Role of melatonin in skin physiology and pathology

Melatonin is a hormone with pleiotropic actions found to be synthesized in the skin and found to be a major skin protectant ranging from free radical scavenging and DNA repair, immunomodulation and the promotion of wound healing to oncostatic function. Exogenous melatonin supplementation is essential to old patients to compensate the decrease of endogenous melatonin secretion and relieve insomnia. It may be beneficial also in treatment of resistant wound healing and decrease incidence of cancer in elderly. Serum melatonin levels should be looked for in atopic dermatitis and vitiligo patients. So melatonin–skin connection’ deserves full attention in experimental and clinical dermatology.