How Your Body's Chemicals Change Your Skin Color

Your skin color is not just about genes. It's also about chemicals in your body. These chemicals, called hormones, do more than just regulate moods or growth. They play a big role in how dark or light your skin is. Your skin is smart. It makes its own hormones. This means your skin can change color based on what's happening inside your body. For example, when you spend time in the sun, your skin makes a hormone that tells it to get darker. This is why you tan. But hormones can also cause problems. If something goes wrong with these chemicals, your skin might not make the right kind of pigment. This can lead to issues like patches of light or dark skin.Doctors have found ways to help. They can give people synthetic hormones to fix skin color problems. But not all of these treatments are safe. Some people use unregulated products, which can be risky. Other hormones also affect your skin. For example, the hormones that control your thyroid or blood sugar can change your skin color too. This is why people with certain health conditions might notice changes in their skin. Melatonin, the hormone that helps you sleep, can also lighten your skin. This is just one more example of how your body's chemicals are connected in surprising ways.