Effects of aging, menopause, and hormone replacement therapy on forearm skin elasticity in women

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the decline per year in skin elasticity in postmenopausal women and how much hormone replacement therapy (HRT) increased elasticity over 12 months. DESIGN: Observational study of convenience sample. SETTING: The Cardiovascular Hospital of Central Japan, a cardiovascular medical center. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred seventy-six postmenopausal subjects, mean age ± standard deviation = 61.3 ± 9.1. MEASUREMENTS: In Study 1, skin elasticity was measured in the right forearm using a suction device. Comparisons also were made with 45 premenopausal subjects (aged 34.5 ± 9.9). Skin elasticity in the right forearm was measured using the same device at baseline and 12 months after initiation of HRT. INTERVENTIONS: In Study 2, 12 postmenopausal subjects (mean age = 57.1 ± 7.4, range 49-71) received conjugated equine estrogen (0.625 mg/d) in combination with medroxyprogesterone acetate (2.5 mg/d) for 12 months. RESULTS: In Study 1, significant negative correlations between skin elasticity and age and years since menopause were found (r = -0.60, P