How Hormones Affect Skin Aging
Did you know your hormones play a huge role in how your skin ages? We’ve all heard of our major hormones- Estrogen, Testosterone, Progesterone, but do you know what part they play in your skin health? Let’s go through some of our major hormones!
Estradiol
Estradiol is the major form of circulating Estrogen during your reproductive years. Estradiol is your skin’s best friend — it keeps things plump, hydrated, and elastic. When Estradiol starts to decline in your late 30s and 40s, that’s when you might notice more dryness, fine lines, and a little less bounce to your skin. A decrease in Estradiol can also cause a loss in subcutaneous fat underneath the skin, leading to more thin skin. A drop in Estradiol can also cause hair thinning or loss and change in hair texture.
Progesterone
Progesterone helps with repair and cell turnover. When it starts to dip, in your late 30’s or early 40’s, your skin can start to look dull or uneven. Progesterone contributes to skin elasticity, so you may notice less skin firmness and more fine lines and wrinkles. Progesterone also helps us relax and sleep, so when Progesterone declines it can have a downstream effect if we are not managing stress well or not sleeping enough.
Testosterone
Testosterone often gets blamed for breakouts, but in balance, it’s actually great for your skin — it supports collagen, boosts circulation, and helps you keep that healthy, resilient glow. As Testosterone declines, which can be as early as your early 20’s, we start to notice decreased collagen and dull, dry skin. Testosterone can also affect the hair, we need balance for the most optimal hair health.
Thyroid
Thyroid hormones are another big one. Thyroid hormones regulate our metabolism and all of the major functions in our body. When our Thyroid hormones are low, skin can become cold, dry, rough, and lose that natural vibrancy. A sluggish thyroid can also slow collagen production and healing.
Cortisol
And don’t forget Cortisol, your stress hormone! We all know an imbalance of Cortisol can have negative effects on our mood, metabolism, sleep, and weight. But too much Cortisol for too long can also break down collagen and speed up the aging process.
The big takeaway? Balanced hormones = happy, glowing skin that ages gracefully from the inside out. If you are curious about your hormones, we can help!!