{"id":461951,"date":"2025-12-21T09:53:45","date_gmt":"2025-12-21T09:53:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/461951\/"},"modified":"2025-12-21T09:53:45","modified_gmt":"2025-12-21T09:53:45","slug":"hormone-therapy-and-skin-dermatologists-explain-its-effects","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/461951\/","title":{"rendered":"Hormone Therapy And Skin: Dermatologists Explain Its Effects"},"content":{"rendered":"

For years, hormone therapy<\/a> (HT) had earned a bad rep it just couldn\u2019t shake. <\/p>\n

Many women who might have benefited never even considered the treatment, thrown off by the Food & Drug Administration’s \u201cblack box\u201d warning, which flagged potential cancer and heart risks and scared them into biting the bullet through menopausal symptoms. Symptoms that, to put it blunty, sucked. <\/p>\n

And even if a woman did want to go on hormones, that black box warning was no small barrier to access, says Somi Javaid<\/a>, MD, a board-certified OB-GYN, and founder of HerMD<\/a>, a women\u2019s healthcare platform. It acted like a jump scare, popping up on screen every time a physician tried to write a prescription\u2014and every time a pharmacist went to fill it. <\/p>\n

But in light of new information and push-back from women’s health advocates, the FDA has reversed course<\/a>, acknowledging that the warning may have been overblown and removing it from these medications. The move \u201crecognizes decades of new research and finally allows women and providers to have real conversations about hormone therapy based on the data of today, not the myth of yesteryear,\u201d says Dr. Javaid. \u201cWe’re going to see a significant increase in the number of women who opt in to HT. And frankly, more pharmacists willing to dispense it.\u201d Stephanie Hack<\/a>, MD, board-certified OB-GYN, and host of the Lady Parts Doctor podcast, agrees: \u201cIt has reduced fear and confusion for both patients and providers,\u201d she adds. \u201cI\u2019m already seeing more interest.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meet the experts<\/strong>: Somi Javaid<\/a>, MD, is a board-certified OB-GYN, and founder of HerMD<\/a>, a women\u2019s healthcare platform. Stephanie Hack<\/a>, MD, is a board-certified OB-GYN, and host of the Lady Parts Doctor podcast. Whitney Hovenic<\/a>, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in Reno, NV. Caren Campbell<\/a>, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in San Francisco, CA. Morgan Rabach<\/a>, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in New York City.
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And all of this could mean something significant for your complexion. Many skin conditions\u2014acne, for example\u2014have a strong hormonal component<\/a>, so these medications could spell major changes to your outer layer.<\/p>\n

Here’s what doctors want you to know.<\/p>\n

First, what do we mean when we say ‘hormone therapy?’<\/p>\n

HT refers to a menu, so to speak, of exogenous hormone combinations and delivery mechanisms used to treat the symptoms of menopause, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists<\/a>. Overall, it\u2019s a way of restoring what the body no longer makes in sufficient amounts, and for most women in perimenopause and menopause, that starts with estrogen. \u201cYou have estrogen receptors from head to toe,\u201d says Dr. Javaid. \u201cIt protects bone, brain, and heart, affects mood, thermoregulation, and essentially helps every organ system function well.\u201d The estrogen type (there are three) most often prescribed is estradiol, what your ovaries naturally produce before you enter menopause. It can be taken orally, vaginally, or, most commonly, transdermally through patches, gels, or sprays. Both Drs. Javaid and Hack say that transdermal estrogen has a safety advantage because it doesn\u2019t get processed by the liver, which markedly reduces any risk of causing blood clots. \u201cIt also provides steadier hormone levels compared to oral forms,\u201d says Dr. Hack.<\/p>\n

Unless a woman no longer has a uterus, estrogen is always paired with progesterone or a synthetic progestin to protect the uterine lining, since estrogen alone can overstimulate it and raise any risk of cancer, explains Dr. Hack. But even if a woman doesn\u2019t have a uterus, she may still want the hormone: \u201cProgesterone has a calming effect on the nervous system and can help with mood and sleep,\u201d explains Dr. Javaid. It can be taken orally, through a vaginal insert, or delivered via an IUD. Micronized progesterone (processed into fine particles to enhance absorption and bioavailability) taken orally tends to be best tolerated, according to Dr. Hack. Combination therapies exist too, bundling estrogen and progestin into a single pill, patch, or ring for those who really just want to simplify.<\/p>\n

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Testosterone is the hormone most people assume is off-limits to women. \u201cBut we have a global consensus statement<\/a> and a Menopause Society statement<\/a> supporting the use of testosterone for women,\u201d says Dr. Javaid. An androgen hormone that women produce in smaller amounts, \u201ctestosterone is prescribed for low sexual desire and can support mood, muscle mass, and overall well-being,\u201d says Dr. Hack. The recommended route is a transdermal cream, as opposed to pellets, which are surgically placed under the skin in fatty tissue, and which Hack explains, aren\u2019t adjustable, and can push levels too high. Because there\u2019s no FDA-approved testosterone product for women, Dr. Javaid likes to prescribe compounded (custom made) creams from reputable pharmacies (important!). \u201cOverall, the delivery method of hormone therapy changes both its effects and its safety profile,\u201d says Dr. Hack. \u201cThe best route depends on someone\u2019s health history, their goals, and how much flexibility they want with dose adjustments.\u201d<\/p>\n

Why was hormone therapy so controversial?<\/strong><\/p>\n

It all traces back to a single study<\/a> by the Women\u2019s Health Initiative, linking hormone therapy to breast cancer, endometrial cancer, heart disease, and stroke. Many mistakes had been made in regard to this 2002 paper: The study subjects were significantly older than women in perimenopause, many had underlying health risk factors, and the hormones used were different from those prescribed today. In the end, many experts believed the findings were drastically overstated or not applicable to the women likely to use hormone therapy<\/a>. Still, the research triggered the FDA’s implemented its black box alarm (the strongest action short of pulling a drug from the market) on menopause treatments, and fear was let loose. Women in droves tossed their estrogen, even as follow-up studies<\/a> showed that starting hormone therapy around the time of menopause is safe for many, and can, in fact, offer health benefits. <\/p>\n

But in November of 2025, the FDA initiated the process to remove the black box warning on all forms of hormone therapy. \u201cTragically, tens of millions of women have been denied the life-changing and long-term health benefits of hormone replacement therapy because of a medical dogma rooted in a distortion of risk,\u201d said FDA Commissioner Martin Makary, MD, in a statement<\/a>. \u201cFor too long, issues of women\u2019s health have been under-recognized. Women and their physicians should make decisions based on data, not fear.\u201d
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So, how does hormone therapy affect your skin?<\/strong><\/p>\n

We tend to talk about hormone therapy in terms of managing hot flashes, sleep, and mood, but \u201chormones act on the skin just as powerfully,\u201d says Whitney Hovenic<\/a>, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Reno, NV. As she explains, estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone each interact with receptors in the epidermis, dermis, sebaceous glands, and pigment pathways, so any shifts in levels definitely show up on the surface. <\/p>\n

Estrogen is the biggest influencer. You skin relies heavily on the hormone for adequate blood flow, sebum regulation, to stay hydrated, resilient, structurally intact, radiant…the list is long. In a word, estrogen is magic for the Quicksilver state of your menopausal complexion. \u201cAs natural amounts decline, so does collagen production, elasticity, moisture retention, and the strength of the skin barrier<\/a>,\u201d says Caren Campbell<\/a>, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in San Francisco, CA. The consequences can be surprisingly swift and drastic: Fine lines become more visible, wounds heal slower, the skin gets thinner, drier, more crepey, and as if overnight, you can become highly sensitive to everything due to a weakened barrier that doesn\u2019t properly keep irritants out. <\/p>\n

But here\u2019s the beauty of estrogen therapy: Research<\/a> shows it can significantly increase collagen content, dermal thickness, elasticity, and hydration within a year of treatment. One meta-analysis<\/a> found that hormone therapy led to stronger facial skin and barrier, better healing, and a more robust skin immune system. Restoring physiologic levels of the hormone essentially brings back that internal support system your skin desperately needs. <\/p>\n

Progesterone and testosterone also play their roles in how your skin looks and functions. \u201cThough their effects are more subtle and can depend on dosage, delivery method, and individual sensitivity,\u201d says Dr. Hovenic. \u201cSome women tolerate them easily and benefit from some anti-inflammatory and skin-thickening effects and barrier support, while others may notice more oil production, acne, and increased inflammation.\u201d <\/p>\n

To make this whole complex landscape clearer, here\u2019s a breakdown of each therapy and what you might encounter in the mirror as a result.<\/p>\n

Estrogen Therapy<\/strong><\/p>\n