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The effects of systemic hormonal replacement therapy on the skin of postmenopausal women
Author(s) -
Sauerbronn A.V.D,
Fonseca A.M,
Bagnoli V.R,
Saldiva P.H,
Pinotti J.A
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1016/s0020-7292(99)00166-6
Subject(s) - medicine , hormone , estradiol valerate , biopsy , placebo , hormonal therapy , hormone replacement therapy (female to male) , basement membrane , urology , skin biopsy , norethisterone acetate , surgery , pathology , testosterone (patch) , alternative medicine , prostate cancer , cancer
Objective : The aim of this study was to determine the effects of hormonal replacement therapy on the skin of postmenopausal women. Method : Forty‐one postmenopausal women were randomly allocated to receive either hormonal replacement (valerate estradiol — 2 mg/day for 21 days and cyproterone acetate — 1 mg/day for 10 days) or placebo, both in a cyclic scheme for 6 months. Neither patients nor investigators were aware of the group allocation. Histologic changes were evaluated by skin biopsy of the left upper arm at baseline and after 6 months of treatment, utilizing computerized image analysis to assess the ratio area of epidermis/basement membrane length (AE/BML), ratio area of keratin/basement membrane length (AK/BML) and collagen and elastic fibers content. Result : Collagen content of the left upper arm increased after 6 months of treatment only in the hormonal group (+6.49%; P <0.05). Other parameters did not present any significant alteration after treatment in both groups. Conclusion : Hormonal replacement for climacterics increases skin collagen content.