Improvement of skin surface texture by topical estradiol treatment in climacteric women

Background: Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has been widely applied to climacteric women to improve various climacteric symptoms. Purpose of the present study is to reveal the effect of topical HRT with estradiol on skin surface texture (SST), a major determinant of skin appearance. Methods: Estradiol 1.08 mg in gel was topically applied daily to the upper limbs of menopausal or ovariectomized women for 8 weeks. Thereafter, lower-dose estradiol 0.54 mg or placebo gel was applied for a further 16 weeks. Images of SST in the flexor forearm and cheek were captured by video microscope; fineness of texture as revealed by the number of ridges was calculated by image analysis. Results: Increase in fineness of texture by topical HRT during 8 weeks was observed not only in the forearm, where estradiol was applied, but also in the cheek, an unapplied site. In women receiving topical estradiol, the fine texture tended to decline slightly but nonsignificantly during the consecutive 16-week low-dose HRT period whereas it was markedly declined in those receiving placebo gel. Conclusion: Topical HRT can improve age-associated decline of fineness of SST.