Estrogens and Aging Skin

The document from April 2013 examines the effects of estrogen deficiency on skin aging, particularly after menopause, and explores potential treatments. Estrogen is crucial for maintaining skin health, affecting cell types and processes like angiogenesis and wound healing. Its deficiency leads to symptoms like skin thinning, decreased collagen, and increased wrinkling. Estrogen replacement, SERMs, and phytoestrogens are discussed as therapies to counteract skin aging. The paper also reviews estrogen's mechanisms of action and its positive effects on wound healing, collagen content, and skin thickness. Additionally, estrogens may prolong the anagen phase of hair growth, influence skin pigmentation, and offer some protection against non-melanoma skin cancers. They also have antioxidant properties that protect against oxidative stress, a key factor in skin aging. The document concludes that while estrogen therapy can mitigate aging effects, it carries risks of breast and uterine cancer, highlighting the need for a better understanding of estrogen action to harness its benefits while minimizing risks.