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

Stress is a ubiquitous, pervasive and increasing part of modern life. The impact of chronic stress is far-reaching, and understanding the physiological manifestations of psychological stress is crucial for the development of effective interventions, improving health outcomes, and enhancing overall well-being.

Cortisol secretion during stress is a vital area of research in psychoneuroendocrinology. While acute cortisol reactivity is a critical adaptive response, long-term secretion changes, as is the case in chronic stress, can increase risk of adverse health outcomes. To investigate long-term changes in cortisol activity, hair cortisol concentration (HCC) analysis is gaining interest as a non-invasive sample material that has been shown to reflect culminative cortisol concentrations over a period of several months. Initial meta-analyses have confirmed HCC as a reliable biomarker of stress, analogous in measurement sensitivity to blood, saliva, and urine cortisol assays, and with the advantage of offering a retrospective, long-term timeline of an individual’s stress history .

Psychological stress is widely associated with the onset, exacerbation, and reoccurrence of many skin conditions and hair health problems. However, central questions remain regarding the long-term manifestations of different psycho-somatic stressors in neuroendocrine-immune pathways. Further, it is not known what influence chronic cortisol dysregulation has on hair and skin health, appearance, and functioning, and whether this relationship is mediated by psychological wellbeing. Preliminary evidence suggests a bi-directional interaction between cortisol and sleep disorders, anxiety, PTSD and depressive symptoms, but the link to wellbeing is yet to be elucidated.

This project aims to pioneer innovative research quantifying the interplay of cortisol regulation, psychosocial stress, and hair and skin health. It will explore the relationships between cortisol and other measurable wellbeing biomarkers, oxidative stress markers and markers of skin function, such as sebum and hydration.

Objectives

The primary objectives are:

1.       To characterise the role of cortisol regulation in the bi-directional relationship between skin/hair function and stress/wellbeing.

2.       To investigate the correlation between biomarkers in the hair & skin, and its appearance / function.

3.       To explore the modulating influence of external factors (e.g., lifestyle, demographics, and environmental conditions) on hair & skin biomarkers.

The primary methodologies will be:

1.       Neurobiological measures of stress biomarkers from skin and hair e.g., Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry for HCC

2.       Biological measures on skin and hair appearance and function, e.g. transepidermal water loss probe & sebumeter

3.       Psychological measures: self-report perceived skin/hair appearance & function, stress, mood, and wellbeing using questionnaires, ecological momentary assessments, and longitudinal diary recordings.

The Department of Psychological Sciences at the University of Liverpool is a research institute encompassing more than 60 academics and +30 PhD students. The student will join a research group of 5 PhD students utilising similar approaches or neuroimaging methods and data analysis with similar research projects.

Candidate Essential Qualities: Good (First/Upper Second Class) degree in any relevant subject area (e.g. Psychology, Neuroscience, Computer Science, Biomedical Sciences etc.)

Desirable Qualities: Masters degree in a relevant discipline. Experience of programming in R statistics, Matlab, Python or similar.

This project will be based in the Psychology department at the University of Liverpool. To apply for this position, please email Dr Carl Roberts (carl.roberts@liverpool.ac.uk) attaching a covering letter, CV and details of 2 referees or via the ‘email institution’ link.

Supervisors:

Carl Roberts -Carl.Roberts@liverpool.ac.uk

Nick Fallon – nickfal@liverpool.ac.uk;           

Alice Newton-Fenner alice.newtonfenner@unilever.com