HGH the Fountain of Youth?

HGH Human Growth Hormone...is it the New Fountain of Youth?

Hormone injections are one of the latest cosmetic surgery crazes in America. Most people know that hormones can affect our moods and skin, however it turns out that they may also have a part to play in wrinkles, beautiful hair, cellulite and fat deposits therefore it is no wonder that the beauty industry has an interest in them.

Hormones are chemical messengers that are secreted by various glands in the body. They use the blood to travel around and target specific cells to trigger particular behaviours – some are short term effects such as sweating, others are longer term such as hair growth. The body has over 100 different hormones in it – and a slight imbalance of any of these hormones can cause problems such as spots, excess hair growth or even wrinkles.

As we age, hormone levels tend to drop naturally and this is a factor in all the signs of aging including thinner skin, hair loss, loss of muscle tone and wrinkles. The lifestyle of many of us today can deplete these hormones early leading to earlier signs of aging and this is the reason why some beauty doctors are now doling out hormone supplements to their patients to banish wrinkles and help their patients lose stubborn excess weight.

Demi Moore, Madonna, Jennifer Aniston and Pamela Anderson are all rumoured to be fans of Human Growth Hormone (HGH). HGH is a controversial hormone although it is something that does occur naturally in the human body. Devotees inject themselves with HGH as they believe that by boosting the levels of HGH in the body, they can slow their biological clock down and therefore stay looking younger for longer.

However, recent research shows that it isn’t necessary to inject yourself with hormones in order to be a part of this new trend – instead, using a cream may also prove to be as effective. The skin contains a large number of hormone receptors therefore it is believed that using a cream may have the same effects as injecting the hormones.

But are there any downsides to what seems like an almost miraculous way to stay looking young? There are definitely concerns over HGH – although short-term results look promising, longer term there are concerns over the patients health. In particular, taking HGH may cause hypertension, fluid retention and diabetes. There are also preliminary results showing it may increase your risk of cancer.

There are also some concerns that people look to hormone treatments as a cure-all and some untrained or unscrupulous practitioners are trying to cash in on this lucrative market, particularly in the ‘natural’ hormone market – some hormone treatments have little or no scientific grounding and the only effect they have is that of a placebo.

Article Source: By CSB on Monday, November 12, 2007