Is MD® a Registered Trademark? What Federal Registration Means for Hair Care Buyers
By Susan F. Lin, M.D. | Physician | Reviewed: November 2026
Quick Answer
Yes. MD® is a federally registered trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and the registration is active. MD Lash Factor® is also marked with the ® symbol. Federal registration means the name is on the official register for the goods it covers, and it gives the brand legal tools to act against look-alike or counterfeit products. For you, the buyer, it is one way to tell a physician-formulated MD® product from an imitation. Other names in our family, including MD Hair™, MD Skin™ and MD Wellness™, are used as trademarks but are not federally registered, so we mark them with ™ and never with ®. The most reliable way to get authentic product is to buy directly from www.md-factor.com, for example MD Nutri Hair™.
What does the ® symbol actually mean?
The ® symbol may be used only for a mark that has been registered with the USPTO. The ™ symbol simply signals that a company claims a name as its brand; it carries no registration. That is why you will see both on this site. It is a matter of accuracy: we use ® where it is earned and ™ where it is not.
Why does this matter when I buy hair and lash products?
Hair, lash and skin products are applied to your scalp, eyelids and face. Counterfeit or diverted products may have unknown ingredients, unknown storage history or altered formulas, and no one can vouch for them. Registered brands can report infringing listings to marketplaces, which helps protect customers. Practical steps: buy from www.md-factor.com or authorized channels, check that the name is spelled exactly as on our site, be wary of prices far below normal, and contact us if packaging looks different from what you expect.
Does a trademark tell me a product works?
No. A trademark identifies the source of a product; it is not a measure of efficacy or safety. That is why we point to the clinical and safety work separately. For example, our eyelash conditioner was evaluated in a randomized controlled trial published in the Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy (2008). MD Lash Factor® contains a cosmetic prostaglandin analog, and we describe it that way.
Related reading
- Where Are MD Hair™ Products Made? A Made in USA Guide
- Hair Serums, Explained: Drugs vs. Cosmetics and How to Choose
- How Does the Hair Growth Cycle Work? A Physician's Guide
Scientific references
- United States Patent and Trademark Office. What is a trademark?
- Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1111 (notice of registration; use of the ® symbol).
- Lin SF, et al. Eyelash conditioning randomized controlled trial. J Cosmet Laser Ther. 2008. PMID 18569264.
Full citation index: MD Scientific References Hub.
Educational only; not a substitute for individualized medical advice or legal advice.
