A review of the role of estrogen in dermal aging and facial attractiveness in women
Abstract
Summary: Estrogens are known to have protective and favorable influences on skin health; conversely, androgens oppose the actions of estrogens. Estrogen's chemical messages are transmitted via the classical nuclear hormone estrogen receptors (ER) alpha and beta and the rapid‐acting G‐coupled membrane estrogen receptor. Androgens [both testosterone and 5α‐dihydrotestosterone (5α‐DHT)] bind the same androgen receptor. Estrogen levels peak in the mid‐ to late 20s in women and then decline by 50% by 50 years of age and dramatically decrease further after menopause. The loss of estrogens with aging contributes to diminished dermal health, whereas estrogen hormone therapy [eg, oral conjugated equine estrogens (CEE)] restores skin health. Several reports suggest positive correlations between the levels of circulating estrogens and: (1) perceived age, (2) attractiveness, (3) enhanced skin health, and (4) facial coloration in women. Based upon a psychological dermato‐endocrine perspective, the positive correspondence of high estrogens levels with perceived age and facial attractiveness in women especially with aging demonstrates the importance of hormonal influences on observed dermal health and youthful appearance.
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Equol appears to be an exceptional choice for potential incorporation into human skin applications, especially for women, due to its multiple positive actions to improve dermal health.
“it appears to be an exceptional choice for potential incorporation into human skin applications, especially for women, due to its multiple positive actions to improve dermal health [2,78,108].”
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Lephart, E. (2018) · Cosmetics · doi:10.3390/cosmetics5010016 · Cited by 42 · see citing works
Self-citation
- Authors
- Lephart, E. D.
- Affiliations
- Brigham Young University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Lephart, Edwin D
- ORCID
- Lephart, Edwin D
- Venue
- Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2018-02-13
- Volume
- 17
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 282-288
- ISSN
- 1473-2130 (ISSN-L)
- 1473-2165
- OpenAlex
- W2792899004
- Cited by
- 114
- References
- 48
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 24 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 3
- FWCI
- 1.58
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Brigham Young University
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Menopause: Health Impacts and Treatments
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Estrogen and related hormone effects
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Dermatology › Skin Protection and Aging
- Keywords
- estrogen, facial attractiveness, women, estrogen receptor, androgen receptor, androgens, menopause, hormone replacement therapy, conjugated equine estrogens, perceived age, skin health, facial coloration
- MeSH terms
- Androgens, Beauty, Estrogens, Face, Female, Humans, Menopause, Receptors, Androgen, Receptors, Estrogen, Skin Pigmentation, Skin Aging, Estrogen Replacement Therapy
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