Abstract
Like the whole organism, skin follows the process of aging during life-time. Additional to internal factors, several environmental factors, such as solar radiation, considerably contribute to this process. While fundamental mechanisms regarding skin aging are known, new aspects of anti-aging agents such as melatonin are introduced. Melatonin is a hormone produced in the glandula pinealis that follows a circadian light-dependent rhythm of secretion. It has been experimentally implicated in skin functions such as hair cycling and fur pigmentation, and melatonin receptors are expressed in many skin cell types including normal and malignant keratinocytes, melanocytes and fibroblasts. It possesses a wide range of endocrine properties as well as strong antioxidative activity. Regarding UV-induced solar damage, melatonin distinctly counteracts massive generation of reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial and DNA damage. Thus, there is considerable evidence for melatonin to be an effective antiskin aging compound, and its various properties in this context are described in this review.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Dermato-Endocrinology |
| Volume | 4 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| ISSN | 1938-1972 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 01.07.2012 |
Funding
The authors wish to acknowledge the funding agencies that have supported some of the original work cited in this review: German Academy of Natural Scientists Leopoldina, “Halle and Federal Ministry of Education and Research” BMBF-LPD 9901/8-113 (T.W.F.), Foundation “Rene Touraine” Short-Term International Fellowship, France (T.W.F.), Aaron B. Lerner scholarship from the Friedrich-Schiller-University, Jena, Germany (T.W.F.) and University of Tennessee Cancer Center Pilot Grant (T.W.F.). The senior author (T.W.F.) is also grateful to Prof. Andrzej Slominski, who has been the mentor and host of T.W.F. during his research stay at the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN USA.
