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How Female Sex Hormones Support Skin Health
While the skin is often perceived as a superficial covering, without much importance, it serves as a critical barrier against infection, the drying effects of sun and wind, and is a good reflector of overall health.
Skin will absorb most substances that are oil-based. Back in the 1960's, skin creams were available which had significant concentrations of progesterone, the female sex hormone. This was thought to provide a soft, flexible character to the skin, which it did indeed do. However the hormone, being oil-based, IS absorbed into the body and had internal effects which were not always desirable.
Hormones are powerful compounds which affect virtually all the systems and parts of the body. Estrogen and progesterone play important roles in good skin health for women in particular. These two hormones help the normal resiliency and texture of the skin, balancing the effects of androgens such as testosterone, which tend to make the skin thicker and more tough. Women that have a condition called poly-cystic ovary syndrome tend to have high levels of DHEA or testosterone and become more vulnerable to acne.
Some of the signs that the skin may be responding to changes in estrogen, progesterone or testosterone, are dryness and loss of elasticity. The skin begins to sag a bit showing more "respect" for gravity than the underlying muscle and connective tissue! This is partly an inevitable result of the aging process, but SOME can be modified with attention to hormone levels.
Declining estrogen levels mean reduced ability of the tissue just underneath the skin to remain elastic and full. This results in a greater number and depth of facial wrinkles, along with less tautness of the skin. As estrogen levels decrease, the overall durability of the skin also tends to decrease.
Sex hormones, especially estrogen, are very important for women approaching menopause. During this time, as levels of estrogen fall, the skin of the vagina may become thinner and more subject to irritation during intercourse. This can result in a condition called atrophic vaginitis. Establishing optimal levels of estrogen can be a very effective treatment for this condition. Since estrogen and progesterone are powerful hormones, however, their use should not be taken lightly. It is first important to establish your body's need for hormonal support and to monitor those levels in order to avoid negative side effects.
Some forms of hormone replacement therapy (usually estrogens, progesterone and testosterone) have been known to result in skin conditions. Skin patches of any of these hormones can sometimes trigger local dermatitis. One study comparing two different patches showed this irritation to occur about 12% of the time. However, this is usually cleared by changing brands of the "patch" or the form in which the hormone is given.
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References:
- Bolognia JL. Dermatologic and cosmetic concerns of the older woman. Clin Geriatr Med 1993; 9(1): 209-29.
- Brincat M, Moniz CF, Studd JW et al. Sex hormones and skin collagen content in post-menopausal women. Br Med J 1983; 287(6402): 1337-8.
- Ebata T, Itamura R, et al Serum sex hormone levels in adult patients with atopic dermatitis. J Dermatol 1996 Sep; 23(9): 603-5.
- Erianne JA, Winter L Jr. Comparison of the local tolerability and adhesion of a new matrix system (Menorest) for estradiol delivery with an established transdermal membrane system (Estraderm TTS). Maturitas 1997 Mar;26(2):95-101.
- Vaillant L, Callens A. Hormone replacement treatment and skin aging. Therapie [French] 1996; 51(1): 67-70.
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