It seems we are always being offered new potions and lotions promising to knock years off our appearance.
But now scientists believe they have found a treatment which could prevent the common signs of ageing such as wrinkles and greying hair – rather than simply trying to reverse them.
The potential breakthrough may lie in hormones which target naturally occurring chemicals in the body.
Some have ‘astonishing and unexpected’ biological effects on skin and hair, say the researchers, offering potential new avenues for treatments.
Until now, little work has been done on the connection between hormones and skin ageing, although oestrogen – used in HRT treatment to manage the effects of the menopause – shows signs of helping with wrinkles and thinning skin and is now starting to be used in skincare products.
Scientists believe they have found a treatment which could prevent the common signs of ageing such as wrinkles and greying hair – rather than simply trying to reverse them
The potential breakthrough may lie in hormones which target naturally occurring chemicals in the body
To better understand the role hormones can play in controlling skin ageing, the team from Germany studied hormones they believe are ‘pivotal’ in controlling skin ageing, including insulin-like growth factor 1, oestrogen, retinoids and melatonin.
Melatonin, the naturally occurring hormone which helps regulate sleep, showed particular promise.
Often taken in tablet form to treat sleep problems, researchers believe it could also have important anti-ageing properties – as, when melatonin enters the bloodstream, its antioxidant effects help safeguard cells from harm, essentially working against the ageing process.
Other hormones including those responsible for pigmentation also have very promising effects, the team said.
Professor Markus Bohm of the University of Munster, lead author of the study published in the journal Endocrine Reviews, said: ‘Our paper highlights key hormone players that orchestrate pathways of skin ageing such as degradation of connective tissue – leading to wrinkling – stem cell survival and loss of pigment which leads to hair going grey.
‘Some of the hormones we studied have anti-ageing properties. Further research into these hormones may offer opportunities to develop new therapeutics for treating and preventing skin ageing.’
