Issue link: https://www.ascpskindeepdigital.com/i/1464744
New member benefit! Get the ASCP SkinPro app at ascpskincare.com/skinpro 79 the impact of stress on the skin is largely mediated by cortisol. The most obvious effects involve excess sebum secretion. As we age, most of us will be subject to elevated cortisol. Thinning skin, wrinkle formation, and the generally dreaded appearance of the elderly countenance can at least be partially attributed to cortisol. Cortisol is a catabolic (breakdown) hormone, and collagen and connective tissue are especially susceptible to cortisol- induced degeneration. In fact, all the signs of skin aging can be partially attributed to an abundance of this hormone, and lowering cortisol levels by reducing psychological stress and physiologic causes is one of the most important antiaging techniques and strategies. Thyroxine What is arguably the most important hormone in the body is produced in the thyroid. Known as thyroxine, this chemical regulates and controls all cell behavior—including those of the skin. Not surprisingly then, the health and appearance of the skin are highly dependent on thyroxine. The cells of the epidermis mature and shed in response to thyroxine, and under deficiency conditions (hypothyroidism is extremely common), skin can become rough and flaky. Low levels of this thyroid hormone often lurk behind skin dryness; conversely, excessive thyroid hormones can result in skin oiliness. Virtually all the signs of dermal senescence (in which senescent cells accumulate with age in the skin, leading to a decline in various aspects of skin function) involve deficiencies in thyroid hormones, including thinning, wrinkles, and skin pallor. And because thyroid hormones regulate the production of connective tissue, impairment of collagen and hyaluronic acid synthesis can also be expected in a thyroxine-deficient state. THE ULTIMATE COMMUNICATORS The body, with its trillions of cells, is a marvel of organization, and the remarkable coordination required for all its cellular building blocks to work harmoniously as a coherent and integrated whole is dependent on hormones. Acting as communication molecules, hormones are ultimately responsible for the actions of all cells, and their job is to make sure individual components of the human body work together. While all the cells and structures of the body are dependent on the healthy function of hormones, no organ manifests the actions of these critical chemicals more profoundly than the skin. As we age, hormone levels drop and the manifestations on the skin are inevitable. By addressing and correcting the age-associated reduction in hormone levels, we can prevent, slow down, and, in some cases, even reverse many of the signs of skin aging. Both oral supplementation and topical application of DHEA can improve the appearance and health of the skin and help reverse the skin atrophy associated with aging skin.