Physiological Changes in Women's Skin During the Menstrual Cycle: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Dermatology and endocrinology
• Reproductive physiology

Background:

• Hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle influence various physiological processes.
• The impact of these hormonal shifts on skin biophysical and physiological parameters is not fully understood.
• Existing research lacks a comprehensive overview of skin changes across the menstrual cycle.

Purpose of the Study:

• To clarify the extent of physiological changes in the skin during a woman's menstrual cycle.
• To review skin elasticity, hydration, temperature, blood flow, and sweating in relation to menstrual cycle phases.
• To establish the connection between reproductive hormones, menstrual cycle phases, and skin properties.

Main Methods:

• Scoping review of peer-reviewed articles in Embase, Ovid MEDLINE, and Web of Science.
• Inclusion criteria focused on skin physiological changes during healthy women's menstrual cycles.
• 26 articles were analyzed for skin elasticity, hydration, temperature, blood flow, and sweating.

Main Results:

• Skin elasticity increased during ovulation compared to the follicular phase.
• No significant changes in skin hydration were observed across phases.
• Skin temperature was higher in the luteal phase than the follicular phase.
• Skin blood flow increased in the mid-luteal phase versus the follicular phase.
• Sweating rate varied, with increases in the luteal phase but also higher rates in the early follicular phase.

Conclusions:

• Skin physiology demonstrably varies across the menstrual cycle.
• Findings can inform personalized dermatological treatments aligned with menstrual cycle phases.
• Understanding these variations can improve management of skin conditions and patient care.