Aging could be prevented by new hormone treatments | Health

By Stephen Beech

Grey hair and wrinkles could be prevented by new hormone treatments, according to a study.

The naturally occurring chemicals could be used to treat and prevent obvious physical signs of aging, say scientists.

Until now, only a limited number of hormones – including estrogen, which is often used to treat side effects of the menopause – have been used in clinical practice as anti-skin aging compounds.

The latest study, published in the journal Endocrine Reviews, looked at a new class of hormones and their potential anti-aging properties.

Lead author Professor Markus Böhm, of the University of Münster in Germany, said: “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 greying.

“Some of the hormones we studied have anti-aging properties and may be used in the future as agents to prevent skin aging.”

He explained that the skin is the largest organ and undergoes both chronological and extrinsic aging, which is caused by environmental factors such as exposure to the sun.

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

To better understand the connection between hormones and skin aging, the research team studied the “pivotal” hormones controlling skin aging, including insulin-like growth factor 1, growth hormone, estrogens, retinoids and melatonin.

Prof Böhm described melatonin as “especially interesting” as a potential anti-skin ageing substance as it is a small molecule, inexpensive, well-tolerated and a direct and indirect antioxidant as well as a regulator of mitochondrial metabolism.

He says some of the studied hormones have “astonishing and unexpected” biological effects on skin function and hair aging as highlighted by distinct genetic deficiency syndromes.

The team also reviewed the emerging roles of additional endocrine players, including alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone – responsible for skin pigmentation; oxytocin, and endocannabinoids found in CBD products, and discovered they have “very promising” effects.

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