The anti-aging effect of melatonin is exerted by upregulating the expression of silent information regulator 1/Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), which reduces oxidative stress damage, decreases p53 activation, and inhibits the NF-κB pathway. Radiation can induce premature senescence through direct or indirect oxidative stress damage.
The benefits of melatonin in your skincare routine
“Studies on melatonin show that this hormone, found naturally in the body, is scientifically proven to repair skin while you sleep, help erase visible signs of skin aging and improve skin firmness.
These results provide new evidence that melatonin stimulates the proliferation and type I collagen synthesis in human bone cells in vitro, suggesting that melatonin may act to stimulate bone formation.
Thus, melatonin and its metabolites protect skin cells including keratinocytes [70], melanocytes [36], fibroblasts [64], and leukocytes [71] from UV-induced damage. The exogenous application of melatonin and its derivatives constitutes a powerful promising tool to prevent UV-induced oxidative stress and DNA damage.
You Might Increase Your Risk for Some Health Issues
"For example, some people might experience side effects after taking melatonin, including drowsiness, stomach aches or dizziness," says Dr. Weiss. Since supplemental melatonin is relatively new in the grand scheme of human existence, the long-term effects are TBD.
The hormone melatonin plays a role in the sleep-wake cycle. Natural levels of melatonin in the blood are highest at night. Some research suggests that melatonin supplements might be helpful in treating sleep disorders, such as delayed sleep phase. They also may provide some relief from insomnia and jet lag.
Hair follicles have melatonin receptors, suggesting this hormone plays a role in hair growth cycle. In fact, lab tests showed that the topical application of melatonin extended the anagen / growth stage and resulted in faster growth.
Although some studies have highlighted good results of melatonin promoting hair growth it is also important to remember that some types of hair loss such as male pattern baldness have no cure. Due to this, treatments such as melatonin will not help promote hair growth.
In several clinical trials, melatonin was found to be well tolerated and not associated with serum enzyme elevations or evidence of liver injury. Despite wide scale use, melatonin has not been convincingly linked to instances of clinically apparent liver injury.
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.
The mechanism of melatonin-induced facial swelling remains to be determined. However, drug-induced angioedema associated with facial swelling has the potential to progress to laryngeal edema and airway obstruction. Therefore, patients experiencing these symptoms should discontinue melatonin therapy.
On the basis of these data, we conclude that melatonin has no effect on human skin pigmentation, and that the demonstrated effectiveness of melatonin in mediating malignant melanoma growth is not related to suppression of normal melanogenesis.
Sleeping on your back
According to Dr. Vasyukevic, the supine position is the best position all around for prolonging youthful skin. Not only does it prevent wrinkles due to the lack of wrinkle-inducing friction, it also stops the skin from feeling the pressure of your face "folding" into the pillow.
A safe starting dose of melatonin is between 1 mg and 5 mg for adults. More melatonin can cause side effects, particularly in older adults. For older adults, lower doses, such as 1 mg, are usually considered enough melatonin.
Melatonin typically has a shelf life of one to three years, but this can vary based on variables such as how it's stored and what delivery form is being used. In general, it's best to only take supplements before their expiration date to enjoy the full benefits and potency.
Melatonin could reduce hair graying and improve hair pigmentation mainly because of its protective effects on cells, including stem cells (R,R).
Too much or too little of anything is bad for the body. The same is true of melatonin. While it can create improvements in the sleep cycle – and has been linked to hair regrowth – the wrong amounts can cause hair loss. Hormones, enzymes, and free radicals can destroy hair follicles.
In the majority of cases, topical melatonin was well-tolerated and seemed to reduce hair shedding while also increasing hair density. Among other findings, folks with AGA lost fewer hairs when they underwent a hair pull test and reported a decrease in self-perceived thinning hair.
It looked at multiple clinical studies to draw the conclusion that topical melatonin is a viable hair growth promoter. In one study, researchers found that using melatonin for a study period of 30 or 90 days led to a significant reduction in the severity of androgenetic alopecia.
Hormonal Balance
Melatonin blocks the DHT receptor sites in the hair follicles by modulating the levels of the enzyme, 5-alpha reductase, at the DHT hair follicles receptor sites at which converts testosterone to DHT. Effectively, high levels of testosterone cause hair loss.
If you have less melatonin in your hair follicles, your hair will be lighter. The pigment cells in your hair follicles will eventually begin to die, which means you will have less melatonin available to color your hair. Without melatonin, hair grows white.
Do not use melatonin if you are pregnant or breastfeeding or have an autoimmune disorder, a seizure disorder or depression. Talk to your health care provider if you have diabetes or high blood pressure.
Furthermore melatonin has been shown to have valuable effects on cardiovascular health, blood pressure, and endothelial function and it might benefit patients with heart failure.