_ESTROGENS (ESTRADIOL AND ESTRIOL)-Estrogen’s skin-enhancing effects are well known. It stimulates collagen production and a moisture factor known as hyaluronic acid. Aging decreases both estrogen and collagen, which seem to coincide with peri-menopausal menopausal symptoms. By using topical application of estrogens, some aging may be reversed.  As part of a skin hormone program we recommend Estriol 0.3% or Estradiol 0.01% cream.

Research found that elasticity and firmness was markedly improved after a period of 6 months, and wrinkle depth and pore size decreased by 61-100%. In addition, skin moisture, type III collagen and the number of collagen fibers all improved dramatically. With all these external benefits no systemic absorption was found, and therefore no estrogenic side effects occurred.

From studies done it has been found that at the end of a six-month clinical trial, marked improvement of skin aging symptoms was noted.

• Clinical improvement of specific skin parameters was evaluated and was seen in 9-19 weeks with estradiol, and 7-17 weeks with estriol.
• Improvement in skin elasticity and firmness was noted after 13 weeks with estradiol and 11 weeks with estriol.
• Improvement in skin moisture was noted after 9 weeks with estradiol and 8 weeks with estriol.
• Improvement in wrinkle depth was noted after 16 weeks with estradiol and 17 weeks with estriol.
• Reduction of pore size was noted after 19 weeks with estradiol and 16 weeks with estriol.

*All of the above improvements appeared in 61-100% of cases.

In more detail wrinkle depth reduction was significant with estradiol and HIGHLY significant with estriol. Side effects were more prominent with the estradiol group than the estriol group (this study was done on peri-menopausal women). Both estradiol and estriol showed significant effects on increasing collagen fibre and striking increases in collagen III. This is why skin was firmed and wrinkles reduced. Type I collagen is predominantly in adult skin while type III is predominant in fetuses but is distributed about the body.                                                           

In conclusion, various structures involved in skin aging are under hormonal influence. So far, estrogen compounds and, in particular estriol represents a new and promising therapeutic approach to skin aging in peri and menopausal women.

ESTRIOL’S EFFECT ON THE SKIN
Estrogen is an important hormone for maintaining skin elasticity.  The effect of local estriol treatment on abdominal skin was examined in 14 postmenopausal women for three weeks. Six control subjects received a cream without estriol. The application of estriol for this short period of time resulted in thickened, better-oriented, and slightly increased numbers of elastic fibers in half the patients using the estriol cream, compared to no change in the placebo group.

Topical use of estriol was effective for the treatment of premenstrual acne as measured by number of skin lesions and thin-layer chromatography sebum-determination from treated and untreated areas. In another study, topcial estriol administered via iontophoresis was compared to tretinoin (trans-retinoic acid) iontophoresis for treatment of acne scars. Eighteen women were treated with estriol iontophoresis twice a week for 3 months. The results were compared with a group of 28 patients (19 women and 9 men) who received tretinoin iontophoresis according to the same schedule. Improvement of acne scars was observed in 93% of the tretinoin group and 100% of the estriol group. Typical side effects of dry skin and retinoid dermatitis were observed in the tretinoin group but in none in the estriol group.