Melatonin in Dermatologic Allergic Diseases and Other Skin Conditions: Current Trends and Reports

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences Vol. 24; no. 4; p. 4039
• Main Authors: Bešlić, Iva, Lugović-Mihić, Liborija, Vrtarić, Alen, Bešlić, Ante, Škrinjar, Ivana, Hanžek, Milena, Crnković, Danijel, Artuković, Marinko
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 01.02.2023; MDPI
• Subjects: Aging (natural); Allergic diseases; Alopecia; Alopecia Areata; Alzheimer's disease; androgenic alopecia; Antioxidants; Antioxidants - metabolism; Antitumor activity; Apoptosis; Atopic dermatitis; Brain research; Breast cancer; Care and treatment; Cell growth; Cerebrospinal fluid; Circadian rhythm; Damage prevention; Dermatitis; Dermatitis, Atopic - pathology; Diabetic neuropathy; Dietary supplements; DNA damage; DNA repair; Eczema; Endocrine system; Enzymes; Free radicals; Humans; Immunomodulation; Itching; Kinases; melasma; Melatonin; Melatonin - metabolism; Pigmentation; Pineal gland; Review; Roles; rosacea; Scalp; Skin; Skin - metabolism; Skin diseases; Sleep; Sleep disorders; Thermoregulation; Tryptophan; Urine; Urticaria; Croatia; androgenic alopecia; sleep disorders; rosacea; urticaria; photoprotection; allergy; atopic dermatitis; melasma; skin aging; allergic rhinitis; melatonin
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms24044039

Melatonin is the main hormone that regulates the sleep cycle, and it is mostly produced by the pineal gland from the amino acid tryptophan. It has cytoprotective, immunomodulatory, and anti-apoptotic effects. Melatonin is also one of the most powerful natural antioxidants, directly acting on free radicals and the intracellular antioxidant enzyme system. Furthermore, it participates in antitumor activity, hypopigmentation processes in hyperpigmentary disorders, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulating activity in inflammatory dermatoses, maintaining the integrity of the epidermal barrier and thermoregulation of the body. Due predominantly to its positive influence on sleep, melatonin can be used in the treatment of sleep disturbances for those with chronic allergic diseases accompanied by intensive itching (such as atopic dermatitis and chronic spontaneous urticaria). According to the literature data, there are also many proven uses for melatonin in photoprotection and skin aging (due to melatonin's antioxidant effects and role in preventing damage due to DNA repair mechanisms), hyperpigmentary disorders (e.g., melasma) and scalp diseases (such as androgenic alopecia and telogen effluvium).