Q: I’ve seen several menopause-oriented brands selling anti-aging estrogen creams for the face. Is there any science behind them?
Hot flashes, night sweats and vaginal dryness are common symptoms of menopause. But the skin can undergo changes in midlife too, including sagging, thinning and becoming more dry.
Estrogen is key to maintaining skin integrity, said Dr. Susan Massick, a dermatologist at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. When estrogen levels dip during menopause, your skin can become thinner with less collagen and elasticity, potentially causing more dryness or wrinkling.
Some skin care companies sell estrogen-infused face creams and serums — available over-the-counter or via prescription — that are supposed to prevent and reverse these changes. One doctor on Instagram even said that using prescription vaginal estrogen cream on your face can increase collagen production and minimize dryness.
While this use of estrogen cream “makes sense, in theory,” Dr. Massick said, we need more research showing that it is safe and effective. Here is what we know.
Can topical estrogen benefit your skin?
In one review published in 2019, researchers analyzed the results of about two dozen studies. They involved menopausal and postmenopausal women who used topical estrogen — including in gels, creams, ointments and patches — on their faces, abdomen, buttocks, forearms and thighs. The authors concluded that it was “plausible” that estrogen could minimize wrinkles and improve skin dryness, texture and elasticity. However, the studies they reviewed had various limitations, including that they looked at small groups of women. And some of the review’s authors were consultants for a skin care pharmaceutical company, presenting a conflict of interest.