Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
Volume 59, Issue 3 , Pages 397-404.e3 , September 2008

Does hormone therapy improve age-related skin changes in postmenopausal women? A randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, placebo-controlled multicenter study assessing the effects of norethindrone acetate and ethinyl estradiol in the improvement of mild to moderate age-related skin changes in postmenopausal women

  • Tania J. Phillips, MD, FRCPC

      Affiliations

    • Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
    • Skin Care Physicians of Chestnut Hill, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorrespondence to: Tania J. Phillips, MD, FRCPC, Boston University, Dermatology, 609 Albany St, Boston, MA 02118.
    • ,
  • James Symons, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Meditrina Pharmaceuticals Inc, Ann Arbor, Michigan
    • ,
  • Sandeep Menon, MPH

      Affiliations

    • Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
    • ,
  • HT Study Group

,Accepted 4 May 2008.

References 

  1. Kuiper GG, Carlsson B, Grandien K, Ennask E, Haggblad J, Nilsson S, et al. Comparison of the ligand binding specificity and transcript tissue distribution of estrogen receptor α and β. Endocrinology. 1997;138:863–870
  2. Punnonen R, Lovgren T, Kouvonen I. Demonstration of estrogen receptors in the skin. J Endocrinol Invest. 1980;3:217–221
  3. Greene GL, Gilna P, Waterfield M, Baker A, Hort Y, Shire A. Sequence and expression of human estrogen receptor complementary DNA. Science. 1986;231:1150–1154
  4. Callens A, Vaillant L, Lecomte P, Berson M, Gall Y, Lorette G. Does hormonal skin aging exist?. Dermatology. 1996;193:289–294
  5. Raine-Fenning NJ, Brincat MP, Muscat-Baron Y. Skin aging and menopause. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2003;4:371–378
  6. Dunn L, Damesyn M, Moore A, Ruben DB, Greendale GA. Does estrogen prevent skin aging? Results from the First National and Health Nutritional Examination Survey. Arch Dermatol. 1997;133:339–342
  7. Maheux R, Naud F, Rioux M, Grenier R, Lemay A, Guy J, et al. A randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study on the effect of conjugated estrogens on skin thickness. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1994;170:642–649
  8. Pierard-Franchimont C, Letawe C, Goffin V, Pierard GE. Skin water-holding capacity and transdermal estrogen therapy for menopause: a pilot study. Maturitas. 1995;22:151–154
  9. Creidi P, Faivre B, Agache P, Richard E, Haudiquet V, Sauvnet JP. Effect of a conjugated oestrogen (Premarin) cream on aging facial skin. A comparative study with a placebo cream. Maturitas. 1994;19:211–223
  10. 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;155:1137–1146
  11. Affinito P, Palomba S, Sorrentino C, Di Carlo C, Bifulco G, Arienzo MP, et al. Effects of postmenopausal hypoestrogenism on skin collagen. Maturitas. 1999;33:239–247
  12. Brincat M, Moniz CJ, Studd JW, Darby A, Magos A, Emburey G, et al. Long-term effects of the menopause and sex hormones on skin thickness. Br J Obstet Gynecol. 1985;92:256–259
  13. Guinot C, Malry D, Ambroisire L, Latreille J, Mauger E, Guehenneux S, et al. Effects of hormone replacement therapy on skin biophysical properties of postmenopausal women. Skin Res Technol. 2005;11:201–204
  14. Jemec GB, Serup J. Short term effects of topical 17 Beta estradiol on human post menopausal skin. Maturitas. 1989;11:229–234
  15. Bolognia JL, Braverman IM, Rosseau ME, Sarrel PM. Skin changes in menopause Maturitas. 1989;11:295–304
  16. Haapasaari KM, Raudaskoski T, Kallioinen M, Suvanto-Luukkonen E, Kauppila A, Laara E, et al. Systemic therapy with estrogen or estrogen with progestin has no effect on skin collagen in postmenopausal women. Maturitas. 1997;27:153–162
  17. 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;70:123–127
  18. Smith NL, Heckbert SR, Lemaitre RN, Reiner AP, Lumley T, Weiss NS, et al. Esterified estrogens and conjugated equine estrogens and the risk of venous thrombosis. JAMA. 2004;292:1581–1587
  19. Brincat M, Yuen AW, Studd JW, Montgomery J, Magos AL, Savvas M. Response of skin thickness and metacarpal index to estradiol therapy in postmenopausal women. Obstet Gynecol. 1987;70:538–541
  20. Brincat M, Moniz CF, Kabalan S, Versi E, O'Dowd T, Magos AL, et al. Decline in skin collagen content and metacarpal index after the menopause and its prevention with sex hormone replacement. Br J Obstet Gynecol. 1987;94:126–129
  21. Brincat M, Moniz CF, Studd JW, Darby A, Magos A, Emburey G, et al. Sex hormones and skin collagen content in postmenopausal women. Br Med J Clin Res. 1983;287:1337–1338
  22. Brincat M, Versi E, O'Dowd T, Moniz CF, Magos A, Kabalan S, et al. Skin collagen changes in post-menopausal women receiving oestradiol gel. Maturitas. 1987;9:1–5
  23. Lindsay R. Estrogen deficiency. In:  Riggs BL,  Melton LJ editor. Osteoporosis: etiology, diagnosis, and management. Philadelphia: Lippincott-Raven; 1995;p. 137
  24. Castel-Branco C, Figureras F, Marinez de Osaba MJ, Vanrell JA. Facial wrinkling in postmenopausal women. Effects of smoking status and hormone replacement therapy. Maturitas. 1998;29:75–86
  25. Punnonen R, Vaajalahti P, Teisala K. Local oestriol treatment improves the structure of elastic fibers in the skin of postmenopausal women. Ann Chir Gynaecol Suppl. 1987;202:39–41
  26. Varila E, Rantala I, Oikarinen A, Risteli J, Reunala T, Oksanen H, et al. The effect of topical oestradiol on skin collagen of postmenopausal women. Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 1995;102:985–989
  27. Henry F, Pierard-Franchimont C, Cauwenbergh G, Pierard GE. Age-related changes in facial skin contours and rheology. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1997;45:220–222
  28. 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 Gynecol Obstet. 2000;68:35–41
  29. Rossouw JE, Prentice RL, Manson JE, Wu L, Barnabei VM, Ko M, et al. Postmenopausal hormone therapy and risk of cardiovascular disease by age and years since menopause. JAMA. 2007;207:1465–1477

 Supported by a grant from Pfizer, Inc.

 Disclosure: Dr Symons was employed in the Clinical Research Department at Pfizer Inc at the time this study was conducted. He was a member of the Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, when the manuscript was written. Dr Phillips is on the Scientific Advisory Board of Hygeia Therapeutics.

 Reprints not available from the authors.

PII: S0190-9622(08)00595-1

doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2008.05.009

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
Volume 59, Issue 3 , Pages 397-404.e3 , September 2008

Article Tools