Estrogens and the Skin

The document from 2005 examines the effects of estrogen loss due to menopause on skin health and the potential benefits of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for postmenopausal women's skin. It finds that estrogen loss leads to decreased collagen, dermal thickness, elasticity, and water content, as well as impaired wound healing. Estrogen treatment has been shown to improve these skin properties, with some studies indicating increased dermal thickness by 30% after one year of HRT and accelerated wound healing in small studies. However, results are inconsistent regarding elastin content, sebaceous secretions, and the quantification of wrinkles. The document also notes that while estrogen promotes hair growth during pregnancy, its postpartum decrease can lead to significant hair loss, and some forms of hair loss are resistant to hormonal treatment. The paper emphasizes the need for more research to understand estrogen's molecular effects on skin and larger clinical trials to inform HRT recommendations for skin care in postmenopausal women. It also acknowledges that the Women's Health Initiative did not address skin effects, suggesting that early postmenopausal HRT may offer different skin health benefits compared to the risks reported in the study.