The group of hormones known as estrogens are responsible for many functions in the human body, playing a vital role in contributing to the ongoing health of vital organs including the heart, blood vessels, brain, bones, and some reproductive systems.
Estrogen also plays a pivotal role in the health of our skin and for some women, when estrogen declines, this can cause significant changes in skin.
Our skin is an estrogen-responsive tissue, and many studies show that estrogen plays an important role in skin physiology. It contributes to the production of skin-supporting proteins like collagen and elastin, helps regulate melanin production, controls the skin’s inflammatory response, and enhances the skin’s wound healing ability helping to delay the skin’s aging process.
What are the signs of Estrogen deficient skin?
Estrogen-deficient skin is visibly apparent during the pre-menopause and menopause period for some women and contributes to several noticeable skin conditions.
Skin laxity, fine lines and wrinkles, pronounced hyperpigmentation and increased sensitivity are all common and occur as a direct result of hormonal fluctuation, predominantly lack of estrogen. Epidermal thinning due to impaired collagen regeneration can also mean a lesser ability for moisture retention therefore an increase in trans epidermal water loss, leaving skin dehydrated and compromised. This disrupted barrier function can also increase the risk of infection, reactive skin and inhibit the skin’s defense mechanisms against oxidative stress causing accelerated ageing and can increase the risk of skin cancer.
