The One Thing To Pay Attention To In Your 30s, According To This Derm & Hormone Expert 

Change is the one constant in life. I don't think I need to tell you this, ancient Greek philosophers have done it plenty. But here's what I can tell you: This change applies to our skin, hair, and bodies naturally with time and thanks to a variety of factors. There are the obvious ones: sun exposure, environmental aggressors, lifestyle factors like diet—but don't forget hormones. 

Hormones have a huge impact on our skin, ranging from pubescent oil-prone skin and breakouts around a monthly cycle to cortisol (the stress hormone) breaking down collagen. The tricky thing about hormones is that they are influenced by almost everything: diet, sleep, mood, your environment, as well as natural fluctuations that come with maturity and age. 

Progesterone is a sex hormone, alongside estrogen and androgens, like testosterone. All of these hormones have an effect on your skin and hair—both good and bad. "The effect of progesterone on the skin is less well defined [than estrogen] but contributes to skin elasticity, pigmentation, as well as increased circulation and sebaceous gland activity," Barr told us previously. 

With progesterone's decline, you'll likely start to experience drier skin (thanks to decreased oil production), increased dark spots, and fine lines. But it's not just that—you and your skin may start to feel more stressed. 

"Progesterone is also known as the great calmer, right? It interplays with our neurotransmitter GABA1, which helps to calm and relax the body," says Barr. "So women in our mid to late 30s, this may be the reason you're feeling more anxious and stressed. So you're not really changing much—but all of a sudden you're more anxious, you're not sleeping as well—it may be linked to some of the changes that you're seeing with your progesterone."

And as we know, stress, lack of sleep, and anxiety dramatically influence our skin too: It can lead to premature aging, more sensitive skin, a compromised skin barrier, dullness, the list goes on. 

Hormones affect our skin and bodies throughout our lives. And in our 30s, in particular, progesterone will start to decline. When this happens, we may see signs of premature aging—as well as more stress, both in the skin and body.