The Skin’s Circadian Rhythm: Melanin & More
The skin is the body’s largest organ, covering our entire outer surface and acting as the first line of defense against external stressors. It consists of three layers: the outer epidermis, the middle dermis, and the inner hypodermis.
Each layer contributes to the skin’s many functions. The skin provides protection, contains nerve endings for sensation, and allows flexibility for movement. It also plays roles in the endocrine system (for example, producing vitamin D), supports immune defenses, and helps maintain homeostasis, the body’s internal balance.
Under normal conditions, our body’s master clock, the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), keeps the rest of the body on schedule. The SCN synchronizes the “clocks” in peripheral organs, including the skin, to follow a 24-hour light-dark cycle.
However, when this circadian rhythm is disrupted by outside factors like shift work or poorly timed light exposure, or by internal factors such as clock gene mutations or the aging process, the skin’s normal routines can fall out of sync. As a result, the skin becomes more prone to damage and various problems. For example, a misaligned skin clock can lead to easier sunburns, accelerated skin aging, and slower wound healing. It has also been linked to a higher risk of skin disorders: people may experience psoriasis flare-ups, abnormal skin pigmentation, more frequent infections, and even an increased risk of certain skin cancers.¹
Daytime: Defense Mode
During the day, our skin is in protection mode. Specialized cells called melanocytes produce melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color, as a natural shield against ultraviolet (UV) radiation.² Remarkably, this melanin production isn’t static, it’s influenced by the circadian clock. Research shows that core clock genes can directly affect melanocyte activity; when certain clock genes are disrupted, melanin levels increase, indicating the clock normally helps regulate pigment production.³ In essence, our skin anticipates daytime UV exposure and uses melanin for extra protection when we need it most.
Melanin is only one part of the skin’s daytime defense arsenal. The skin’s outer most barrier (the stratum corneum) is actually strongest during the morning and day, helping lock in moisture and keep irritants out. As evening approaches, this barrier becomes more permeable³, which is one reason skin can feel drier or more sensitive at night. Additionally, our skin ramps up its antioxidant defenses during daylight hours. Built-in antioxidant enzymes and molecules mobilize to neutralize free radicals from UV rays and pollution, limiting cellular damage.⁴ This means that by day, your skin is actively fortifying itself, producing protective pigment, sealing its barrier, and disarming environmental threats.
Nighttime: Repair and Recovery
Come nightfall, the skin shifts into repair mode. With the day’s UV exposure behind us, skin cells now focus on fixing any DNA damage and renewing themselves. In fact, studies show that DNA repair in skin cells peaks at night³. Cell division and turnover also accelerate in the late evening, with new skin cells proliferating most around midnight.³ This nighttime surge in repair activities helps undo some of the day’s damage, from mending DNA mutations to shedding and replacing injured cells. The increased permeability of the skin’s barrier after dark isn’t all bad, it may actually facilitate the delivery of nutrients and removal of wastes during this regenerative phase. The body’s circadian signals (including hormones like nocturnal melatonin) further coordinate these processes, enhancing wound healing and antioxidant activity as we sleep.³ In short, the skin uses the night to heal and revitalize itself at the cellular level.
Respecting Your Skin’s Natural Rhythm
Understanding the skin’s circadian rhythm isn’t just fascinating science; it has practical health implications. Aligning our daily habits with these biological cycles can help optimize skin health. If you care about protecting your skin from the sun, don’t avoid it; time it appropriately to ensure your body knows what to expect and when to expect it.
Dr. Jonathan Moustakis
Co-founder and CTO, Lume Health
References:
Ha H, Shin H, Min S, et al. Therapeutic potential of ginsenosides in circadian rhythm-based skin disorders. J Ginseng Res. 2025;49(4):366-375. doi:10.1016/j.jgr.2025.04.004
Chen Y-Y, Liu L-P, Zhou H, Zheng Y-W, Li Y-M. Recognition of Melanocytes in Immuno-Neuroendocrinology and Circadian Rhythms: Beyond the Conventional Melanin Synthesis. Cells. 2022; 11(13):2082. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells11132082
Lyons AB, Moy L, Moy R, Tung R. Circadian Rhythm and the Skin: A Review of the Literature. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2019;12(9):42-45.
Su Z, Hu Q, Li X, Wang Z, Xie Y. The Influence of Circadian Rhythms on DNA Damage Repair in Skin Photoaging. Int J Mol Sci. 2024;25(20):10926. Published 2024 Oct 11. doi:10.3390/ijms252010926
