Scientists are uncovering the powerful role hormones play in skin aging, revealing new potential treatments for wrinkles, hair graying, and overall skin health.
While traditional anti-aging hormones like retinoids and estrogen have been widely used, new research highlights a broader range of hormones that influence skin structure, pigment, and resilience.
Hormones and Anti-Aging Potential
Hormones could play a key role in preventing and treating visible signs of aging, such as wrinkles and graying hair, according to a new study published today (February 25) in Endocrine Reviews, a journal of the Endocrine Society.
Until now, only a few hormones have been widely used in anti-aging skincare, primarily topical retinoids like retinol and tretinoin, as well as estrogen, which is mainly prescribed to manage menopause-related symptoms. This study explores a broader range of hormones with potential anti-aging benefits.
Key Hormones in Skin Aging
“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 Markus Böhm, M.D., of the University of Münster in Münster, Germany. “Some of the hormones we studied have anti-aging properties and may be used in the future as agents to prevent skin aging.”
As the body’s largest organ, the skin undergoes both natural chronological aging (intrinsic aging) and aging caused by external factors like sun exposure (extrinsic aging).
“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.
Exploring Hormonal Influences on Aging
To better understand the connection between hormones and skin aging, the researchers studied the pivotal hormones controlling skin aging, including insulin-like growth factor 1, growth hormone, estrogens, retinoids, and melatonin. Melatonin is especially interesting as a potential anti-skin aging substance as it is a small molecule, inexpensive, well-tolerated, and a direct and indirect antioxidant as well as a regulator of mitochondrial metabolism. Some of the studied hormones, moreover, have astonishing and unexpected biological effects on skin function and hair aging as highlighted by distinct genetic deficiency syndromes.
Unexpected Players in Skin Rejuvenation
They also reviewed the emerging roles of additional endocrine players, including α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (responsible for skin pigmentation), members of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis, oxytocin, endocannabinoids (found in CBD products) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor modulators and found they have very promising effects, e.g. on UV-induced genotoxic stress crucially involved in the development of photoaging and pigment synthesis within skin and hair.
Future Prospects in Hormonal Anti-Aging Therapies
“Further research into these hormones may offer opportunities to develop new therapeutics for treating and preventing skin aging,” Böhm said.
Reference: “Endocrine Controls of Skin Aging” by Markus Böhm, Agatha Stegemann, Ralf Paus, Konrad Kleszczyński, Pallab Maity, Meinhard Wlaschek and Karin Scharffetter-Kochanek, 25 February 2025, Endocrine Reviews.
DOI: 10.1210/endrev/bnae034
Other study authors are Agatha Stegemann and Konrad Kleszczyński of the University of Münster; Ralf Paus of the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine in Miami, Fla., the University of Manchester in Manchester, U.K., and CUTANEON – Skin & Hair Innovations in Hamburg & Berlin, Germany; and Pallab Maity, Meinhard Wlaschek and Karin Scharffetter-Kochanek of Ulm University in Ulm, Germany.
The researchers received funding from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, the International Graduate School in Molecular Medicine Ulm, and the Medizinische Fakultät, Universität Ulm.
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12 Comments
“While traditional anti-aging hormones like retinoids….”?
Retinoids are not hormones last I checked !!
This appears to have misleading information and incorrect scientific statements. Retinoids are not hormone related… how much more is pure snake oil jabberwoky?
I’m 68 this year and I use cannabas every day. I’m slim and do some stretches and exercising each morning drink a lot of water 8 glasses a day. And I have people say I look 50 years old. My blood pressure is no longer an issue, I used cbga from a smoke shop in N. C AND I NOW NO LONGER USE BLOOD PRESSURE BILLS. GOD LEFT EVERY THING HERE FOR THE SCIENCE TO DISCOVER.
I all don’t have much at all gray hair, either. Eat antioxidants soy milk. Lean meats and oatmeal.
Every couple years they are just years away from another bs breakthrough.
That’s why the author doesn’t even put their name on it.
I’m 68 this year and I use cannabas every day. I’m slim and do some stretches and exercising each morning drink a lot of water 8 glasses a day. And I have people say I look 50 years old. My blood pressure is no longer an issue, I used cbga from a smoke shop in N. C AND I NOW NO LONGER USE BLOOD PRESSURE BILLS. GOD LEFT EVERY THING HERE FOR THE SCIENCE TO DISCOVER.
Copper infused water nano infused, colloidal silver nano infused water and monacramaticonrusgold…….are 3 ingredients I put in my face butter and I’m 51
Zinc is shown to Grey your hair quickly.
I want what black women have which I think is melanin. Melanin must be why black people look either 3 years 27 years or 76 years. They stay 27 for a very very long time not aging at all. There has to be something with the Melanin maybe it could be the higher levels of testosterone but if you look at Arabs they age quicker than any of the races and they have lots of testosterone. I think it is something with the dark skin. It seems to be more consistent with the darker black folks than the lighter black folks. Either way beauty lasts years longer with beautiful black skin than white skin. I want to know why.
Ultraviolet light is why. Melanin protects the skin, white skin has a little and dark a lot.
Zinc will Grey your hair in rapid time. Just beware of this. Hair color and appearance can go hand in hand with how old you look. If you don’t sport your Grey roots you can spare yourself a better part of a decade. Hairstyles have to be modern and complement your face shape. Bangs on a 55 year old looks rediculuous. Bobbing your hair off short ages you a lot. Helmet haircuts never looked good on anyone. Talk to competent hair stylist.
I all don’t have much at all gray hair, either. Eat antioxidants soy milk. Lean meats and oatmeal.
Too late for me, already got grey hair and wrinkles.