Does Hormonal Skin Aging Exist? A Study of the Influence of Different Hormone Therapy Regimens on the Skin of Postmenopausal Women Using Non-Invasive Measurement Techniques

Abstract
Background and Design: The skin properties of 98 postmenopausal women with hormone replacement therapy (oestradiol gel or patches) or without hormone replacement therapy were studied using non-invasive techniques: skin thickness with skin echography, skin hydration with a dryness score and measurement of capacitance, skin surface lipids with a Sebumeter® and microtopography with image analysis of cutaneous replicas. Results: In this open study we demonstrated an increase in skin thickness and sebum in the treated group in comparison to the untreated group (7–15% according to area for skin thickness, 35% for sebum). Hydration and microtopography were not different in the two groups. Conclusions: Postmenopausal women who were receiving hormonal substitution have a greater thickness and casual level than untreated women. We therefore suggest that hormonal aging exists and that cutaneous atrophy can be prevented with hormone replacement therapy.

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