Each stage of a woman’s life has its own physical and psychological impact on her. Puberty, child birth and lastly menopause affect her body and her psyche in different ways. Besides dealing with issues like weight gain or hot flushes, women also face skin problems like dry and flaky skin. These problems occur due to hormonal changes occurring in their body
Estrogen and Aging of Skin [2]
In human beings aging effects are more visible on the skin than on any other body organ. With advancing age we tend to undergo functional as well as structural changes. Skin physiology undergoes a lot of changes owing to changes in the level of the hormone estrogen. This hormone is responsible for modulating epidermal keratinocytes, melanocytes and dermal fibroblasts.
The impact of declining levels of estrogen is also visible on skin appendages like sebaceous glands and hair follicles. The impact of estrogen in post-menopausal women is quite evident and is well-documented. Skin collagen reduces significantly through decreases in this reproductive hormone.
Isoflavones and their Impact on the Post-Menopausal Women [3]
A lot of studies were conducted to find out the impact of Isoflavones on women undergoing menopause. It is a known fact that quality of life is severely impacted during menopause and a lot of skin alterations result. The impact of estrogen deficiency that occurs when menopause begins in a woman is drastic.
Skin starts thinning and cells like melanocytes that are responsible for producing melanin pigment are affected; so are elastin and collagen, responsible for the elastic and structural qualities of the skin. Also, Glycosaminoglycan polymerization is affected considerably with a reduction in estrogen, which may ultimately reduce the rate of collagen production, making the skin thin, dull and dreary.
Estrogen and Its Role as a Protector [4]
Estrogen has been known to play a protective role, keeping the skin healthy and its physiology intact. Estrogen also helps in escalating the rate of healing in cutaneous wounds. Studies have also indicated that the incidence of skin cancer is quite low in women and this is because of the estrogen hormone secreted in the body.
During menopause, when the level of estrogen reduces in a woman’s body, she starts experiencing a lot of changes in her skin. Studies also indicate that at the beginning of periods the skin is quite thin as at this time the levels of progesterone and estrogen are also very low. As periods get over, the woman’s skin gets back to its normal thickness. When a woman enters menopausal stage, her skin is the first organ to show the tell-tale signs of this physiological change.
Uneven colour, skin texture, hair production and skin sensitivities are the results of estrogen reduction that usually occurs during menopause. Taking AHA containing products can help in reducing these symptoms to a significant extent.
References:
[1]. Effect of estrogens on skin aging and the potential role of SERMs. 2016. Effect of estrogens on skin aging and the potential role of SERMs. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2685269/. [Accessed 10 February 2016].
[2]. Estrogen and skin. An overview. – PubMed – NCBI. 2016. Estrogen and skin. An overview. – PubMed – NCBI . [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11705091. . [Accessed 10 February 2016].
[3]. Effects of Isoflavones on the Skin of Postmenopausal Women: A Pilot Study. 2016. Effects of Isoflavones on the Skin of Postmenopausal Women: A Pilot Study. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2705153/.[Accessed 10 February 2016].
[4]. Effect of estrogens on skin aging and the potential role of SERMs. 2016Effect of estrogens on skin aging and the potential role of SERMs. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2685269/. [Accessed 10 February 2016].
