Hormones and Your Facial Skin - An Endocrine Organ
Welcome back!
I introduce to you the connection between balanced hormones and healthy skin, specifically your facial skin. The human body is such a complex and mind-blowing phenomenon, with hormones being one of the most complex aspects of our bodies. So, let’s dive into a bit of history so that you have some background before we go into the more scientific details.
Discussion
Today, we will be discussing the effect that hormones have on your skin, specifically your facial skin. What are hormones
really? It’s such a buzzword that it’s almost overwhelming in its true meaning. So, let’s break it down and take it one step
at a time.
The Meaning of the Words
The word “hormones” is of Greek origin, coming from the Greek word “Hormon” meaning “that which sets in motion.”
Simply defined, hormones are chemicals that coordinate different functions in your body, carrying messages/signals through your bloodstream to your organs, muscles, skin, and other tissues. They are your body’s chemical messengers. There are more than 50 different hormones in the human body.
Endocrinology is the branch of physiology that deals with the endocrine glands and hormones.
History
The word “hormone” has been circulating in the medical field for about 100 years. In the 17th and 18th centuries, castration was encouraged and implemented in the Roman Catholic Church. For hundreds of years, castration was a part of the life of a Castrati boy — just for the sake of art, but at the expense of thousands of young boys. In the Roman Catholic Church’s choir, the boys were castrated before puberty to keep their voices high-pitched and prevent deepening of the voice. In the mid-17th century, thousands of boys were being castrated annually in Italy.
The Endocrine System
Your endocrine system is the release station for these hormones. Think of a telephone or communication system. So, let’s paint a picture here — an extremely basic picture. You are making a call to one of your friends somewhere in Europe while you are in Thailand. Your friend picks up the phone, and the two of you communicate back and forth about the peculiarities of Thailand. You laugh and have a blast talking to each other, and afterward, you say goodbye, and the message is received. Now, if it wasn’t for that phone, you most likely wouldn’t have been able to send or communicate that message to your friend. In the same way, your endocrine system is similar to that phone. Your endocrine system is your body’s telephone. It makes millions of calls every day, right across your whole body. This ‘telephone’ is made up of those 50+ hormones and is responsible for regulating nearly all facets of your health. Whether directly or indirectly, your endocrine system is responsible for your metabolism, homeostasis, sexual function, and growth development, just to name a few.
Your endocrine system is made up of the following glands:
- Pineal Gland
- Hypothalamus
- Thymus
- Ovary (in females)
- Testicle (in males)
- Pituitary Gland
- Thyroid and Parathyroid Glands
- Pancreas
- Adrenal Glands
- Placenta (during pregnancy)
Connection
Now, how does the functioning of your hormones connect to the functioning of your facial skin? Let us take a look at the five hormones having the most notable effect on your appearance.
The five hormones are as follows:
1. Progesterone - Produced by the ovaries and testes. This hormone is responsible for the increase in oil production/sebum in your skin. Too much progesterone causes overly oily skin, resulting in acne or clogged pores.
2. Estrogen - Produced by the ovaries, fat tissue, and adrenal glands. This hormone is responsible for the maintenance of your skin thickness, collagen production, and moisture levels in your skin. Older skin gets thinner due to a lack of estrogen.
3. Thyroid Hormones - Produced by the thyroid gland. These hormones are responsible for the moisture levels in your skin and overall hair growth. Hypothyroidism can cause the thinning and drying of your skin and hair loss, while hyperthyroidism can cause overly oily hair and skin.
4. Testosterone - Produced by the ovaries, testes, and adrenal glands. This hormone is mainly produced in men,
though women have small amounts of it. Too much testosterone causes the oversecretion of sebum, which can lead to acne and oily skin.
5. Cortisol - Produced by the adrenal glands. This hormone is produced in response to stress. When cortisol levels are high in your body, you can experience inflammation. Inflammation can worsen skin conditions like acne and eczema.
Recommendations
The answer to having balanced hormones isn’t a simple one. I’ve barely scratched the surface of this intricate puzzle, but here are a few simple things you can do to improve your hormones:
- Have a sustainable diet. Eat enough fibre from unprocessed foods, including cruciferous vegetables, leafy greens, and healthy fats.
- Drink enough water.
- Exercise for 30-60 minutes, 3-5 days per week.
- Sleep for 7-10 hours daily.
- Create a routine that helps your body manage stress better.
- Maintain a healthy weight. Feed your gut bacteria with fermented foods; prioritise your gut.
See you soon!
Cornelia
References:
1. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2836429/
2. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/21201-endocrine-system
3. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22464-hormones
4. https://www.news-medical.net/health/Hormones-as-a-
Signal.aspx#:~:text=Hormone%20signals&text=Stimulating%20the%20transport%20of%20hormones,order%20to%
20terminate%20the%20action
5. https://www.epa.gov/endocrine-disruption/overview-endocrine-
system#:~:text=The%20endocrine%20system%2C%20made%20up,the%20metabolism%20and%20blood%20sugar
6. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1369102/
7. https://www.news-medical.net/health/Endocrinology-History.aspx
8. https://www.sciencehistory.org/stories/disappearing-pod/the-sinister-angel-singers-of-
rome/#:~:text=As%20a%20result%2C%20back%2Dalley,adults%2C%20most%20joined%20church%20choirs.
9. https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1035&context=younghistorians
10. https://bendderm.com/hormones-and-how-they-affect-your-
skin/#:~:text=Testosterone%20can%20stimulate%20sebum%20production,cortisol%20in%20response%20to%20str
ess.
11. https://www.southfaceskin.com/how-hormones-impact-the-look-and-feel-of-your-skin/
12.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK558960/#:~:text=Progesterone%20is%20an%20endogenous%20steroi
d,the%20later%20phase%20of%20pregnancy.
13. https://www.endocrine.org/patient-engagement/endocrine-library/hormones-and-endocrine-
function/reproductive-
hormones#:~:text=The%20ovaries%2C%20produce%20eggs%20(ova,surgical%20removal%20of%20the%20o
varies.
14. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK500006/
15. https://www.yourhormones.info/hormones/testosterone/
16. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/the-role-of-cortisol-in-the-
body#:~:text=Cortisol%20is%20a%20hormone%20produced,cortisol%20is%20essential%20for%20health.
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