THE LOVE HORMONE

Oxytocin has long been considered an important hormone related to intercourse, birthing, and nursing, but it turns out that its importance goes far beyond this short list of functions. Oxytocin is produced in skin by keratinocytes in response to touch, like caresses, massages, hugs. In fact, not only does skin produce this important hormone, but it also responds to it. Oxytocin receptors are found on the fibroblasts in the dermis. When oxytocin is bound to its receptor, it suppresses the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). The senescence-associated secretory phenotype typically promotes a low-level chronic inflammatory state by secreting proinflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-6, interleukin-1, chemokines, growth factors, and extracellular matrix-remodeling proteases. The longer the senescence-associated secretory phenotype is active, the more destruction of collagen, elastin, and skin matrix there is, leading to skin aging. Intuitively, blocking the senescence-associated secretory phenotype over time should protect skin from damage, but does it?

Resource

1. Hayre, N. Oxytocin Levels Inversely Correlate With Skin Age Score and Solar Damage. J Drugs Derm. 2020: Vol 19(12). 1146-1148