What Hormones Affect Skin Health? Everything You Need To Know

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An overview of healthy skin

Skin is the outermost covering of your body. It is the largest organ in your body. It protects our bodies against foreign invasion.

Therefore skin health is very important for our body protection. Many factors are responsible for affecting our skin health, but fluctuating hormones affect your skin the most. External factors such as sun exposure and environmental factors are other causes of oily skin and skin problems.

This hormonal imbalance is brought about by different conditions like the menstrual cycle. Maintaining hormonal health is beneficial for treating acne breakouts and other skin conditions.

This article will take a detailed review of the effect of hormones on your skin health.

Following hormones affect your skin health:

1. Oestrogen levels

Oestrogens are female hormones that play a key role in the reproductive cycle in women. These hormones are released by women's ovaries during the menstrual cycle.

They are also known as sex hormones. They are responsible for maintaining the reproductive cycle and female characteristics such as pubic hair and breast enlargement. Oestrogen hormones contribute to the health of bones, and the cardiovascular system, and improve skin health.

Effect of oestrogen on skin health

Oestrogen has a significant impact on skin health. It is helpful in the development of collagen fibres which contribute to the healing of wounds. Oestrogen stimulates the right amount of oil production to make your skin healthy and smooth.

During menopause, the oestrogen levels decrease, and hence collagen production also decreases, which leads to facial wrinkles and a decrease in skin thickness. Similarly, as oestrogen decreases, the skin becomes dry, and cracks start to appear. Dermatologists may recommend oestrogen injections to delay skin ageing.

2. Progesterone on overall skin health

Progesterone is a group of steroid hormones released by the corpus luteum of the ovaries. It plays an important role in the first trimester of pregnancy and regulates the menstrual cycle.

Progesterone helps to stimulate the glands in the urethra and provides nutrients to the new embryo. It also provides a favourable environment for sperm and eggs to get fertilised.

Impact of progesterone hormone levels on skin health

The skin contains sebum glands that produce oils and lubricate the skin. Progesterone helps in the stimulation of the sebum gland to make the skin smooth and nourishing.

It enhances the elasticity of the skin and forms clear skin free from hormonal acne.

Effect of deficiency of progesterone on the skin

The deficiency of progesterone hormones occurs during the menopausal stage of life. The effect of progesterone on the skin is still under debate. However, studies show that it narrows the size of the pore, which results in leakage and skin breakouts. The decline in progesterone levels also makes dry skin.

3. Oestrogen hormone levels

Oestrogen hormone works alongside progesterone hormone. It is released by ovaries and fat tissues. It is found in both males and females, however, females have more amount of it.

It plays an important role during pregnancy and in the regulation of the menstrual cycle. It helps to develop the female sex structure like breasts and pubic hair.

It has the following effects on skin changes.

1. Effect on fibroblast cells of the skin

Oestrogen hormone helps to grow the fibroblast cells, sebaceous gland, and hair follicles on the skin. Fibroblast cells are responsible for the epidermal layer of skin and contribute in wounds healing.

2. Effect on sebaceous glands

It also stimulates the sebaceous glands to produce sebum and make your skin oily.

In oestrogen hormonal imbalance, the dead skin cells accumulate in the pores of the gland and close them, which results in hormonal acne on the skin.

4. Insulin hormone

Insulin is a hormone secreted by your pancreas. The beta cells of the pancreas secret the hormone. It helps to regulate your blood glucose level.

When the blood glucose level becomes high, insulin is released to convert the extra glucose into glycogen and store it in the liver and muscle.

Besides blood glucose regulation, insulin also contributes to fats and protein metabolism.

In the deficiency of insulin, the blood glucose level becomes high and causes diabetes mellitus. Therefore artificial insulin is administered to regulate the blood glucose level.

Effects of insulin on skin

1. A dark band appears on your skin when there is a high level of insulin in your body. These bands are most commonly found on your armpit and around the neck. This band looks like velvet.

2. There is a sudden appearance of blisters on your skin when you have a low level of insulin. These blisters may burst and painful ulceration.

3. Infection of skin

When you have a low level of insulin, the glucose does not digest and accumulates in different parts of the body including the skin.

This extra glucose creates a favourable environment for microbes that cause skin infection, such infections most commonly found on your legs, which is also called a diabetic foot.

5. Cortisol hormone

Cortisol is a steroid hormone that is released by the adrenal gland in your body.

It belongs to the glucocorticoid group of hormones. It performs several functions in your body ranging from metabolism to cardiovascular functions.

It also helps to curb the inflammatory response of the body. A high level of cortisol can lead to high blood pressure.

Effects on skin

1. Cortisol hormones are released in response to stress, a high level of cortisol can cause Eczema on your skin.

2. Cortisol can prompt the sebaceous glands, which produce sebum and results in an eruption of acne on your skin.

3. High level of cortisol causes dehydration of your skin which produces skin dryness and result in

wrinkles and cracks in your skin.

4. Cortisol can inhibit the inflammatory response of your body which makes your skin more prone to infections.

6. Thyroid hormones

Thyroid hormones are released by the thyroid gland, located in the front of your neck.

They are mainly two in number and play a key role in temperature regulation and metabolism.

The deficiency of these hormones can affect your body's tissues.

Effects of thyroid hormone on skin

1. Decreased levels of thyroid hormone can cause dry skin.

2. In the absence of thyroid hormone, there is evidence of underdeveloped skin hair follicles.

3. Dark lumps appear on your skin in thyroid diseases.

4. Certain skin diseases such as dermatitis, vitiligo, and Eczema are associated with thyroid deficiency.

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