Skin and effect of hormones 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.