How are compounded hair treatments different from brand-name products?

A compounded medication is prepared by a licensed pharmacy for one patient. It may be prescribed when a patient's needs are not met by an available FDA-approved drug. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved, and the FDA does not review them for safety, effectiveness, or quality before they are marketed.

FDA-approved brand-name products have undergone FDA review for their approved uses. A physician may also prescribe an approved drug for an off-label use. Off-label prescribing and compounding are different: one concerns how a drug is used, while the other concerns how a medication is prepared.

For hair care, a compounded prescription may combine active ingredients in one topical product or capsule. A familiar ingredient name does not mean the finished formula has the same evidence or risk profile as another product. Results vary.

Ask whether your prescribed product is compounded, what it contains, and why it was selected. Review storage instructions, the beyond-use date, and handling precautions. Your physician and dispensing pharmacist can answer questions about the exact prescription.