not listed Adult mewing, tongue-posture training, or oral-posture training Persistent change in jaw bones or facial contour