Skin and menopause have a complicated relationship. Estrogen plays a role in skin appearance — collagen formation is in part influenced by estrogen levels — and as those levels change, many women notice differences in how their skin looks and feels. So what does the research actually say about topical estrogens and skin aging?

This peer-reviewed study looked at exactly that. Two groups were compared — one using estriol, one using estradiol — across 59 women over a 6-month period. Ten participants had skin biopsies to assess collagen filament levels.

Here are the key findings from the study:

• After 6 months, elasticity and firmness of the skin had markedly improved in both groups.
• Wrinkle depth and pore sizes had decreased by 61 to 100% in both groups. (See citation below — this figure is from the original study.)
• Skin moisture had increased.
• Measurement of wrinkles using skin profilometry revealed significant, or even highly significant, decreases of wrinkle depth in both the estradiol and estriol groups.
• Participants showed visible improvements in skin appearance, consistent with a more youthful and plumper look, alongside measurable changes in skin structure observed in biopsies at the end of the treatment period.
• No systemic hormonal side effects were noted.

Want to go deeper on how skin changes during menopause and what ingredients are worth knowing about? Check out this blog that details all things skin.

Study citation: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-4362.1996.tb03701.x