Oestrogens and the skin.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review summarizing literature without systematic search methodology
PubMed 17163946 · doi:10.1111/j.1473-2130.2004.00056.x
What was done
This paper is a narrative review synthesizing evidence on the cutaneous effects of estrogen deficiency during menopause and the physiological impact of hormone replacement therapy on post-menopausal skin.
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical values. It states that estrogen therapy in post-menopausal women consistently increases collagen content, dermal thickness, and elasticity, with promising evidence for improved skin hydration and wound healing. However, findings regarding elastin content, wrinkling, sebaceous secretions, and blood flow remain discordant.
Why it matters
It outlines the structural responsiveness of post-menopausal skin to estrogen and highlights clinical areas—such as wound healing and matrix maintenance—where hormonal interventions may mitigate aging.
Limits
The abstract provides no sample sizes, specific study designs, or quantitative metrics. As a narrative review, it lacks a systematic search protocol and risk-of-bias evaluation, limiting causal inference.
Cited by
- context Men lose approximately 1% of their skin collagen thickness per year starting in their mid-20s.