Our bodies are naturally equipped with chemicals that regulate our desires. Responsible for motivation, relationship building, focus, and many other aspects of our daily lives, they ensure we make the right decisions (most of the time) and avoid harmful behaviors.
One group of so-called “happy” chemicals are neurotransmitters, which are responsible for transmitting messages between our brain and body, including our skin. Knowing how they work and how to regulate them can help us explore the benefits of wellness on the quality and condition of our skin.
The supposedly complex neurological system is designed to simplify transmission. What begins as an electrical impulse in the first neuron travels through an axon to the second neuron, which either accepts or rejects it. It then communicates through a chemical bond that sends the message to the neuron in our brain.
The 4 main “Happy Chemicals”
There dopamine is a neurotransmitter produced by the hypothalamus. It is a crucial compound responsible for our reward and motivation. It helps us stay focused and productive on a task at hand, whether intellectual or physical. Studied extensively by behavioral psychologists, it has only recently been deconstructed to help us understand that it is not the amount of dopamine that is important for our motivation, but the relative level compared to the standard level, as well as the dopamine drop we experience afterwards. Today, we are exposed to a much larger number of stimulants that can trigger dopamine spikes.
Every Instagram post we see, every easily accessible junk food or Netflix series we watch is responsible for immediate dopamine spikes. Binge eating, watching or scrolling is the direct effect of this, as we naturally seek out more stimuli. No matter how much we consume, it never seems to be enough. This is because our baseline dopamine levels are constantly adjusting and, if we are not careful, can lead to recurring dopamine crashes.
There serotonin is an extremely important neurotransmitter, responsible for the quality of our sleep, appetite and mood; it is produced when we are satisfied. Adequate levels of serotonin are necessary for a balanced lifestyle. It is made from the amino acid tryptophan, which can be supplied to your body through a healthy, protein-rich diet. Depletion of serotonin leads to depression and mood swings, which affect your overall health, including the health of your skin.
Oxytocin Better known as the cuddle hormone, oxytocin is a neuropeptide responsible for transmitting positive signals related to relationships, such as trust, empathy or desire. Extensive studies have been conducted to establish a link between oxytocin levels and skin health. One of the most comprehensive results showed a direct link between oxytocin levels and skin age:
OCTOCINE LEVELS, SKIN AGE SCORE AND SUN EXPOSURE SCORE, BY PARTICIPANTS
The pilot study subject with the highest oxytocin level in the pilot study (306 pmol/L/24h) was a 57-year-old woman. She had a history of using only basic skin care products and had a high lifetime sun exposure history (score of 5 out of 7 possible). Her SAS skin age score was 23, which represents a 60% reduction from the expected score for her age and is consistent with the relatively youthful appearance of her skin.
https://www.dermatologytimes.com/view/clinical-study-points-to-oxytocin-s-antiaging-benefits
Endorphins : There are 3 endorphins produced by the human body: α-, γ- and β-endorphin. The latter is the most important for the condition of our skin. As another neuropeptide responsible for our well-being, its main functions are to reduce negative feelings of stress, hunger, pain, as well as maintain homeostasis. β-endorphin, produced in the pituitary gland and in a variety of skin cells, promotes wound healing through the regulation of cytokeratins.
Practical stimuli for endorphin production include sports activity and sex. So, in general, an activity that promotes the production of these peptides is crucial for maintaining healthy skin.
In conclusion, there are multiple hormones responsible for the well-being of our brain and, as demonstrated by numerous studies and experiments, the presence or level of these hormones has a considerable impact on the condition of our skin, as they act both as stress regulators and directly on the rejuvenating, healing or hydrating properties of our skin tissue.
