I’ve heard of women using vaginal estrogen creams on their face to help preserve collagen in the post-reproductive phase (advancing old age). Has this been studied, and is it effective and safe?
—Christen
Ah, the quest to keep our skin youthful! When our estrogen levels drop during perimenopause and menopause, the skin becomes drier and less elastic. This in turn can lead to signs of aging. Researchers have investigated a number of possible treatments to slow or stop this process. One of them is applying estrogen to the skin.
In a review of 23 studies investigating the effects of topical estrogen on skin, the authors found that applying estrogen does improve signs of aging. Some studies also found changes on the cellular level consistent with increased collagen production. It is worth noting that in many of these studies, estrogen was not applied to the face. Additionally, topical estrogen was well tolerated.
However, there are no topical estrogen products FDA-approved for use on the face. The formulations that are available are typically intended to be applied vaginally to treat vulvovaginal atrophy and are available by prescription only. It is not clear if the formulation and concentration of vaginal creams are safe and effective for our faces.
As a result of all of this, I wouldn’t currently recommend applying vaginal estrogen to your face without the supervision of a knowledgeable dermatologist. There are a slew of cosmeceutical products that contain phytoestrogens that are formulated for facial use. These products are not regulated by the FDA, though, so the actual concentration of phytoestrogens may not be enough to be effective. There are a few new products coming to the market that contain some forms of estrogen, and I think we will see more interest in using estrogen for the skin in the future.
For now, I would recommend limiting your estrogen cream application to your vagina unless specifically instructed by your doctor to apply it elsewhere.
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