Effects Hormones have on the skin

Hormones have a considerable effect on our bodies, in particular our skin. Hormones influence the development and function of human skin which also produces and releases hormones. Hormones levels affect the skin in your 20s, 30s, and 40s and beyond can affect a woman's skin. What are hormones? Hormones are chemical messengers that have specific effects on certain cells of the body. Hormones, which are produced by endocrine glands, are released into the bloodstream where they are carried to all parts of the body. But they will only affect cells that have specific receptors for that particular hormone. The tissue acted upon by each hormone is known as the TARGET TISSUE. The cells that make up these tissues have receptors in their cell membrane or within the cytoplasm to which a specific hormone attaches. The purpose of the receptor is to recognise the presence of the hormone. Once it is attached it then conveys the message to the nucleus, where the required action takes place through the regulation of the manufacture of proteins and enzyme synthesis. Hormones can only have an effect if they are able to bond to a receptor. If they cannot bond it will not matter how high the hormone levels are, they will have no effect. The more receptors in a certain area the more sensitive that area will be to that particular hormone. The skin contains receptors for different types of hormones: • Oestrogenic Hormones Female-like effect • Androgenic Hormones Male-like effect • Progesterone A precursor hormone to both androgens and estrogens. Oestrogen and the skin Estrogens are a group of hormones that play a key role in regulating many aspects of a woman’s overall health, and benefit s the skin in many ways, such as: • Increases the rate of cell turnover in the basal layer of the epidermis. • Reduces the size and activity of the sebaceous glands. • Keeps sebaceous secretion thin and less fatty. • Slows the rate of hair growth. • Increases the action of the enzyme hyaluronidase, which produces hyaluronic acid. • Keeps the skin metabolically active. • increase in collagen and elasticity content Androgenic and the skin Androgens, which are male sex hormones, regulate the production of sebum, or skin oil. When your sebum levels are increased, it makes it more likely that your pores will become clogged, which leads to acne. As well as: • Increase the rate of cell turnover in the basal layer of the epidermis. • Increase the size and activity of the sebaceous glands. • Increase collagen production through the stimulation of fibroblast cells to produce the proteins needed for collagen synthesis. • Increase hair growth. When Things go wrong many endocrine diseases and disorders affect the hormonal balance of our bodies. This can result in an imbalance of sex hormones, which can affect the appearance of the skin in the following ways: • Too much androgen causes the epidermis to become coarse and thick. The sebaceous glands enlarge and acne can develop. The hairline of both males and females can recede. • Too little androgen results in a dull, thin epidermis that becomes finely wrinkled. The skin can become dry and there is no facial, pubic or axillary hair. The skin can have pallor due to fewer blood vessels and decreased pigment levels. • Too little oestrogen in women causes changes to the skin that are very similar to a lack of androgens but not to the same extreme. The skin will appear dull, thin and finely wrinkled with some loss of tone. • Too much oestrogen causes pigmentation changes and the appearance of spider nevi. Stress can also disrupt the delicate hormonal balance, upsetting the menstrual cycle or even stopping it completely. That stress can be emotional, as in the break-up of relationships, exams or moving away from home. Stress can also be physical, such as serious illness or extreme physical exercise. Often women who are involved in such physically demanding sports as triathlons or bodybuilding can develop acne conditions because of the effect this has on their bodies’ endocrine system. References Pugliese, P. (1996). Physiology of the Skin. Allured Publishing Corporation. Trickey,R. (1998). Women, Hormones & Menstrual Cycle. Allen & Unwin.