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Anti-aging comes down to chemicals made in your body, instead of those found on store shelves

MÜNSTER, Germany — In the battle against wrinkles, sagging, and age spots, many people focus on expensive creams, serums, and treatments. But what if the most powerful anti-aging factors are already inside your body? Research published in the journal Endocrine Reviews reveals how hormones—chemical messengers that regulate nearly every bodily function—play a crucial role in how our skin ages.

“Our paper highlights key hormone players that orchestrate pathways of skin aging such as degradation of connective tissue (leading to wrinkling), stem cell survival and loss of pigment (leading to hair graying),” said lead author Dr. Markus Böhm, of the University of Münster, in a statement. “Some of the hormones we studied have anti-aging properties and may be used in the future as agents to prevent skin aging.”

The review, authored by researchers from several European and American institutions, provides a deep dive into the relationship between our endocrine system and skin aging. It positions the skin as not just a target for hormones produced elsewhere in the body, but as a hormone-producing organ itself.

“Skin is not only a target for various hormones that control pathways of skin aging but itself is certainly the largest and richest site for hormone production besides classical endocrine glands,” Böhm said.

As we age, our skin undergoes two distinct processes: intrinsic aging, which happens naturally over time due to genetic factors, and extrinsic aging, caused by environmental factors like UV radiation and pollution (collectively known as the “exposome”). While these processes have different manifestations, they share common mechanisms—increased reactive oxygen species (which are harmful molecules that damage cells), breakdown of the skin’s supporting structure, shortening of protective caps on our DNA, and accumulated DNA damage.

Which hormones play the biggest role in skin aging?

Numerous hormones, from insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) to estrogens, melatonin, and vitamin A derivatives (retinoids), all influence cellular processes that determine how our skin ages.

For instance, IGF-1, produced by dermal fibroblasts (cells that make connective tissue), emerges as a key player in skin aging. When fibroblasts become senescent—essentially entering a zombie-like state where they can’t divide but don’t die—they produce less IGF-1. This reduction leads to skin thinning, wrinkles, and reduced barrier function. In essence, senescent fibroblasts accelerate skin aging by failing to provide this crucial hormone.

Similarly, estrogens play a vital role, particularly in postmenopausal women. The dramatic drop in circulating estrogen that occurs during menopause contributes to a 30% decrease in skin collagen during the early postmenopausal years, with continued loss at approximately 2% per year thereafter. This explains why many women notice accelerated skin aging during and after menopause.

Another fascinating aspect is how the hair follicle—often overlooked in aging discussions—functions as a “mini-organ” with its own hormonal production system. Hair graying, often the first visible sign of aging, occurs when the hair follicle’s pigment-producing unit loses functional stem cells. Pattern hair loss in men and women also involves hormone-driven changes that shrink hair follicles over time.

Melatonin is especially interesting as a potential anti-skin aging substance as it is a small molecule, inexpensive, well-tolerated, and a powerful antioxidant as well as a regulator of cellular energy production. Best known as the “sleep hormone,” melatonin appears to be a powerful protector against UV damage and oxidative stress in the skin. It works both as a direct free radical scavenger and by boosting the body’s natural antioxidant enzymes.

The skin’s ability to produce hormones locally makes it a complex endocrine organ in its own right. For example, the skin produces its own version of the “stress hormone” cortisol and can convert vitamin D precursors into active forms. This local production means that skin can respond to stressors even without input from the brain or other endocrine glands.

Other potential endocrine ‘influencers’

Researchers also reviewed the emerging roles of additional endocrine players, including α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (responsible for skin pigmentation), members of the thyroid hormone system, oxytocin, endocannabinoids (found in CBD products), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor modulators and found they have very promising effects on UV-induced DNA damage crucially involved in the development of photoaging and pigment synthesis within skin and hair.

Oxytocin — commonly associated with childbirth, breastfeeding, and social bonding — may prevent skin aging by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress. The researchers identified oxytocin as one of several emerging endocrine players with promising anti-aging properties, particularly through its effects on inflammatory pathways that contribute to skin aging.

Even cannabinoids—compounds similar to those found in cannabis but produced naturally in the body—play a role in skin aging through their effects on inflammation, cell growth, and wound healing. The skin’s endocannabinoid system works to maintain an anti-inflammatory environment that may protect against some aspects of aging.

The future of anti-aging skin therapies

Currently, topical retinoids and estrogens are the most commonly used hormonal anti-aging compounds in clinical practice. Until now, only these limited number of hormones, mainly topical retinoids (retinol and tretinoin) and estrogen, which is typically used to treat side effects of menopause, have been used in clinical practice as anti-skin-aging compounds.

Retinoids like retinol and tretinoin have been shown to reduce abnormal skin cells, increase collagen thickness, and stimulate production of new collagen in sun-damaged skin. For postmenopausal women, hormone replacement therapy has been shown to increase skin thickness, improve hydration, and reduce wrinkles.

However, the review points toward potential new therapies that target other hormonal pathways. Melatonin, with its impressive antioxidant properties, could become a powerful addition to anti-aging skincare. Modified forms of α-MSH are being developed for better skin penetration and could offer protection against UV damage while preserving their antioxidative effects.

The aging of our largest organ affects more than just appearance. Aged skin has reduced barrier function, decreased wound healing capacity, and increased susceptibility to infections and skin cancers. Understanding the hormonal controls of skin aging could lead to interventions that address these health concerns alongside cosmetic ones.

“Further research into these hormones may offer opportunities to develop new therapeutics for treating and preventing skin aging,” Böhm said.

Future anti-aging strategies might involve “smart endocrine cocktails”—combinations of hormones or hormone-like compounds that work together to target multiple aspects of skin aging. For example, combinations of modified α-MSH with thyroid-releasing hormone and/or estradiol might simultaneously reduce oxidative stress, increase melanin production, and improve collagen synthesis.

For those concerned about skin aging, the key message is that internal hormonal balance matters as much as—if not more than—external skincare products. The body’s endocrine system plays a crucial role in maintaining skin health and youthfulness, and disruptions to this system accelerate visible aging.

Above all, before you start taking any supplements or try any anti-aging therapies, you should absolutely check with your doctor first. Not only can these remedies be expensive, but they can also come with side effects in which some people are at higher risk than others.