Skin Care Hormones

The pituitary gland often called the master gland of the body's complex hormonal system is a pea size mass of cells attached to the base of the brain by a slender stalk of tissue. From this gland are secreted chemical messengers that control every body function from bone and muscle repair to body fluid balance to nervous system reactions. Hormones literally determine how we act, think, and respond to the stresses of everyday life. The balance of hormones in our bodies controls our state of nervousness our "fight or flight" responses our moods, and, as a side effect, the health and appearance of our skin.

Hormones are one of the least understood factors in common skin problems, although they are believed by many medical experts to play a definite role in conditions ranging from acne to eczema to the growth of unwanted body hair. In the past, it was common to blame some skin problems in women on "an imbalance" of sex hormones; in fact, all of us women and men have both male and female hormones circulating in our bodies. The difference between the sexes is, in part, a result of the different proportions of these hormones, with women obviously having a greater amount of female hormones (such as estrogen and progesterone) than of male hormones (testosterone and steroids). The latest theory concerning the causes of acne, in fact, is that certain differences within the skin itself can make some women especially sensitive to the normal amount of male hormones secreted by all of our bodies so that what occurs is not an excess of male hormones but an oversensitivity to normal amounts.

In addition, many of the skin problems that are aggravated by tension excessive skin oiliness and dryness are believed to have hormonal connections, but this has not yet been proven scientifically. One thing is for certain: Skin changes such as breakouts that coincide with a woman's menstrual cycle or with pregnancy are also influenced by hormones.

Experts do not recommend, however, the use of skin care products containing human or animal hormonal extracts. In fact, many medical doctors feel that these products should be banned from sale, as their effects on the skin are unknown (many of these creams are imported from Europe and have not been adequately tested) and there are no proven benefits to compensate for possible dangers. Until more scientific information is available to confirm their benefits, these creams should be avoided. They are simply not worth the high cost, as they are not known to be any more beneficial than standard moisturizers.