The skin secretes a variety of hormones, including corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH). CRH is produced in response to stress in keratinocytes, melanocytes, endothelial cells, and dermal nerves. This hormone is believed to play a role in the skin's response to stress, similar to the way the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis functions in the body.
The skin also produces other hormones, such as melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH), which is involved in pigmentation, and vitamin D, which is essential for bone health. Additionally, the skin is capable of producing its own steroid hormones, and it is tightly integrated with the production of steroid hormones throughout the body.
