Relationship of cutaneous moisture, sebum and pH changes of healthy skin with menstrual cycle

Abstract

Background and Design: Studies to investigate the change of skin moisture, sebum and pH properties in various physiological processes such as age, gender, pregnancy and menopause are limited. Menstrual cyle is a physiological process that causes changes in various organs and systems in the female body. In this study, possible changes in the moisture, sebum and PH values of the skin with menstrual cycle will be investigated. Thus, it is aimed to determine whether the hormonal changes that drive the menstrual cycle have observable effects on the skin. Materials and Methods: In our study, the relationship of skin moisture, sebum and pH values of healthy skin with the menstrual cycle was investigated with the MPA-5 device. Fifty-one volunteer women aged 21-45, working at the faculty of medicine, and having regular periods were included the study. The measurement was done with MPA-5 device. In this study, the skin PH, humidity and sebum values of the participants were measured 6 times in total during two consecutive menstrual cycles, at the beginning of each cycle (early follicular phase), middle (late follicular phase) and end (midluteal phase). Humidity and PH were measured from 5 different points on the face (glabella, bilateral zygomatic protrusions on both cheeks, mentum on the chin and nose) and sebum was measured from the glabella as a single measurement. Results: When the data obtained from the measurements were evaluated, there were no statistically significant differences in the moisture, sebum and PH values of the skin in accordance with the early follicular phase, late follicular phase and midluteal phase of the menstrual cycle. In addition, age, body mass index and smoking were compared with average sebum, moisture and pH values, and no statistically significant relationship was found. Conclusion: The fact that hormonal changes in the menstrual cycle do not cause any changes in the moisture, sebum and pH values of the skin shows that it will not change the outcome of the period of menstrual cycle in the examination of patients, offering daily care products to patients and determining dermatopathological conditions. Clearer results can be obtained by conducting more detailed and long-term studies.