The effects of systemic hormonal replacement therapy on the skin of postmenopausal women

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.