Hi my beauties!
Estrogen cream for the face… it’s been a hot topic online for a while now. So many women are looking for remedies to fix “menopause face” which is when we notice rapid aging in our pre and post-menopausal phase. Many women are experimenting with the use of topical hormone creams — specifically vaginal estrogen cream on their faces. Today we’re going to discuss whether or not using estrogen on the face will actually help you reverse the appearance of estrogen depletion syndrome or if it’s just another passing trend.
This will be another two-part series and will be dedicated to women entering their premenopausal, perimenopausal, and postmenopausal phases of life. This week we will discuss everything Estrogen cream and next week I will take a deep dive and discuss what happens to our skin and "beauty" as we age.
*First a quick disclaimer: Dermatology is my specialty. This is not medical advice and you should ALWAYS consult with your provider as they know you best.*
Watch the corresponding video on YouTube for a deeper dive in all things Estrogen Cream:
What is Estrogen Cream?
Estrogen cream is a topical hormone that can be used on the skin for possible anti-aging effects. It is a cream you can get from your doctor that has been used for other symptoms associated with perimenopause and postmenopause.
Estrogen Cream Vs. Oral Estrogen
The use of oral vs topical hormone replacement therapy has been an ongoing debate within the medical community. That is simple because we don't really know which is more effective. We don't have enough well powered, statistically significant studies to guide providers. The difference is that topical creams can have minimal to moderate systemic absorption depending on formulation and percentage of Estrogen in the topical cream. Oral estrogen can be in the form of a birth control pill or over the age of 52 a hormone replacement pill you can take.
Potential Benefits of Estrogen Cream
Some of the typical benefits of Estrogen Creams when used topically on the face include collagen synthesis (which can diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles), increase in elastin synthesis, thickening of the dermis and epidermis, strengthening of the barrier as well as other benefits. I discuss the benefits in detail in the YouTube video.
Potential Risks of Estrogen Cream
Some of the potential risks associated with Estrogen Creams when used topically on the face can include redness, possible acne, hyperpigmentation, or systemic absorption (which means more of the hormone gets absorbed through the skin and into the body). With systemic absorption in the body there is a host of potential more serious side effects that can come. This is why it is so important to discuss this further with your provider.
Why do we want to boost collagen?
As our bodies have less estrogen, or estrogen depletion there is a dramatic effect of slowed collagen synthesis pathways in the skin. Hormones play a significant role in our skin health.
Are there Alternatives to Estrogen Creams?
The typical cost of Estrogen Cream is $50-150 per tube and will usually require a prescription. However, if you want to use collagen boosting active ingredients without the potential risks that topical Estrogen Creams can carry, there are alternative options.
If you are looking for products as the drugstore look at Adapalene which is a retinoid. There are many products with Retinol in the ingredients. There are also several great medical grade skincare products that can help you boost your collagen stores including my MDAiRE RXR Retinol Anti-Aging Serum.
You can also seek out a prescription for Retin-A or Tretinoin which is also a Retinol (Vitamin A derivative). This drug comes with immense data supporting it's effects in the skin.
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