What you need to know about hormones?
To summarize, hormones are special components that affect emotions, the functioning of all organs and systems, and the functioning of cells.
They are synthesized by the pancreas, hypothalamus and other organs.
Insulin is the most active of all, and is responsible for lowering blood glucose levels. If the hormone is suitable for a particular cell, the correct interaction occurs.
Are there cosmetics with hormones?
Cosmetics containing hormones are already medical drugs. The right cream or serum cannot contain animal or human hormones.
If they sell you a cosmetic product with hormones, then this is already a medicine, but it must also be tested, receive a quality certificate and be sold according to a specialist prescription.
Estrogen cream for the intimate area: popular drugs and selection rules
Among the abundance of means to eliminate the causes of hormonal deficiency, certain drugs have gained particular popularity. Among the most popular vaginal creams containing the hormone estrogen, the following names are most often called:
- Estriol is an estrogen cream with excellent moisturizing effect and the effect of enhancing local immunity.
- Evalgin is an estrogen-based product, the best activator of hormone secretion. Shows excellent results in restoring the healthy functioning of the mucous membrane, helping to completely overcome discomfort in the intimate area.
- Dermistril - perfectly increases the tone of the vaginal walls, acts as a provocateur for the natural production of the required volume of mucus. In addition, a high healing effect of injured vaginal walls after intercourse was noted.
- Ortho-Ginest - serves to strengthen the tissues of the female organ, increases blood flow and also stimulates the secretion of natural vaginal secretions.
- Divigel relieves itching sensations, relieves burning, acts as an activator and regulator of the independent production of mucous secretion.
- Ovestin also relieves itching, exhibits an excellent moisturizing effect, and brings the vaginal microflora to a healthy state. Estriol in the composition helps well with urinary incontinence.
The doctor determines the dose of estrogen therapy and the regularity of use for each woman individually. A prerequisite is a thorough medical examination, including a detailed blood test for hormones.
Hormonal cosmetics: what does it include?
One of the main hormones in the female body is estrogen, which is responsible for the production of collagen and hyaluronic acid. The less of this substance in the body, the worse and older the skin looks, and the faster wrinkles appear.
It is very difficult to replenish the deficiency, because in many countries cosmetics with human or animal hormones are banned.
The good news is that there is a replacement - phytoestrogen, a plant component of many drugs. The structure and effects of the substance are similar to estrogen, but it is not a hormone. Therefore, protein or wild yam extract is added to some cosmetic products.
Side effects
Hormonal ointments, which quickly eliminate inflammatory processes and cope with many skin diseases, can cause a lot of harm to the body. Side effects are especially pronounced when using hormones without a doctor’s prescription and in large doses. Possible consequences include:
- the appearance of spider veins;
- subcutaneous hemorrhages;
- reduction or increase in hair growth in the area treated with ointment;
- slow healing of cuts and wounds;
- the appearance of acne;
- skin atrophy and stretch marks;
- hyperpigmentation of the skin;
- hypertrichosis;
- loss of skin elasticity;
- development of glaucoma or cataracts with prolonged use of hormonal ointment on the eyelid area;
- the appearance of a fungal or bacterial infection at the treatment site, which is associated with a weakening of the body’s defense response when using hormones.
Quite often, along with hormonal drugs, doctors prescribe antifungal drugs and antibiotics.
With prolonged use of hormones, deterioration of the inflamed area or “withdrawal syndrome” may occur. In this case, it is necessary to take a break from treatment and consult a dermatologist. The specialist will prescribe supportive medications and vitamins.
How do phytoestrogens work?
Why do manufacturers add phytoestrogen to creams? These substances perform important functions:
- the production of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid increases;
- cell function is restored;
- microcirculation and metabolism accelerates;
- elasticity and firmness increases;
- the relief is smoothed and wrinkles are eliminated;
- the risk of pigment spots is reduced.
You can use such cosmetics according to indications from the age of 25, for example, this is an excellent option for girls who sunbathe a lot.
After 30 years, serums with phytoestrogens are recommended as basic care, but after 60 years, there will be no results from use.
Causes of panic
To clarify this issue, let's look at two points: where does such a horror story come from, and what will happen if an insidious manufacturer actually adds hormones to cosmetics.
In response to concerns about the presence of hormones in cosmetics, I usually ask: Why did such assumptions arise?
Thus, I identified the top main reasons.
Treatment of skin diseases
Many women have encountered a situation where treatment of certain skin diseases, such as allergic or contact dermatitis, initially did not produce results.
But after the dermatologist prescribed a hormone-containing drug, such as hydrocortisone ointment, the skin condition improved literally before our eyes.
As a result, women become convinced that hormone-containing products are very effective when applied to the skin.
Moreover, there is even something like a “Pharmacy in the service of beauty” list wandering around the Internet, where it is recommended to use hydrocortisone ointment as an effective anti-aging treatment for wrinkles with the Botox effect.
Skin is a hormone-dependent organ
Many people know that the skin is a hormone-dependent organ. That is why in adolescence, during hormonal changes in the body, many young people are bothered by skin rashes, or more simply put, acne.
And in adulthood, during menopause, when the level of female sex hormones in the body decreases, this also affects the condition of the skin. Dryness appears, decreased tone, the skin becomes thinner and more sensitive.
Therefore, many people have the idea that if they apply hormone-containing preparations to such skin, they can compensate for the lack of their own hormones, smooth out existing problems and obtain a rejuvenating effect.
Phytohormones
Women periodically come across information that anti-aging products for aged skin 40+ or 50+ often contain phytoestrogens. Or they are also called phytohormones.
Therefore, some people think that if we are talking about effective anti-aging agents, then most likely they contain hormones.
But in the minds of many people, hormones are not only effective, but also very dangerous substances. And those who use such anti-aging creams will inevitably face severe retribution. Therefore, it is better to avoid such means.
Now let's figure out if this is really so.
What do you need to know about products with placenta?
Sometimes hormones are considered to be the active components of cellular cosmetics, for example, fetal tissues or extracts.
We are talking about a substance that is obtained by artificially growing embryonic structures in the laboratory, it includes:
- antioxidants;
- elements of growth;
- proteins;
- young cells responsible for tissue regeneration.
Therefore, it is wrong to compare hormonal drugs and placental drugs, because these are completely different concepts.
The dangers of using hormonal cosmetics
There are hormonal cosmetics on sale, the manufacturing companies of which try not to particularly demonstrate this.
Society's opinion regarding such means is ambiguous. After all, they are addictive and affect your appearance. Others believe that such cosmetics only bring positive results.
As mentioned above, hormones are active substances of the endocrine system that are responsible for vital processes in the body. They penetrate into the bloodstream, are distributed among “suitable” systems and react only with their regulators.
Hormones are responsible for the condition of the skin, so some companies add them to creams or serums. The target audience in this case is women over 30 years of age who are already developing wrinkles.
Users are especially attracted by the fact that they can get almost instant results. But many countries in Europe and the CIS prohibit the sale of such products, as they are addictive. As a result, after stopping use, the skin condition worsens even more.
You need to be careful with products that contain hormone-like plant extracts, because they cause many problems. For example:
- rosacea;
- skin anemia;
- weight gain;
- metabolic disorder;
- oncology;
- disruption of the reproductive system.
It is important to understand that some drugs with hormones can be used as prescribed by a doctor, for example, for dermatological purposes.
Useful video
The dangers of using hormonal face creams in the next video.
When improving your appearance, do not forget that you should not use products of dubious origin . Hormonal cosmetics are best used to treat the skin, and not as a prophylactic agent.
When improving your appearance, you should not use products of dubious origin. Hormonal cosmetics are best used to treat the skin, and not as a prophylactic agent.
Hormonal cosmetics are often found in pharmacies and on shelves, about which the public has not yet formed a clear opinion.
There are numerous debates about the benefits and harms of hormonal cosmetic preparations. Some consider them a panacea for old age, others fear addiction and other negative consequences. Where is the “golden mean” between these two opinions?
Hydrocortisone ointment for wrinkles
Let's start with the fact that drugs containing corticosteroids, for example the same hydrocortisone ointment, are really effective in treating certain inflammatory skin diseases. But they have an anti-inflammatory, anti-edematous, antipruritic effect, but not a rejuvenating one.
Therefore, the online recipe for using hydrocortisone ointment as an anti-aging agent for wrinkles with the Botox effect does not make sense.
If this ointment gives the effect of smoothing wrinkles, it will not be due to the corticosteroid hormone, but due to the Vaseline, which is contained in the product.
Vaseline will create a moisture-retaining film on the surface of the skin, which prevents moisture evaporation and creates a wrinkle smoothing effect. Of course it's temporary.
And of course, hydrocortisone ointment will not have any muscle relaxant effect. Once you stop using the ointment, the carriage will turn into a pumpkin - all the wrinkles will return to their places.
Fans of this extreme recipe are better off buying regular Vaseline. Firstly, it will cost less, and secondly, there will be fewer side effects.
I already foresee a stream of negative comments from members of the “Pharmacy for the Service of Beauty” club, as usually happens under such articles and videos on YouTube, but I’ll say it anyway.
Hopes for the miracle of eliminating wrinkles with the help of hydrocortisone ointment come from a lack of knowledge on this issue. The less a person knows, the easier it is to believe in miracles.
