Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Skin and Effect of Hormones and Menopause

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Skin, Mucosa and Menopause

Abstract

Sex steroid hormones, estrogen, progesterone, and androgen play an important role in the gender-based pathophysiological differences observed in skin structure, function, and pathology. Age-related hormonal disturbances also have an impact on skin thickness, elasticity and moisture, skin aging, sebum production, and cellular immunity of the skin. Postmenopausal women experience drastic reduction in skin thickness, elasticity, and moisture as well as impaired wound healing. Marked menopausal changes are also observed in hair growth and sebum production. Estrogen and/or hormone replacement therapy do improve many of these pathophysiological changes. On the other hand, skin diseases such as melanoma seem to be progressive in the presence of estrogen. Thus, overall, age-related hormonal changes are responsible for many dermatologic alterations.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 99.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 179.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. McEwen BS, Alves SE. Estrogen actions in the central nervous system. Endocr Rev. 1999;20(3):279–307.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Burger HG, Dudley EC, Robertson DM, Dennerstein L. Hormonal changes in the menopause transition. Recent Prog Horm Res. 2002;57:257–75.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Birge SJ. HRT and cognition: what the evidence shows. OBG Manag. 2000;42:40–59.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Kanda N, Watanabe S. Regulatory roles of sex hormones in cutaneous biology and immunology. J Dermatol Sci. 2005;38(1):1–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Pelletier G, Ren L. Localization of sex steroid receptors in human skin. Histol Histopathol. 2004;19(2):629–36.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Zouboulis CC, Degitz K. Androgen action on human skin – from basic research to clinical significance. Exp Dermatol. 2004;13(4):5–10.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Farage MA, Miller KW, Zouboulis CC, Piérard GE, Maibach HI. Gender differences in skin aging and the changing profile of the sex hormones with age. J Steroids Horm Sci. 2012;3:109.doi:10.4172/2157-7536.1000109.

  8. Haczynski J, Tarkowski R, Jarzabek K, Slomczynska M, Wolczynski S, Magoffin DA, et al. Human cultured skin fibroblasts express estrogen receptor alpha and beta. Int J Mol Med. 2002;10(2):149–53.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Zouboulis CC, Chen WC, Thornton MJ, Qin K, Rosenfield R. Sexual hormones in human skin. Horm Metab Res. 2007;39(2):85–95.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Fritsch M, Orfanos CE, Zouboulis CC. Sebocytes are the key regulators of androgen homeostasis in human skin. J Invest Dermatol. 2001;116(5):793–800.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Sawaya ME, Price VH. Different levels of 5alpha-reductase type I and II, aromatase, and androgen receptor in hair follicles of women and men with androgenetic alopecia. J Invest Dermatol. 1997;109(3):296–300.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Quatresooz P, Piérard-Franchimont C, Gaspard U, Piérard GE. Skin climacteric aging and hormone replacement therapy. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2006;5(1):3–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Dao HJ, Kazin RA. Gender differences in skin: a review of the literature. Gend Med. 2007;4(4):308–28.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Brincat M, Versi E, Moniz CF, Magos A, de Trafford J, Studd JW. Skin collagen changes in postmenopausal women receiving different regimens of estrogen therapy. Obstet Gynecol. 1987;70(1):123–7.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Chen L, Dyson M, Rymer J, Bolton PA, Young SR. The use of high-frequency diagnostic ultrasound to investigate the effect of hormone replacement therapy on skin thickness. Skin Res Technol. 2001;7(2):95–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Baulieu EE, Thomas G, Legrain S, Lahlou N, Roger M, Debuire B, et al. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), DHEA sulfate, and aging: contribution of the DHEAge Study to a sociobiomedical issue. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2000;97(8):4279–84.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Jemec GB, Serup J. Scaling, dry skin and gender. A bioengineering study of dry skin. Acta Derm Venereol Suppl (Stockh). 1992;177:26–8.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Jackson SM, Williams ML, Feingold KR, Elias PM. Pathobiology of the stratum corneum. West J Med. 1993;158(3):279–85.

    CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Südel KM, Venzke K, Mielke H, Breitenbach U, Mundt C, Jaspers S, et al. Novel aspects of intrinsic and extrinsic aging of human skin: beneficial effects of soy extract. Photochem Photobiol. 2005;81(3):581–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Schmidt JB, Binder M, Demschik G, Bieglmayer C, Reiner A. Treatment of skin aging with topical estrogens. Int J Dermatol. 1996;35(9):669–74.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Dunn LB, Damesyn M, Moore AA, Reuben DB, Greendale GA. Does estrogen prevent skin aging? Results from the First National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES I). Arch Dermatol. 1997;133(3):339–42.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Grosman N. Study on the hyaluronic acid-protein complex, the molecular size of hyaluronic acid and the exchangeability of chloride in skin of mice before and after oestrogen treatment. Acta Pharmacol Toxicol (Copenh). 1973;33(3):201–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Pochi PE, Strauss JS, Downing DT. Age-related changes in sebaceous gland activity. J Invest Dermatol. 1979;73(1):108–11.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Paquet F, Piérard-Franchimont C, Fumal I, Goffin V, Paye M, Piérard GE. Sensitive skin at menopause; dew point and electrometric properties of the stratum corneum. Maturitas. 1998;28(3):221–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Piérard-Franchimont C, Letawe C, Goffin V, Piérard GE. Skin water-holding capacity and transdermal estrogen therapy for menopause: a pilot study. Maturitas. 1995;22(2):151–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Shah MG, Maibach HI. Estrogen and skin. An overview. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2001;2(3):143–50.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Henry F, Piérard-Franchimont C, Cauwenbergh G, Piérard GE. Age-related changes in facial skin contours and rheology. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1997;45(2):220–2.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Castelo-Branco C, Figueras F, Martínez de Osaba MJ, Vanrell JA. Facial wrinkling in postmenopausal women. Effects of smoking status and hormone replacement therapy. Maturitas. 1998;29(1):75–86.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Piérard-Franchimont C, Piérard GE. Postmenopausal aging of the sebaceous follicle: a comparison between women receiving hormone replacement therapy or not. Dermatology. 2002;204(1):17–22.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Shu YY, Maibach HI. Estrogen and skin: therapeutic options. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2011;12(5):297–311.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Makrantonaki E, Vogel K, Fimmel S, Oeff M, Seltmann H, Zouboulis CC. Interplay of IGF-I and 17beta-estradiol at age-specific levels in human sebocytes and fibroblasts in vitro. Exp Gerontol. 2008;43(10):939–46.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Grove GL. Physiologic changes in older skin. Clin Geriatr Med. 1989;5(1):115–25.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Holt DR, Kirk SJ, Regan MC, Hurson M, Lindblad WJ, Barbul A. Effect of age on wound healing in healthy human beings. Surgery. 1992;112(2):293–7; discussion 297–8.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Gilliver SC, Ashworth JJ, Ashcroft GS. The hormonal regulation of cutaneous wound healing. Clin Dermatol. 2007;25(1):56–62.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Gilliver SC, Ruckshanthi JPD, Atkinson SJ, Ashcroft GS. Androgens influence expression of matrix proteins and proteolytic factors during cutaneous wound healing. Lab Invest. 2007;87(9):871–81.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Ashcroft GS, Greenwell-Wild T, Horan MA, Wahl SM, Ferguson MW. Topical estrogen accelerates cutaneous wound healing in aged humans associated with an altered inflammatory response. Am J Pathol. 1999;155(4):1137–46.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Ashcroft GS, Dodsworth J, van Boxtel E, Tarnuzzer RW, Horan MA, Schultz GS, et al. Estrogen accelerates cutaneous wound healing associated with an increase in TGF-beta1 levels. Nat Med. 1997;3(11):1209–15.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Hardman MJ, Waite A, Zeef L, Burow M, Nakayama T, Ashcroft GS. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor: a central regulator of wound healing. Am J Pathol. 2005;167(6):1561–74.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Farage MA, Miller KW, Berardesca E, Maibach H. Sex hormones, the skin and the immune system: interactions and implication for skin testing. Treat Strateg Dermatol. 2011;1(1):62–70.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Ackerman LS. Sex hormones and the genesis of autoimmunity. Arch Dermatol. 2006;142(3):371–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Straub RH. The complex role of estrogens in inflammation. Endocr Rev. 2007;28(5):521–74.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Lahita RG. The role of sex hormones in systemic lupus erythematosus. Curr Opin Rheumatol. 1999;11(5):352–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Paus R, Cotsarelis G. The biology of hair follicles. N Engl J Med. 1999;341(7):491–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Rebora A. Pathogenesis of androgenetic alopecia. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2004;50(5):777–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Price VH. Androgenetic alopecia in women. J Investig Dermatol Symp Proc. 2003;8(1):24–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Hoffmann R, Niiyama S, Huth A, Kissling S, Happle R. 17alpha-estradiol induces aromatase activity in intact human anagen hair follicles ex vivo. Exp Dermatol. 2002;11(4):376–80.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Dinh QQ, Sinclair R. Female pattern hair loss: current treatment concepts. Clin Interv Aging. 2007;2(2):189–99.

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Rittmaster RS. Hirsutism. Lancet. 1997;349(9046):191–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Farage MA, Miller KW, Elsner P, Maibach HI. Intrinsic and extrinsic factors in skin ageing: a review. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2008;30(2):87–95.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Gupta A, Driscoll MS. Do hormones influence melanoma? Facts and controversies. Clin Dermatol. 2010;28(3):287–92.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Strouse JJ, Fears TR, Tucker MA, Wayne AS. Pediatric melanoma: risk factor and survival analysis of the surveillance, epidemiology and end results database. J Clin Oncol. 2005;23(21):4735–41.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. de Giorgi V, Gori A, Grazzini M, Rossari S, Scarfì F, Corciova S, et al. Estrogens, estrogen receptors and melanoma. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther. 2011;11(5):739–47.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Fisher GJ, Kang S, Varani J, Bata-Csorgo Z, Wan Y, Datta S, et al. Mechanisms of photoaging and chronological skin aging. Arch Dermatol. 2002;138(11):1462–70.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Lavker RM. Cutaneous aging: chronologic versus photoaging. In: Gilchrest B, editor. Photodamage. Cambridge: Blackwell Science; 1995. p. 123–35.

    Google Scholar 

  55. Yaar M, Gilchrest BA. Aging of skin. In: Freedberg IM, Eisen AZ, Wolff K, Austen KF, Goldsmith LA, Katz SI, editors. Fitpatrick’s dermatology in general medicine. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2003. p. 1386–98.

    Google Scholar 

  56. Sauerbronn AV, Fonseca AM, Bagnoli VR, Saldiva PH, Pinotti JA. The effects of systemic hormonal replacement therapy on the skin of postmenopausal women. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2000;68(1):35–41.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinical Innovative Sciences, The Procter and Gamble Company, 6110 Center Hill Avenue, Cincinnati, OH, 45224, USA

    Miranda A. Farage MSc, PhD

  2. Global Product Stewardship, The Procter & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Kenneth W. Miller PhD

  3. Quantitative Sciences and Innovation, Corporate R&D, The Procter & Gamble Co, Mason, OH, USA

    Ghebre E. Tzeghai PhD

  4. Clinical Dermatology, San Gallicano Dermatological Institute, Rome, Italy

    Enzo Berardesca MD

  5. Department of Dermatology, University of California, School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA

    Howard I. Maibach MD

Authors
  1. Miranda A. Farage MSc, PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kenneth W. Miller PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ghebre E. Tzeghai PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Enzo Berardesca MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Howard I. Maibach MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Miranda A. Farage MSc, PhD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Procter & Gamble Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

    Miranda A. Farage

  2. Procter & Gamble Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

    Kenneth W. Miller

  3. School of Nursing, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA

    Nancy Fugate Woods

  4. Department of Dermatology, University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco, California, USA

    Howard I. Maibach

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Farage, M.A., Miller, K.W., Tzeghai, G.E., Berardesca, E., Maibach, H.I. (2015). Skin and Effect of Hormones and Menopause. In: Farage, M., Miller, K., Fugate Woods, N., Maibach, H. (eds) Skin, Mucosa and Menopause. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-44080-3_7

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-44080-3_7

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-662-44079-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-44080-3

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation