Systemic therapy with estrogen or estrogen with progestin has no effect on skin collagen in postmenopausal women

Objectives: To investigate the effect of estrogen alone or combined with progestin on the amount and synthesis of skin collagen in postmenopausal women. Methods: Forty-three early postmenopausal women were enrolled into this open, non-randomized parallel-groups study. Fifteen women received a continuous oral dose of 2 mg of 17 beta-estradiol and 1 mg of norethisterone acetate daily and 14 women an oral dose of 2 mg estradiol valerate daily. Fourteen subjects served as controls. The histology and type I and III procollagen immunohistochemistry of the skin, skin thickness, the amount of total collagen determined by a colorimetric method and the synthesis of type I and III collagens determined by analysing procollagen propeptides in the suction blister fluid were studied before the treatment and at 6 and 12 months. The proportional area of elastic fibers and the thickness of the epidermis were assessed from the sections obtained before the treatment and at 12 months, with computerized image analysis. Results: Skin thickness, the amount and rate of collagen synthesis, the proportional area of elastic fibers and the thickness of the epidermis were not affected by either 17 beta-estradiol and 1 mg of norethisterone acetate or 2 mg of estradiol valerate. No histological or immunohistological changes were detected in the skin specimens during the 12-month treatment period compared to the baseline or to the skin specimens of the control group. Conclusions: A 1-year treatment with systemic estrogen alone or combined with progestin does not change the amount of collagen or the rate of collagen synthesis in postmenopausal women. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.