We all know that our bodies change as we get older, but those changes come in many different forms and from many diverse sources. Some of those changes we can do something about, while others are just the natural ageing process.
There are two types of ageing; extrinsic and intrinsic.
Extrinsic ageing comes from the outside, with things like sunlight, pollution and lifestyle all affecting how we age.
Intrinsic ageing is simply our body’s natural biological clock. It comes from the inside, and there’s not much we can do about it. There are many contributing factors to intrinsic ageing, including genetic mutations, increased inflammatory signals, and changes in hormone levels.
These change in hormone levels are particularly influential on our skin, especially in women.
Extrinsic ageing comes from the outside, with things like sunlight, pollution and lifestyle all affecting how we age.
Intrinsic ageing is simply our body’s natural biological clock. It comes from the inside, and there’s not much we can do about it. There are many contributing factors to intrinsic ageing, including genetic mutations, increased inflammatory signals, and changes in hormone levels.
These change in hormone levels are particularly influential on our skin, especially in women.
What are hormones?
Hormones are special chemical messengers in the body that are created in organs such as the ovaries, adrenal glands and thymus glands. These messengers involved in many different bodily functions, from simple basic needs like hunger, to complex systems like immunity, and even determine stress and mood.
Hormones are created by glands, which are part of the endocrine system. The main hormone-producing glands include the thyroid gland, which contributes to calorie burning and heart-rate, the pancreas, which helps control blood sugar levels by producing insulin, and the pineal gland, which affects sleep.
Hormones play a crucial role in our body, and when in balance help us thrive. However, sometimes hormone levels can be too high or too low, and this imbalance can cause serious health problems, regardless of a person’s age or sex.
Hormones are created by glands, which are part of the endocrine system. The main hormone-producing glands include the thyroid gland, which contributes to calorie burning and heart-rate, the pancreas, which helps control blood sugar levels by producing insulin, and the pineal gland, which affects sleep.
Hormones play a crucial role in our body, and when in balance help us thrive. However, sometimes hormone levels can be too high or too low, and this imbalance can cause serious health problems, regardless of a person’s age or sex.
What causes a change in hormones?
Hormones will change naturally over the course of a person’s life, with certain times being more tumultuous than others.
Puberty is when things really kick off, with girls receiving a spike of oestrogen and boys - testosterone. This causes sweat and oil glands to go into over-drive, in some cases resulting in acne.
Women will continue to experience a shift in hormones during their menstrual cycle, with the body preparing itself for ovulation, and possible pregnancy. If this doesn’t happen, then the body resets and the menstrual cycle begins over again.
Pregnancy brings with it a sudden and extreme change in hormones, which are unique in a woman’s lifetime. Dramatic increases in oestrogen and progesterone support the baby, transferring nutrients and helping the foetus develop and mature.
Once a woman reaches 40, hormone levels begin to decline, eventually leading to the menopause. Again, this will cause significant changes in hormonal balance, resulting in varying symptoms, from weight gain to extreme mood swings.
Puberty is when things really kick off, with girls receiving a spike of oestrogen and boys - testosterone. This causes sweat and oil glands to go into over-drive, in some cases resulting in acne.
Women will continue to experience a shift in hormones during their menstrual cycle, with the body preparing itself for ovulation, and possible pregnancy. If this doesn’t happen, then the body resets and the menstrual cycle begins over again.
Pregnancy brings with it a sudden and extreme change in hormones, which are unique in a woman’s lifetime. Dramatic increases in oestrogen and progesterone support the baby, transferring nutrients and helping the foetus develop and mature.
Once a woman reaches 40, hormone levels begin to decline, eventually leading to the menopause. Again, this will cause significant changes in hormonal balance, resulting in varying symptoms, from weight gain to extreme mood swings.
Oestrogen
For women, oestrogen is the main sex hormone. It causes puberty, prepares a woman’s body for pregnancy, and regulates the menstrual cycle.
Around the late twenties, a woman’s oestrogen levels will begin to drop at a rate faster than testosterone, leaving a hormonal imbalance. With more testosterone in the blood, masculine qualities increase, such as new facial hair. There is also a boost in oil production, which in turn blocks pores, increasing spots and blemishes.
Oestrogen plays an important part in our skin, affecting skin thickness, skin moisture and wrinkle formation. This is why pregnant women are often said to have a “glow” about them, with the extra oestrogen giving their skin extra moisture and plumpness.
During times of hormonal imbalance, skin pigmentation is intensified in certain sun-exposed areas such as the forehead, nose and cheeks. This is called melasma, and is a clear example of how hormones can affect the skin.
Around the late twenties, a woman’s oestrogen levels will begin to drop at a rate faster than testosterone, leaving a hormonal imbalance. With more testosterone in the blood, masculine qualities increase, such as new facial hair. There is also a boost in oil production, which in turn blocks pores, increasing spots and blemishes.
Oestrogen plays an important part in our skin, affecting skin thickness, skin moisture and wrinkle formation. This is why pregnant women are often said to have a “glow” about them, with the extra oestrogen giving their skin extra moisture and plumpness.
During times of hormonal imbalance, skin pigmentation is intensified in certain sun-exposed areas such as the forehead, nose and cheeks. This is called melasma, and is a clear example of how hormones can affect the skin.
Testosterone
Testosterone is mainly associated with men, but women also have this hormone, just in far smaller amounts. These testosterone levels are needed for sex drive amongst other things, but when oestrogen levels drop, then the ratio is out of balance.
Since testosterone is involved in skin sebum production, females may experience increased oiliness or even adult acne when these hormones become imbalanced, particularly during menstruation or menopause.
The opposite is true for men as they get older, with a decrease in testosterone resulting in hair loss, and possibly dry and flaky skin.
Since testosterone is involved in skin sebum production, females may experience increased oiliness or even adult acne when these hormones become imbalanced, particularly during menstruation or menopause.
The opposite is true for men as they get older, with a decrease in testosterone resulting in hair loss, and possibly dry and flaky skin.
Skin changes
As we age, our bodies will change, this is just a fact of life. For women, as oestrogen levels drop, the number of blood vessels in the skin will also decrease. This leads to skin becoming dryer, paler, and prone to wrinkles.
While ageing is a privilege denied to many, none of us want to look older than we actually are. As our collagen levels drop, our skin becomes looser, losing its elasticity, and becoming ever more fragile.
For women, hormones start to drop after 30, and when menopause arrives, things can go a bit haywire. But it’s not just a decrease in hormones that cause problems, an increase in levels due to pregnancy or birth control can also have an effect on skin.
At the end of the day, it’s about the balance of hormones, and not the levels themselves. This balance can be changed by many things, natural (pregnancy) or manufactured (birth-control), and the results on your skin can also vary widely.
There are ways to slow the ageing process when it comes to your skin.
At our clinic we have a wide variety of skin care and cosmeceutical products, such as microdermabrasion, Fraxel, IPL, wrinkle fillers and Botox, to reduce the visible signs of aging.
Contact us today to book a free consultation and discover which cosmetic products best suit your needs.
While ageing is a privilege denied to many, none of us want to look older than we actually are. As our collagen levels drop, our skin becomes looser, losing its elasticity, and becoming ever more fragile.
For women, hormones start to drop after 30, and when menopause arrives, things can go a bit haywire. But it’s not just a decrease in hormones that cause problems, an increase in levels due to pregnancy or birth control can also have an effect on skin.
At the end of the day, it’s about the balance of hormones, and not the levels themselves. This balance can be changed by many things, natural (pregnancy) or manufactured (birth-control), and the results on your skin can also vary widely.
There are ways to slow the ageing process when it comes to your skin.
At our clinic we have a wide variety of skin care and cosmeceutical products, such as microdermabrasion, Fraxel, IPL, wrinkle fillers and Botox, to reduce the visible signs of aging.
Contact us today to book a free consultation and discover which cosmetic products best suit your needs.
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