Can estrogen cream reverse skin aging?

Q: I’ve seen several menopause-focused brands selling estrogen anti-aging facial creams. Is there any science behind them?

Hot flashes, night sweats and vaginal dryness are common symptoms of menopause. But skin can also experience changes during midlife, including sagging, thinning, and increased dryness.

Estrogen is essential for maintaining skin integrity, said Dr. Susan Massick, a dermatologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. When estrogen levels drop during menopause, your skin may become thinner with less collagen and elasticity, which can cause more dryness or wrinkles.

Some skin care companies sell estrogen-infused facial creams and serums—available over the counter or by prescription—that are believed to prevent and reverse these changes. One doctor on Instagram even said that using a prescription vaginal estrogen cream on your face can increase collagen production and minimize dryness.

Although this use of estrogen cream “makes sense, in theory,” Dr. Massick said, we need more research showing that it is safe and effective. Here’s what we know.

Can topical estrogen benefit your skin?

In a review published in 2019, researchers analyzed the results of about two dozen studies. They involved menopausal and postmenopausal women using topical estrogen – including in gels, creams, ointments and patches – on the face, abdomen, buttocks, forearms and thighs. The authors concluded that it was “plausible” that estrogen could minimize wrinkles and improve skin dryness, texture and elasticity. However, the studies they reviewed had various limitations, including that they involved small groups of women. And some of the review’s authors were consultants for a skin-care pharmaceutical company, which presented a conflict of interest.