[Effect of hormonal replacement therapy on cutaneous biophysical properties of menopausal women]

The aim of this analysis was to study the possible effect of hormonal replacement therapy on some biophysical properties of the skin of menopausal women.

A study was carried out on 106 menopausal, phototype I to IV women with clinically healthy skin. During the medical evaluation, the menopausal status, duration of the menopause, and, possible use of hormone replacement therapy and its duration were collected. A series of biophysical skin parameters in controlled environmental conditions was assessed on the face: sebum casual level, skin surface pH, skin colour, transepidermal water loss, capacitance, conductance, skin relief and temperature. The same parameters except for sebum were assessed on the forearm. Three sub-samples were defined according to the duration of the menopause and of hormone replacement therapy.

The skin colour parameters revealed a greater red intensity value in menopausal women who had been treated for at least one year. In menopausal women who had been treated for at least 5 or 10 years, the biophysical measurements were significantly higher for the parameters evaluating hydration and sebum secretion, associated with higher values for the yellow intensity parameter and the skin relief parameters on the forehead.

These results support the subjective impression and the clinical evaluation according to which hormonal replacement therapy could modify the development and the severity of some properties associated with skin ageing after the onset of menopause.