Your hormones control pretty much everything about you, including how you look. Your hormones, or lack thereof, are even evident on your face, says hormone replacement therapy expert Marla Ahlgrimm.
Q: What hormones affect the appearance of the face?
Marla Ahlgrimm: The big one: estrogen. As we get older, our estrogen levels decline at a rate of about 1% to 2% per year. As your estrogen levels dip, you may experience dry skin, wrinkles, and sullen eyes. Hormone replacement therapy may help your skin continue to look and feel useful for years to come.
Q: Men don’t have high levels of estrogen. Is there a hormone that changes their skin texture?
Marla Ahlgrimm: Yes, testosterone. Even in women, low levels of testosterone can affect the skin. For men, low-T can result in weight gain, thinning or balding hair, wrinkles, and reduced muscle mass.
Q: What does the human growth hormone do?
Marla Ahlgrimm: As the name suggests, the human growth hormone, which is a protein produced and released by the pituitary gland, stimulates all sorts of growth, from the bones to the cells in the muscles. With age, like other hormones, HGH levels begin to drop. However, it’s important to note that HGH is responsible for everything from muscle mass and metabolism to younger-looking skin and a sharper mind.
Q: What is hyaluronic acid?
Marla Ahlgrimm: Hyaluronic acid is a protein made by the body. It’s essentially what fills in the fatty areas of the cheeks, under the eyes, and throughout other parts of the face. As your estrogen levels drop, so do your hyaluronic acid levels. Dermal fillers, which are a popular way to combat facial sagging and under-eye darkening, are often made of hyaluronic acid.
Marla Ahlgrimm has co-authored two ground-breaking books,