Skin as an endocrine organ: A narrative review
Debatri Datta, Bhushan Madke, Anupam Das
Abstract
Skin being the largest organ of the body, is equipped with numerous functional properties. Over the past few years, intricate research into the biology of skin has led to a gamut of discoveries. Skin is now regarded as one of the most vital endocrine organs. The skin contains equivalents of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis, hypothalamo-pituitary-thyroid axis and the appendages produce multiple hormones such as Vitamin D, sex steroids, retinoids and opioids. In this article, we will explore the role of skin as a target and source of some of the hormones of the human body, and briefly touch on the clinical applications.
Topics & Concepts
MedicineNarrative reviewEndocrine systemHormoneHuman skinPhysiologyReview articleDermatologyHuman studiesOrgan systemMEDLINEClinical PracticeBioinformaticsAdvancements in Transdermal Drug DeliverySkin Protection and AgingBiological Research and Disease Studies