Hormone Replacement Therapy and the Skin

The skin is more than just an outer covering. A complex organ that reflects general health, there are numerous variables that determine the skin's quality. Healthy skin is dependent on the continuous rapid regeneration of cells, such as the dermal fibroblasts responsible for the connective tissue, and on the quality and function of capillary blood vessels, so that the entire organ is in perfect balance. Any alteration of this balance leads to differences in skin qualities. This definitive review of the effects of hormones on the skin provides essential information on all aspects of HRT related to the skin specific to dermatology and women's health practices. Topics covered include: collagen changes in the skin, the extracellular matrix, the psychosexual role of the skin at the climacteric, trandermal and corticosteroid therapy, capillary blood flow in the skin and hair and HRT.