Follow the claim to its source
Check who runs the page, who pays for it, when it was updated and whether its evidence is linked. Ask whether the source supports the exact sentence being claimed.
MedlinePlus: evaluating health information ↗
Check what “FDA” means here
Approved
Ask: which exact medicine, for which approved use?
Cleared
Ask: which exact device and intended use? Clearance is not the same pathway as drug approval.
Compounded
FDA does not approve compounded drugs. An approved ingredient does not approve the blend.
Supplement
Supplements are not FDA-approved to treat or prevent disease.
FDA: what the agency does and does not approve ↗ · FDA: approved and cleared medical devices ↗
Keep the whole comparison in view
Our editorial checklist: What product was studied? In whom? Against what? For how long? What was measured? Who funded the work? What does the report leave uncertain?
These questions help organize reading. They are not a substitute for clinical interpretation.
A story can be real and still be incomplete
A person’s experience cannot tell you the full range of outcomes. Be cautious when a page uses dramatic promises instead of clear sources and limitations.
MedlinePlus: evaluating health information ↗
Open the study. Keep the limitations beside it.
Follicle Atlas is our existing selected research library. It shows what was studied and what a study cannot establish.
Visit Follicle Atlas →Sources checked October 10, 2026 · Hair Choice Guide Editorial
Evidence literacy, not a medically reviewed treatment recommendation.