Hormones that could help prevent wrinkles, gray hair and aging: study

A new study from the University of Münster in Germany suggests that certain hormones may play a key role in preventing visible signs of aging, such as wrinkles and graying hair.

The research, published in the Endocrine Society's journal Endocrine Reviews , suggests that these hormonal compounds could be used in future skin care treatments.

Until now, the use of hormones in anti-aging dermatology has focused primarily on topical retinoids, such as retinol and tretinoin, as well as estrogen, which is used to relieve menopausal symptoms. However, the study examines a new category of hormones that may be involved in the biological processes related to skin aging.

“Our paper highlights key hormonal players that orchestrate skin aging pathways, such as connective tissue degradation (leading to wrinkles), stem cell survival, and pigment loss (leading to hair graying),” explains Markus Böhm, senior researcher at the University of Münster. “Some of the hormones we studied have anti-aging properties and could be used in the future as agents to prevent skin aging.”

Skin aging can be divided into two types: intrinsic, linked to the passage of time, and extrinsic, caused by environmental factors such as sun exposure . "The skin is not only a target for several hormones that control skin aging pathways, but in itself it is undoubtedly the largest and richest site for hormone production, apart from the classic endocrine glands," explains Böhm.

To explore the relationship between hormones and skin aging, the research team analyzed the impact of various hormonal substances, including insulin-like growth factor, growth hormone, estrogens, retinoids, and melatonin. In particular, melatonin has attracted interest due to its antioxidant properties, its ability to regulate mitochondrial metabolism, and its accessibility as a small, inexpensive, and well-tolerated molecule.

Furthermore, some hormones analyzed have shown unexpected effects on skin function and hair aging, as evidenced in different genetic deficiency syndromes.

The study also examined the role of other hormones in pigmentation and the skin's response to aging. This group includes melanocyte-stimulating hormone , which influences skin color, as well as other substances linked to the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis, oxytocin, endocannabinoids — compounds present in CBD-derived products — and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor modulators. These hormones have shown positive effects in protecting the skin from sun damage and in the synthesis of pigments in the hair.

"Further research into these hormones may offer opportunities to develop new therapies to treat and prevent skin aging," Böhm concludes.

*This content was rewritten with the assistance of artificial intelligence, based on information from Europa Press, and was reviewed by a journalist and an editor.