Elevated Cortisol Ages Skin and Hair

With age, levels of most hormones in our body decline. That’s not true for cortisol.

In several studies, cortisol concentrations have been found to increase after midlife.^1,2

Stress also elevates cortisol levels.^1,3

Higher cortisol in older adults is linked to increased risk of chronic disease and mortality.¹

Chronically elevated cortisol also damages the skin and hair.^4,5

Scientists have identified plant extracts that can safely help lower cortisol.^6,7

This can provide support for the skin and hair.

In one study, 72% of participants who took a lychee-green tea extract blend had a noticeable decrease in fine lines, and reported improvements in hair growth and thickness.⁸

What is Cortisol?

Cortisol is a hormone that helps regulate numerous bodily functions, including the stress response. It’s sometimes called a “stress hormone.”³

Blood levels of cortisol normally ebb and flow. They typically peak in early morning, then gradually decline to their lowest level around midnight.⁹

But chronic stress disrupts this daily rhythm.¹⁰

In addition, many studies show that average cortisol levels gradually increase in older adults as they age.^1,2

Increased cortisol is associated with higher blood glucose, high blood pressure, weakened immunity, muscle loss, low bone mass, and cognitive decline.¹

Chronically elevated cortisol also wreaks havoc on the skin and hair.^4,5

Cortisol Production

Cortisol is primarily produced by the adrenal glands, which are located atop each kidney.

When the brain perceives stress, it triggers the release of cortisol from these glands.⁹

Other organs and tissues, including the skin, also secrete cortisol.^11,12

The epidermis (outermost skin layer), dermis (inner skin layer), melanocytes (melanin-producing cells), and hair follicles all synthesize the cortisol hormone.¹¹

Both physical and psychological stress can trigger cortisol secretion from the skin.¹⁰

Enzymes that control cortisol activity are also found in the skin and hair follicles.^11,13

One key enzyme is 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-1 (11-beta-HSD1). It converts inactive cortisone to active cortisol.¹⁴

Rapid Skin Aging

Higher cortisol levels have been found in aging skin.¹⁵

With aging and obesity, the enzyme 11-beta-HSD1 increases.¹⁴ This leads to more activation of cortisol in cells.¹⁵

In addition, ultraviolet light affects cortisol activity in the skin.⁹ The sun’s UV rays increase the enzyme 11-beta-HSD1.¹⁴ These actions result in increased skin cortisol levels.¹³

Elevated cortisol contributes to thinning skin, a decreased ability to make new skin cells, and inhibition of collagen synthesis.^13,15 This makes it more difficult to heal cuts and sores.^4,14

Increased cortisol also promotes inflammation and the production of damaging reactive oxygen species (ROS).¹⁶

Higher ROS levels can contribute to an increase in wrinkles, dark coloration under the eyes, and age spots.¹⁶

Chronically elevated cortisol also impairs the skin’s barrier function.⁴

The skin barrier helps keep moisture and nutrients in, while guarding against toxins, pathogens, physical damage, and allergens.¹⁷

A disrupted skin barrier can result in dry, flaky skin.⁹ That may lead to an increased susceptibility to infections and a greater likelihood of becoming sensitized to allergens.⁹

The Skin Microbiome

Every square centimeter of the body’s skin harbors millions of microbes, primarily bacteria.¹⁸

This skin microbiota plays a key role in maintaining barrier function and helps prevent the overgrowth of harmful microbes.¹⁸

Cortisol can disrupt the makeup of the skin microbiome,¹⁹ leading to disease promotion by harmful skin bacteria.¹⁸

For example, cortisol can increase susceptibility to skin infection by group A Streptococcus pyogenes.¹⁹ These bacteria can cause cellulitis, a serious infection characterized by swollen, red, and painful skin.²⁰

Cortisol can also worsen the inflammation triggered by Propionibacterium acnes, one of the main types of bacteria that cause acne.¹⁸

Damaged Hair

When we think of hair loss, we think of baldness in men. But in midlife, women may also experience significant changes in the texture and growth of their hair, including thinning.²¹

Both short-term and chronic stress, which trigger increased cortisol secretion, can promote hair loss.^5,21

High cortisol levels reduce the synthesis and accelerate the breakdown of hyaluronic acid and proteoglycans in the scalp by about 40%.This deters the normal activity of hair follicles and can lead to hair loss.⁵

Aging makes this even worse. The synthesis of proteoglycans, which are vital to hair growth, generally decreases as a person ages.⁵

Research shows that exposing human skin in culture to low cortisol levels stimulated the synthesis of hyaluronic acid and proteoglycans and slowed their breakdown by about 25%.⁵ That may support hair growth and health.

Lowering Cortisol with Lychee-Green Tea

Human studies of a lychee-green tea extract blend have shown it can reduce cortisol.²²

Scientists gave 100 mg of lychee-green tea blend or a placebo once daily to 19 sedentary but healthy young men. After a month, the lychee group had significantly lower blood cortisol levels at rest and after an exercise challenge, compared to the placebo group.²²

In another study, 13 healthy young men took 100 mg of lychee-green tea blend half an hour before dipping their legs into hot water (a stressor). Their blood cortisol afterward was significantly lower than in the placebo group.⁶

The men’s levels of two inflammatory cytokines, IL-1beta and IL-6, were also significantly lower after taking the lychee-green tea blend, compared to placebo. These cytokines increase in response to stress and trigger cortisol release.⁶

Healthier Skin and Hair

This lychee-green tea blend has been tested directly for skin benefits.

In a pilot study, a group of sedentary men took a lychee-green tea extract blend daily.

After three months:⁸

• 72.7% had a decrease in fine lines,
• 18.2% had a decrease in deep wrinkles, and
• Participants consistently had a lighter and brighter complexion, including fading of freckles and age spots, as well as less skin redness.

In addition, 54.5% of those taking the blend had decreased blood levels of C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation.

Three participants taking the lychee-green tea blend also reported an increase in hair thickness and new hair growth along their hairline.⁸

Bark Extracts Reduce Cortisol

Extracts from the bark of magnolia and phellodendron trees have been tested for their ability to lower stress and cortisol.

Both tree barks have been used in traditional herbal Chinese medicine since ancient times.^7,23,24

In one study, 56 men and women with moderate stress took 250 mg of the combined bark extracts twice daily for a month. They had an 18% reduction in daily salivary cortisol, compared to a placebo group.⁷

The bark extract group also had an 11% reduction in overall stress and a 13% decrease in tension, based on questionnaires.⁷

By helping lower cortisol, magnolia-phellodendron bark extracts could support healthy skin and hair. Taking these extracts in combination with a lychee-green tea blend may maximize benefits for skin and hair health.

Summary

Higher levels of cortisol can contribute to visible signs of aging skin and hair.

Reducing cortisol levels may help deter wrinkles, fine lines, and skin spots, as well as protect the microbial balance of the skin.

Lowering cortisol may also help support a healthy scalp and hair growth, while inhibiting hair loss.

Lychee-green tea and magnolia-phellodendron can help maintain healthy cortisol levels.

If you have any questions on the scientific content of this article, please call a Life Extension® Wellness Specialist at 1-866-864-3027.

References

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