Hair cortisol triggers and moderators and its impact on hair and skin structure and function

Hair cortisol levels are being measured to understand how stress gets under the skin—literally. This project investigates whether chronic stress, tracked through cortisol in hair, alters the structure and function of both hair and skin. While cortisol is known as a stress hormone, its long-term effects on the physical properties of these tissues remain poorly understood. The research will also identify what triggers cortisol release and what factors (such as age, sex, or lifestyle) moderate its impact. If successful, this work could change how we assess stress-related damage to skin and hair in real-world settings—for example, in dermatology clinics or the cosmetics industry. It may lead to better diagnostic tools for stress-related hair thinning or skin fragility, or inform product formulations that protect against cortisol-driven changes. This is primarily fundamental science. It asks a basic biological question: how does a systemic stress signal translate into local tissue changes? Past discoveries in this area—linking hormones to collagen breakdown or hair follicle cycling—have already influenced treatments for hair loss and wound healing. A clearer picture of cortisol’s role could open similar practical routes.