Cortisol

What It Is

The primary glucocorticoid stress hormone produced by the adrenal cortex, essential for acute stress response, immune regulation, and metabolic control. Chronic elevation — from psychological stress, poor sleep, overtraining, or dysregulated HPA axis — has profound negative effects on skin: it upregulates sebum production (worsening acne), degrades collagen via MMP activation, impairs wound healing and barrier repair, drives inflammatory flares in rosacea and eczema, and directly accelerates cellular aging via telomere shortening and epigenetic effects.

Key Context

Cortisol management for skin health: consistent 7–9 hour sleep (the most impactful lever), regular moderate exercise (reduces baseline cortisol while acute elevation from high-intensity training is transient), mindfulness meditation (clinically shown to reduce cortisol and improve inflammatory skin conditions), and adaptogenic herbs (ashwagandha, rhodiola — growing evidence for cortisol modulation).

Learn More

• Science Deep Dives
• Anti-Aging Routine