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Skin Changes in Menopause

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Skin, Mucosa and Menopause

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Abstract

The declining estrogen levels in menopausal women have a profound influence on the skin exacerbating the deleterious effects of both intrinsic and environmental aging which results in thinner skin, an increase in the number and depth of wrinkles, increased skin dryness, and decreased skin firmness and elasticity. These changes can have a significant effect on the quality of life. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), and phytoestrogens have been shown to improve some aspects of skin aging. However, the mechanisms of estrogen action on skin are still poorly understood. Estrogen receptors ERα and ERβ have been detected in keratinocytes, fibroblast, and melanocytes, and recent studies suggest that estrogens exert their effect in skin through a combination of genomic and non-genomic pathways.

The menopause has been associated too with some cutaneous conditions such as lichen sclerosus, atrophic vulvovaginitis, flushing, and dysesthetic vulvodynia.

The proportion of the female population who are in the postmenopausal age group is rising. Therefore, the prevalence of skin disorders is likely to increase. In addition to estrogens, general lifestyle changes can be effective in reducing, in the long term, the signs of skin aging. These include the use of sun protection and over-the-counter moisturizers. Furthermore, cosmetic interventions such as topical retinoids, facial peels, botulinum neurotoxin, soft tissue fillers, and surgical procedures can be employed to improve the appearance of the skin.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Endocrine Research Unit, Instituto Mexicano Seguro Social, Cuauhtemoc 330, Mexico City, DF 06720, Mexico

    Renata Saucedo PhD, Arturo Zárate MD, PhD & Marcelino Hernández-Valencia MD, PhD

Authors
  1. Renata Saucedo PhD
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  2. Arturo Zárate MD, PhD
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  3. Marcelino Hernández-Valencia MD, PhD
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Correspondence to Arturo Zárate MD, PhD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Procter & Gamble Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

    Miranda A. Farage

  2. Procter & Gamble Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

    Kenneth W. Miller

  3. School of Nursing, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA

    Nancy Fugate Woods

  4. Department of Dermatology, University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco, California, USA

    Howard I. Maibach

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Saucedo, R., Zárate, A., Hernández-Valencia, M. (2015). Skin Changes in Menopause. In: Farage, M., Miller, K., Fugate Woods, N., Maibach, H. (eds) Skin, Mucosa and Menopause. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-44080-3_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-44080-3_3

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