Oil glands, also known as sebaceous glands, don't contain hormones in the same way that endocrine glands do. Instead, they possess receptors that respond to hormones circulating in the bloodstream. These hormones significantly influence the gland's activity and sebum production.
Key Hormones Affecting Sebaceous Glands:
-
Androgens: These male sex hormones, such as testosterone, are major players. High androgen levels stimulate sebum production, which is why acne is often linked to hormonal fluctuations (e.g., during puberty). [Source: Sebaceous glands are highly sensitive to circulating androgens and have specific androgen-converting enzymes. (Sebaceous Hyperplasia - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf)]
-
Estrogen: This female sex hormone also impacts sebaceous gland activity. Changes in estrogen levels can influence sebum production. [Source: Your skin is covered in small glands called sebaceous glands -- these secrete an essential oil called sebum which helps keeps your skin healthy. These glands have receptors that respond to your hormones, including oestrogen and testosterone.] [Source: The hormones estrogen and progesterone have a lot to do with this. Their changing levels can affect the eye's oil glands, which can lead to... (How Hormones Can Affect Eyes and Vision - American Academy of ...)]
-
Growth Hormone (GH): Overproduction of GH is associated with oily skin. This suggests that GH receptors exist on sebaceous glands and influence their function. [Source: Most notably the overproduction of growth hormone (GH) is commonly associated with “oily skin”. In accordance with these results it was shown that GH receptors… (Recent advances in the endocrinology of the sebaceous gland - PMC)]
-
Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH): Human sebaceous glands express functional receptors for CRH, highlighting its role in regulating sebaceous gland activity. [Source: However, human skin and in particular the human sebaceous gland has been shown to express functional receptors for NP, such as corticotropin-releasing hormone (… (An update on the role of the sebaceous gland in the pathogenesis of ...)]
How Hormones Affect Oil Gland Function:
Hormonal changes, especially during puberty and with age, significantly impact sebum production. This is because fluctuating hormone levels affect the activity of sebaceous gland receptors. Increased androgen levels, for example, lead to increased sebum production, potentially contributing to acne. Conversely, decreases in androgen levels, such as those that occur with aging, can reduce sebum production. [Source: For example, as people assigned male at birth (AMAB) age, they have lower levels of androgen. That leads to a… (Sebaceous Hyperplasia: Diagnosis, Symptoms & Treatment)]
Sebaceous glands, like many other skin components, have receptors influenced by sex hormones, thus explaining their sensitivity to hormonal fluctuations throughout life. [Source: Sebaceous glands, like many other parts of the skin, have receptors which are influenced by sex hormones. These glands are affected most… (Skin and the cycle: how hormones affect your skin)]
