Melanin is the most promising candidate for delaying skin aging and for the treatment of several dermatoses associated with oxidative damage is melatonin. Melatonin is the main secretory hormonal product of the pineal gland and a regulator of chronobiological activities. Melatonin is also synthesized in numerous extrapineal sites including skin and hair follicles where it can act on functional melatonin type 1 and 2 receptors (MT1 and MT2). It was found that skin produces a much higher amount of melatonin for its own use. Skin melatonin exerts multifaceted functions: direct antioxidant, most potent free radical scavengers, even stronger than vitamins C and E, protector of dermal fibroblasts, endogenous regulator. Autor Georgeta Bocheva, publication pubmed.
