Wrinkle, wrinkle on my face . . .

As if hot flashes and mood swings weren’t enough, menopause means wrinkles?!

The Journal of Gynecological Endocrinology reports, “a strong correlation between skin collagen loss and estrogen deficiency due to menopause.”

Collagen is the protein that provides structural support for the skin and is responsible for skin elasticity. In the first five years after menopause, women’s skin loses about 30% of its collagen. The skin becomes more fragile and susceptible to trauma.

Around age 50, the pH level of women’s skin also changes, resulting in skin that’s more sensitive. Wound healing also is impaired in older women. But most concerning, after menopause, women’s risk of skin cancer rises.

THE GOOD NEWS: SKIN IS ESTROGEN RESPONSIVE. Several studies support the anti-aging properties of estrogen replacement therapies in postmenopausal women, says Gynecological Endocrinology, the official journal of the International Society of Gynecological Endocrinology.

“Systemic and topical estrogens appear to have positive effects on hormonal aging, increasing skin collagen content, thickness, elasticity, and hydration,” says the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology (AJCD), in Estrogen and Skin, an overview of relevant studies.

The same article also says that women receiving hormone replacement therapy have higher levels of sebum – an oily, waxy substance that coats, moisturizes, and protects your skin.

Estrogen therapies may also improve wound healing and reduce the incidence of wound complications. In fact, “topical estrogen has been found to accelerate and improve wound healing in elderly men and women,” says the AJCD.

Currently, hormone replacement therapy is used primarily for treating hot flashes, vaginal dryness, sleep disturbances and osteoporosis. But a positive effect on aging skin is a serious bonus. And, according to Gynecological Endocrinology, there is potential for targeted estrogen replacement as a therapeutic option for long-term skin management in postmenopausal women.

The bottom line: you can feel better, live better and even LOOK better with the help of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. For more information about the many benefits of hormone replacement, call us.