Stress-Related Skin Disorders

July 2016 in “ Reviews in Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders ”

A. Alexopoulos, George P. Chrousos

alopecia areata corticotropin-releasing hormone CRH hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis HPA axis sympathetic-adrenal-medullary system SAM system cortisol brain-derived neurotrophic factor BDNF hair follicle growth

From the encyclopedia

Alopecia Areata →

autoimmune disorder causing patchy hair loss

Hydrocortisone →

a synthetic cortisol used for anti-inflammatory effects

Studysummary This review discusses the complex relationship between stress and various skin conditions, highlighting the role of the skin in the stress response and the brain-skin communication pathways, but reports no new research findings.

Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer

The document from 2016 reviews the complex interplay between stress and skin disorders, emphasizing the bidirectional communication between the brain and the skin. It explains how stress affects the skin by activating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic-adrenal-medullary (SAM) system, leading to changes in skin blood flow, immune function, and inflammation. Stress is shown to exacerbate conditions like psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, vitiligo, acne vulgaris, and alopecia areata by altering hormone and neurotransmitter levels, such as cortisol and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). A study on mice indicated that chronic stress, simulated by overexpression of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), led to hair loss, which could be reversed by blocking CRH receptors, suggesting a potential pathway for hair follicle growth. The document underscores the need for further research into the local HPA axis and inflammatory mediators in the skin to develop new treatments for skin diseases. However, the number of mice used in the study is not specified, which is crucial for evaluating the study's strength. The document also discusses the role of CRH in various skin functions and disorders, including its impact on epidermal permeability, antimicrobial properties, and involvement in alopecia areata.

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14 / 14 results

research Familial Aggregation of Alopecia Areata

295 citations , May 2016 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology”

This review examines the immunological aspects of alopecia areata, focusing on genetic, neuroimmunological, and immune privilege factors, but does not report new clinical findings.

research Chronic Stress Suppresses the Expression of Cutaneous Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenocortical Axis Elements and Melanogenesis

40 citations , May 2014 in “PLoS ONE”

This study suggests that chronic stress can lead to decreased skin pigmentation in mice by disrupting the skin's HPA axis, potentially making stress a risk factor for depigmentation.

research CRF Receptor Antagonist Astressin-B Reverses and Prevents Alopecia in CRF Over-Expressing Mice

29 citations , February 2011 in “PloS one”

This study found that blocking corticotropin-releasing factor receptors with astressin-B promoted hair regrowth and prevented alopecia in a mouse model of stress-induced hair loss.

research Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone: A Novel, Locally Produced Modulator of Human Epidermal Functions, Regulated by Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone and Thyroid Hormones

105 citations , February 2010 in “Endocrinology”

This study found that normal human epidermis expresses TSH and may be an indirect target of TSH signaling, with expression regulated by endocrine controls of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis.

research Neuroendocrine Perspectives in Alopecia Areata: Does Stress Play a Role?

69 citations , May 2009 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

This research highlights that psychological stress can adversely affect hair growth in mice, implicating potential pathways that may be relevant in understanding stress-induced hair growth inhibition in humans.

research Melatonin in the Skin: Synthesis, Metabolism, and Functions

252 citations , January 2008 in “Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism”

This review discusses the protective and stress-buffering roles of melatonin in skin functions and structures but does not present new clinical findings.

research Probing the Effects of Stress Mediators on the Human Hair Follicle

159 citations , November 2007 in “American Journal of Pathology”

In this study, researchers found that substance P triggered premature catagen development and immune changes in human scalp hair follicles, providing a possible biological link between stress and hair loss conditions like telogen effluvium and alopecia areata.

research Lymphocytes, Neuropeptides, And Genes Involved In Alopecia Areata

286 citations , August 2007 in “Journal of Clinical Investigation”

This review examines the interplay of genetics and neuroimmunology in alopecia areata, highlighting its potential to inform broader autoimmunity research, but reports no new findings.

research Foot Shock Stress Prolongs the Telogen Stage of the Spontaneous Hair Cycle in a Non-Depilated Mouse Model

31 citations , April 2007 in “Experimental Dermatology”

This study found that foot shock stress prolonged the telogen stage and delayed anagen induction in the hair cycle of non-depilated mice, potentially through stress-induced actions of substance P.

research Neuroimmunology of Stress: Skin Takes Center Stage

375 citations , July 2006 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

This review discusses the brain-skin connection, the skin's role in stress response, and highlights unmet challenges in understanding stress-induced skin inflammation but reports no new experimental findings.

research Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone and the Skin

137 citations , January 2006 in “Frontiers in bioscience”

This review discusses the role of corticotropin-releasing hormone in human skin, focusing on its regulation, receptors, and functions, and highlights parallels with the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis; it reports no new research findings.

research Human Hair Follicles Display a Functional Equivalent of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis and Synthesize Cortisol

489 citations , June 2005 in “The FASEB Journal”

This study found that human scalp hair follicles can respond to corticotropin releasing hormone stimulation similarly to the classical HPA axis, including up-regulating cortisol production and activating neuroendocrine feedback loops.

research Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone: An Autocrine Hormone That Promotes Lipogenesis in Human Sebocytes

284 citations , May 2002 in “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences”

In vitro, this study suggests that CRH may act as an autocrine hormone in human sebocytes, influencing lipid synthesis and potentially impacting skin disorders related to alterations in sebaceous lipid formation.

research Cellular And Developmental Aspects Of Androgenetic Alopecia

192 citations , October 1998 in “Experimental Dermatology”

This article examines the terminal to vellus transition in androgenetic alopecia through cellular and developmental mechanisms, discussing challenges and knowledge gaps without presenting new clinical findings.