Melatonin in Skin Care Products

The inclusion of melatonin in topical skin care products is one of the newest beauty trends right now. However, rather than jumping on the bandwagon by purchasing some—often very expensive—oils, creams, or lotions, you should first do your homework on why this has become so fashionable.

As with any new fad, just because people are buying it doesn’t necessarily mean that it works. The following delves into the science behind the concept and can be used to help decide if melatonin skin care products might be right for you.  

All About Melatonin Skin Care Products

• What is melatonin and how does it work?
• Oral vs. topical melatonin
• The lowdown on melatonin skin care products

What is melatonin and how does it work?

Melatonin is a hormone that the body produces in response to darkness. The levels of it fluctuate throughout a 24-hour (or so) period, helping you sleep during the night and stay awake during the day.

Most melatonin in supplements and skin care products is created synthetically. However, if you’re going to purchase any type of melatonin you should always check that it’s ethically produced and sourced.

Melatonin can be introduced to the body orally (via a supplement) or topically—with skin care products.

The potential benefits of providing the body with additional melatonin include:

• Protecting the skin against UV rays
• Helping to reduce any redness caused by UV rays
• Fight skin damage caused by free radicals (AKA, an anti-aging product)

Oral vs, topical melatonin

Oral melatonin has been around for a long time. People take it to combat jet lag, shift work, sleep disorders, and anxiety. Its use in this way is well-documented and can be very advantageous to some.

However, taking oral melatonin is not an effective way to increase the level within the skin. This is because it’s broken down by the liver before being distributed around the body to the skin cells. This makes the only way to deliver it to the skin is to apply it topically. Such a method is very effective, as it’s readily absorbed by the skin.

But before you rush out to purchase a melatonin skin care product you should be aware that the science behind the reality is still in its infancy. While it’s known that melatonin has antioxidant properties, more studies are needed as to best use practices. 

Yet to be understood examples include: 

• Would applying topical melatonin during the day negatively impact your sleep cycle?
• Does topical melatonin help with both UV-induced redness and skin damage?
• Similar as has been shown with melatonin injections, could topical melatonin cause moles and freckles to darken? 

More research is needed before such questions can be adequately answered.

The lowdown on melatonin skin care products 

At present, we know that melatonin is a powerful antioxidant that is readily absorbed through the skin. It has the potential to protect the skin in a variety of ways. Most dermatologists agree that a combination of melatonin and retinoids in night cream and formulating it with mineral zinc oxide sunscreen for daytime use is likely to be beneficial.

But… And this is a big but. It’s generally accepted that, although the preliminary research seems promising, further research is needed to provide any definitive answers. 

Got Questions About Melatonin Skin Care Products? A Personal Consultation at Bayou City Dermatology will Provide the Answers 

As one of Texas leading clinics, Bayou City Dermatology clinicians are always one step ahead of the latest trends. We’ve researched (and continue to) the potential benefits of melatonin in skin care products and are always delighted when our valued clients ask questions about why certain ingredients work. 

As discussed above, there’s plenty of reasoning behind the topical use of melatonin—something that, for many, can be beneficial. By far the best way to understand if you need any tweaks to your day-to-day health and beauty regime is to book a consultation. As well as answering all your questions, we can also advise on potential treatments to ensure you enjoy your best possible skin. 

Discover more at https://www.bayoucitydermatology.com/services and call today to book an appointment.

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