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Published on: December 14, 2015
Inverted skin changes induced by estrogen and estrogen/glucocorticoid on aging dermis
V Cortés-Gallegos1, G L Villanueva, I Sojo-Aranda
1Gonadal Disease Center, Medical Research Unit, Social Security Mexican Institute, México City.
Summary
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) affects skin thickness in postmenopausal women. Mestranol alone thinned the dermis, while mestranol with paramethasone thickened it, suggesting therapeutic potential.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Endocrinology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Postmenopausal skin changes are linked to hormonal decline.
- Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is used to manage menopausal symptoms.
- Peripheral effects of HRT on skin require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the peripheral effects of oral mestranol and a mestranol-paramethasone combination on postmenopausal skin.
- To assess changes in dermal and epidermal layers following HRT.
Main Methods:
- A double-blind study involving 13 postmenopausal women.
- Administration of oral mestranol (80 mcg/day) or mestranol (80 mcg/day) plus paramethasone (6 mg/day) for 10 days.
- Skin biopsies from the thigh were collected pre- and post-treatment for micrometric evaluation and histological staining (H&E, Masson, Verhoeff's, Gomori).
Main Results:
- Statistically significant changes in papillary dermis thickness were observed.
- Mestranol treatment led to a reduction in papillary dermis thickness.
- The combination of mestranol plus paramethasone resulted in an increase in papillary dermis thickness.
Conclusions:
- Oral mestranol and mestranol-paramethasone exert differential effects on postmenopausal skin thickness.
- The estrogen/glucocorticoid combination may offer benefits in mitigating skin's cellular degenerative processes.
- Further research is warranted to explore the therapeutic potential of this combined HRT approach.
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