Most of us know better than to seek the Fountain of Youth, take a sip from it, and expect to reverse the signs of aging. That’s called a myth.

When ads claim a product will permanently remove or prevent the growth of gray hair, but the claim isn’t backed by science, the FTC calls that deception – and we hold companies accountable for it.

The FTC just announced enforcement actions against a group of companies and their executives for claiming that their products — pills, shampoo and conditioner — contain an enzyme that reverses or prevents the formation of gray hair. What’s more, they said science proved it all.

With advertising messages like, “Get Away Gray doesn’t cover gray hair; it’s actually a cure for gray hair” and “Go Away Gray stops the formation of new gray hairs in as little as 4-8 weeks,” the companies enticed consumers to pay good money for these products. The FTC says there is no reasonable basis to support claims that these products permanently get rid of gray hair. According to the FTC, the science just isn’t there.

Before you buy into the promise of a pill or potion, do your research and treat products touting miraculous results with a healthy dose of skepticism — even if ads “guarantee” their effectiveness. And if you’ve bought a product that fell short of its own praises, file a complaint with the FTC.