Association Between Serum Melatonin and Skin Aging in an Urban Population of Mongolia

In the study conducted in Ulaanbaatar city, Mongolia, involving 946 participants aged 20-69, researchers found a significant association between lower serum melatonin levels and higher skin aging grades. As age increased, serum melatonin levels decreased, suggesting that reduced melatonin may contribute to earlier skin aging. The study used a moisture checker, sebum tape, and a digital camera to assess skin aging, and blood samples were collected to measure melatonin levels using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analyzer. The odds ratios for lower melatonin levels were 1.9 for skin aging grade 4, 2.4 for grade 4, 3.8 for grade 5, and higher for grade 6, indicating a stronger association with more advanced skin aging. Additionally, there were weak correlations between melatonin levels and potential covariates such as skin pigmentation and hydration, with a weak positive correlation between skin pigmentation and age, a weak negative correlation between skin pigmentation and sleep status, and a weak negative correlation between skin hydration and age.