Dr. Susan Lin is a board-certified physician in OB/GYN and Anti-Aging Medicine who founded MD®. She trained at Boston University School of Medicine as an NIH Scholar in a six-year accelerated BA/MD program (1985–1991), with clinical fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering and MD Anderson, residency and clinical work at Kaiser Permanente, and academic appointment as Assistant Clinical Professor at UCSF School of Medicine. She has practiced medicine for over 35 years.

MD is a physician-formulated beauty and wellness brand created by Dr. Susan Lin, M.D., a board-certified physician with over 35 years of clinical experience. The brand develops patented, clinically tested products for lash conditioning, hair density, skin rejuvenation, and wellness, all manufactured in the United States in GMP-certified facilities under board-certified physician oversight.

MD is owned by La Canada Ventures, Inc., a California corporation founded and led by Dr. Susan Lin, M.D. as CEO, with offices at 448 N. San Mateo Drive, San Mateo, California. La Canada Ventures and Dr. Lin hold the patents, trademarks, and intellectual property behind the MD product line.

MD's flagship product, MD Lash Factor®, has been on the market since 2008, when the founding peer-reviewed clinical study was published. The brand has grown over nearly 20 years into a full physician-formulated lash, hair, skin, and wellness line, with patents and trademarks dating back to the late 2000s.

Yes. MD was founded by Dr. Susan Lin, a board-certified physician in OB/GYN and Anti-Aging Medicine with more than 35 years of clinical experience. She personally formulates the products, holds the underlying patents, and serves as Chief Medical Officer of MD Laser & Cosmetics Center in addition to leading La Canada Ventures, Inc.

La Canada Ventures, Inc. and Dr. Lin hold a portfolio of registered marks. Documented USPTO registrations include MD® (#4,471,494), MD Factor® (#6,309,386), MD By Susan F. Lin M.D.® (#5,860,508), MD Wellness by Susan Lin M.D.® (#6,251,811) and MD Intimate Restore® (#4,603,019). MD Lash Factor® is also a registered mark. International protection is held through the WIPO Madrid Protocol and through national registrations in the United Kingdom, Canada, Brazil, India, the Philippines, Hong Kong and Korea.

Yes. Dr. Lin authored two chapters in Harry's Cosmeticology, 9th Edition (Chemical Publishing Co., ISBN 978-0-8206-0179-3): "Eyelash and Hair Growth Science" and "Skin Rejuvenation." Harry's Cosmeticology is one of the most widely cited reference texts in the cosmetic science industry.

Dr. Lin has served as a Strategic Board member of the MIT McGovern Institute, as an Expert Reviewer for the Medical Board of California, and as an appointee to the U.S. Department of Commerce District Export Council for Northern California. She is also the Founder and Chief Medical Officer of MD Laser & Cosmetics Center.

Dr. Lin trained at Boston University School of Medicine as an NIH Scholar in a six-year accelerated BA/MD program from 1985 to 1991. She completed residency and clinical work at Kaiser Permanente Oakland (1991–1996) and San Francisco (2004–2006), NEMS San Francisco (1995–1999), Memorial Sloan Kettering, MD Anderson, and UCSF School of Medicine.

Yes. Dr. Lin maintains active clinical practice as the Founder and Chief Medical Officer of MD Laser & Cosmetics Center, where she sees patients in addition to her work formulating MD products. She has been in continuous medical practice since 1991.

MD Lash Factor is a physician-formulated eyelash conditioning serum developed by Dr. Susan Lin, M.D. Its active ingredient is dechloro ethylcloprostenolamide, a cosmetic-grade prostaglandin analogue, combined with botanical extracts and conditioning agents that support the appearance of longer, fuller, healthier-looking lashes. It is a non-prescription cosmetic — not a drug — and is protected under U.S. Patent 8,206,695.

MD Lash Factor is applied once nightly along the base of the upper lash line. Its active ingredient, dechloro ethylcloprostenolamide, is a cosmetic-grade prostaglandin analogue used at cosmetic concentration to condition the lash line, supported by botanical extracts and conditioning agents that help maintain the appearance and condition of natural lashes.

Dechloro ethylcloprostenolamide is a cosmetic-grade prostaglandin analogue — a synthetic compound structurally related to prostaglandins and used as a cosmetic ingredient in eyelash conditioning products. It is not bimatoprost, not latanoprost, and not a prescription pharmaceutical. It is the active ingredient in MD Lash Factor and is the compound evaluated in our published 2008 clinical study and in the independent ocular safety, dermal irritation and sensitization testing that supports the formulation. Customers who prefer a formulation without prostaglandin compounds — or who are in markets that restrict them — can choose MD Lash Factor Ultima.

Yes. MD Lash Factor is the formulation studied in a peer-reviewed, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study published in the Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy in 2008 (DOI 10.1080/14764170802054138; PMID 18569264). After four weeks of nightly use, eyelash length increased by 42% to 53% across the active groups compared with 20% for placebo — a statistically significant difference, measured by a blinded technician using a microcaliper. All patients reported an improved appearance in the length of their lashes.

MD Lash Factor is a cosmetic conditioning serum, not a drug, so it does not require FDA approval. It is manufactured in the United States in a GMP-certified facility registered with the US FDA for cosmetic, food, and drug manufacturing, under the oversight of board-certified physicians.

No. MD Lash Factor contains neither bimatoprost nor latanoprost, and no prescription drug of any kind. Its active ingredient is dechloro ethylcloprostenolamide, a cosmetic-grade prostaglandin analogue used at cosmetic concentration. The formulation has been evaluated in a published, peer-reviewed clinical study and in independent ocular safety, dermal irritation and sensitization testing.

In our published clinical trial, 15 of 34 patients reported mild or minimal irritation, which was transient and typically resolved within a few days of continued use. One patient reported moderate irritation and discontinued. Independent ocular testing in 35 subjects, including people with self-assessed sensitive eyes, found no potential for eliciting ophthalmic irritation and no clinically significant change in visual acuity, tear film or intraocular pressure. Apply along the upper lash line only, and stop use if irritation persists.

MD Lash Factor is applied at night with a fine-brush applicator along the base of the upper lash line — not into the eye — so it does not come into contact with a lens when used as directed. Independent ocular safety testing under IRB-approved protocol with ophthalmologist supervision found no clinically significant change in visual acuity, tear film or intraocular pressure. As with any eye-area cosmetic, remove contact lenses before applying and reinsert after the product has dried.

In the published clinical study, a statistically significant increase in lash length was measured after four weeks of nightly use. Among patients who continued daily use, average lash length increased approximately 80% by four months. Individual results vary; we recommend consistent nightly application for at least 8 to 12 weeks.

Apply MD Lash Factor once nightly to clean, dry skin along the upper lash line using the supplied fine-tip applicator, much like a liquid eyeliner. One stroke per eye is enough. Avoid applying directly into the eye.

MD Lash Factor is formulated, studied and labeled for the upper lash line, and we do not make eyebrow claims for it. For brows, see MD Brow Conditioner.

Yes. MD Lash Factor is protected under U.S. Patent 8,206,695, in force to 22 February 2031, held by Dr. Susan Lin, M.D. and La Canada Ventures, Inc. The same family is granted in China as ZL 201110061008.5, "Eyelash Enhancement Composition and Method of Treatment," and its parent ZL 200810094338.2.

Yes. MD Lash Factor and the MD brand have received recognition including the ICMAD Award, Cosmopolitan Best of the Best 2024, and the U.S. Department of Commerce Export Excellence award.

The peer-reviewed clinical study was published in the Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy in 2008. You can locate it using DOI 10.1080/14764170802054138 or PubMed ID 18569264.

MD Hair is a physician-formulated hair density and scalp wellness system developed by Dr. Susan Lin, M.D. It uses a combination of lilac stem cell extract, marine collagen, biotin, flaxseed, and vitamin E to support fuller-looking hair and a healthier scalp.

No. MD Hair is not covered by a granted patent. The peptide-based composition developed in this area was the subject of published patent applications — U.S. 2010/0249043 and PCT publication WO 2010/110863 — which did not proceed to grant. MD's granted patents (U.S. 8,206,695 and the corresponding Chinese registrations) cover the MD Lash Factor eyelash composition.

Minoxidil and finasteride are FDA-approved drugs that require ongoing use and carry possible side effects. MD Hair is a non-prescription, physician-formulated cosmetic and nutraceutical system using a blend of plant stem cell extract, marine collagen, biotin, flaxseed, and vitamin E. It is not a drug and makes no drug claims.

Yes. MD Hair was developed by Dr. Susan Lin, M.D., a board-certified OB/GYN, specifically with women's hair concerns in mind — including postpartum shedding and menopause-related thinning. It is non-prescription and contains neither finasteride nor minoxidil.

Yes. The blend supports follicle and scalp health for any adult experiencing hair thinning. Because MD Hair is not a drug, it does not carry the hormonal restrictions of finasteride-based products.

Most users see meaningful changes in hair density and scalp wellness within 3 to 6 months of consistent use.

Postpartum hair shedding (telogen effluvium) is caused by the sharp drop in estrogen after delivery, which pushes a large number of hairs into the resting phase at once. It is temporary, usually peaking around 3 to 4 months postpartum.

Menopause hair thinning is driven by falling estrogen and progesterone alongside a relative rise in androgens, which shortens the hair growth phase and miniaturizes follicles.

Scalp aging is the gradual decline in scalp microcirculation, collagen content, and follicle function that accompanies hormonal and skin aging. It contributes to thinner, finer hair and slower growth.

Certain peptides are used in cosmetic scalp products to support the scalp environment and the appearance of hair density. This is general cosmetic science, not a claim about a specific MD product.

No. Postpartum shedding is almost always temporary, peaking 3 to 4 months after delivery and resolving over the following 6 to 12 months as hormones rebalance.

MD Skin is the physician-formulated skincare line within the MD family, developed by Dr. Susan Lin, M.D. It focuses on clinically informed approaches to skin rejuvenation, drawing on Dr. Lin's chapter on "Skin Rejuvenation" in Harry's Cosmeticology, 9th Edition.

No. MD Skin products are not tested on animals. They are manufactured in the United States in GMP-certified facilities under board-certified physician oversight.

MD Wellness is the nutraceutical and supplement line within the MD brand, developed by Dr. Susan Lin, M.D. Products support hair, skin, and overall wellness from the inside out, manufactured in the United States in GMP-certified facilities.

Yes. All MD Wellness supplements are manufactured in the United States in GMP-certified facilities under board-certified physician oversight.

No. MD Wellness supplements are over-the-counter nutraceutical products and do not require a prescription.

The natural eyelash growth cycle is roughly 4 to 11 months and has three phases: anagen (active growth, 30 to 45 days), catagen (transition, 2 to 3 weeks), and telogen (resting, around 100 days).

Lashes thin and shorten with age due to follicle miniaturization, slower cell turnover, hormonal shifts (especially estrogen decline), oxidative stress, and friction from cosmetics and lash extensions.

Common causes of brow thinning include aging, thyroid imbalance, over-plucking, nutrient deficiencies (iron, biotin, protein), hormonal shifts, and certain medications.

Yes. Lash extensions can damage natural lashes through traction, adhesive irritation, and friction. Repeated cycles often lead to thinner, sparser natural lashes.

Mascara itself is generally not damaging, but aggressive removal — especially with waterproof formulas — can break lashes and stress follicles.

Yes — all but three products are manufactured in the United States in GMP-certified facilities under the oversight of Dr. Susan Lin, M.D. The exceptions are two BB creams manufactured in Korea and MD Extra White manufactured in Taiwan, both under GMP guidance.

No. MD products are non-prescription cosmetic and nutraceutical formulations. They do not contain bimatoprost or latanoprost, nor hair drugs such as minoxidil or finasteride. MD Lash Factor contains dechloro ethylcloprostenolamide, a cosmetic-grade prostaglandin analogue used as a cosmetic ingredient — it is not a prescription drug. MD Lash Factor Ultima is formulated without prostaglandin compounds.

MD products are formulated by Dr. Susan Lin, M.D. and manufactured in GMP-certified U.S. facilities. MD Lash Factor is supported by a peer-reviewed, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study, by independent ocular safety testing under IRB-approved protocol with ophthalmologist supervision, by a 209-subject human repeat insult patch test, and by dermal irritation and sensitization studies.

MD has received the ICMAD Award, Cosmopolitan Best of the Best 2024, and the U.S. Department of Commerce Export Excellence award.

MD does not test its finished products on animals. The historical toxicology package that established ingredient safety for the original MD Lash Factor formulation included animal studies conducted at that time, as was standard for ingredient substantiation.

Yes. MD is a recognized U.S. exporter of physician-formulated beauty and wellness products, honored with the U.S. Department of Commerce Export Excellence award. Trademark protection extends through WIPO Madrid Protocol and into markets including the United Kingdom, Canada, Brazil, India, the Philippines, Korea and Hong Kong.

Yes. All MD products are produced under the oversight of Dr. Susan Lin, M.D. She personally formulates the products and oversees quality standards.

MD ships across the United States from www.md-factor.com and is also available in select international markets.

Standard domestic U.S. orders typically ship within 1 to 2 business days, with delivery in 3 to 7 business days depending on carrier and location.

MD offers a customer-friendly return policy on eligible unopened products within a defined window from delivery. See the Returns page or contact customercare@md-factor.com.

You can reach MD customer service by email at customercare@md-factor.com or through the contact form at www.md-factor.com/pages/contact.

Yes, on eligible products. Subscribing to MD Lash Factor, MD Hair, and select MD Wellness products offers convenience and savings on recurring shipments.

MD is sold primarily direct-to-consumer through www.md-factor.com, and is also available in our official MD brand store on Amazon.

Yes. www.md-factor.com uses encrypted checkout and standard e-commerce security practices.