DHEA
_DHEA-Dehydroepiandrosterone
The anti-stress “mother of all hormones” DHEA is found in human skin. DHEA is converted into estrogen and androgen-like metabolites found only in skin. Enzymes that convert DHEA to estrogen also decline. Women who take both estrogen and testosterone have skin that is 48% thicker than women who don’t take either hormone. DHEA is converted to both estrogen and testosterone, providing the benefits of both hormones.
Skin is such a specialized organ that it has its own immune system. Sunlight and aging suppress immunity, immunity affects health, and melatonin and DHEA affect them all. Sunlight affects hormones. It decreases melatonin, norepinephrine, and acetylcholine, and increases cortisol, serotonin, GABA, and dopamine. Studies show that both DHEA and melatonin are absorbed by skin when applied topically. A study from CHUL Research Center (in Canada) shows that the activity of DHEA applied topically is 85-90% greater than when taken orally (in rats at least). In a properly formulated gel or cream there are enough hormones to benefit the skin without providing enough to escape into circulation.
A study published in the Journal of Surgical Research showed that topically applied DHEA has the ability to protect skin’s delicate blood vessels. Researchers found that if DHEA was applied after a serious burn, the blood vessels underlying the burned area are protected. The mechanisms involve anti-inflammatory actions, preventing destructive white blood cells from gearing up, prolonging the healing process, and causing edema to last longer. This apparently helps save tissue.
DHEA preserves the ability of skin to react to cancer-causing, skin-destroying pollutants in air, food and water. DHEA also has antioxidant action and keeps chemical carcinogens from binding to DNA. At the Fels Research Institute and Temple University, some rodent studies indicate that cancers cannot get started if enough DHEA is present.
DHEA turns on oil production by the skin. In a skin cream DHEA can be very effective in increasing skin oil production on dry skin.
The anti-stress “mother of all hormones” DHEA is found in human skin. DHEA is converted into estrogen and androgen-like metabolites found only in skin. Enzymes that convert DHEA to estrogen also decline. Women who take both estrogen and testosterone have skin that is 48% thicker than women who don’t take either hormone. DHEA is converted to both estrogen and testosterone, providing the benefits of both hormones.
Skin is such a specialized organ that it has its own immune system. Sunlight and aging suppress immunity, immunity affects health, and melatonin and DHEA affect them all. Sunlight affects hormones. It decreases melatonin, norepinephrine, and acetylcholine, and increases cortisol, serotonin, GABA, and dopamine. Studies show that both DHEA and melatonin are absorbed by skin when applied topically. A study from CHUL Research Center (in Canada) shows that the activity of DHEA applied topically is 85-90% greater than when taken orally (in rats at least). In a properly formulated gel or cream there are enough hormones to benefit the skin without providing enough to escape into circulation.
A study published in the Journal of Surgical Research showed that topically applied DHEA has the ability to protect skin’s delicate blood vessels. Researchers found that if DHEA was applied after a serious burn, the blood vessels underlying the burned area are protected. The mechanisms involve anti-inflammatory actions, preventing destructive white blood cells from gearing up, prolonging the healing process, and causing edema to last longer. This apparently helps save tissue.
DHEA preserves the ability of skin to react to cancer-causing, skin-destroying pollutants in air, food and water. DHEA also has antioxidant action and keeps chemical carcinogens from binding to DNA. At the Fels Research Institute and Temple University, some rodent studies indicate that cancers cannot get started if enough DHEA is present.
DHEA turns on oil production by the skin. In a skin cream DHEA can be very effective in increasing skin oil production on dry skin.
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©2010 by Susan Merenstein, Pharmacist and Owner of Murray Avenue Apothecary.
©2010 by Susan Merenstein, Pharmacist and Owner of Murray Avenue Apothecary.