We can’t avoid the aging process and science is working hard to find ways to help slow it down, but there may be things you can do yourself to ease the process. There also may be things you’re doing that are speeding up the process. Your hormonal balance can negatively affect aging and show signs on your face quickly, whether you’re a man or woman.

Here are some things to know about hormonal changes and the signs of aging.

Progesterone

The first hormone that can impact how your body and skin shows aging is with progesterone. Both men and women produce progesterone, and it helps with boosting your immune system and regulating how well you sleep each night. When you have an imbalance of progesterone, it can lead to high amounts of stress from lack of sleep, foggy brain, and mood swings, all of which can eventually lead to premature signs of aging.

Cortisol

The next hormone you should know about is cortisol, which is a hormone that helps to produce collagen in your skin, which is what causes it to tighten up and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. You want more collagen in your skin, but if you have a lot of stress in your life, it can lead to a decrease in cortisol, which then means you start to have thin and sagging skin. In order to help with the appearance of aging, try to reduce your stress levels so you can hold onto that cortisol.

Estrogen

Estrogen is a hormone experienced by women which can have a much bigger effect on your aging than you might imagine. Your ovaries produce estrogen before and after menopause, which is around when you might notice the signs of aging most succinctly. You want estrogen to help control the signs of aging, but as it declines, it starts to reduce its effectiveness. If you have a stressful life or an unhealthy one, you might notice that estrogen drops before menopause and you show the signs of aging prematurely.

If you are concerned about hormonal imbalances and how they affect aging, contact your doctor first. They can run blood tests to look at your current hormonal levels and determine if they are out of balance and what you can do about it. This will help along with other remedies for improving your youthful appearance and reducing the signs of aging.