In this solo episode of The Skin Pause, Dr. Corinne Erickson—board-certified dermatologist and Menopause Society Certified Practitioner—takes a careful, evidence-based look at one of the most common and controversial questions she hears from patients and colleagues alike: Should estrogen creams be used on the face for skin health? This episode is not a protocol, recommendation, or one-size-fits-all answer. Instead, it is a review of what the scientific literature shows, where limitations exist, and how clinicians and patients can think clearly and responsibly when evidence is evolving. Important Notes & Disclaimers This episode is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.Dr. Erickson is not promoting specific products, does not financially benefit from topical estrogen formulations discussed, and has no industry relationships related to facial estrogen products.Use of estrogen on the face is off-label. Any hormone-based therapy should involve individualized discussion with a qualified healthcare professional.Study data discussed includes small clinical trials, observational studies, and mechanistic research. Large, long-term randomized trials specific to facial estrogen use are limited.Estrogen receptors are present throughout the skin. Both estrogen receptor alpha and estrogen receptor beta are expressed in cutaneous tissues. ER-β predominates in many skin compartments and appears to mediate several local cutaneous effects, while ER-α plays a larger role in estrogen’s proliferative effects in reproductive tissues such as the uterus and breast. Receptor presence does not imply uniform function, and tissue response depends on dose, formulation, and route of exposure. Download the complete reference PDF: theskinpause.com/topical-estrogen-pdf Schmidt JB, Binder M, Demschik G, et al. Treatment of skin aging with topical estrogens. Int J Dermatol. 1996;35(9):669–674.Schmidt JB, Binder M, Macheiner W, et al. Treatment of skin aging symptoms in perimenopausal females with estrogen compounds. Maturitas. 1994;20:25–30.Kainz C, Gitsch G, Stani J, et al. When applied to facial skin, does estrogen ointment have systemic effects? Arch Gynecol Obstet. 1993;253:71–74.Brincat MP. Skin and menopause. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2000;1(4):191–200.Brincat M, Moniz CF, Studd JWW. Long-term effects of the menopause and sex hormones on skin thickness. Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 1985;92:256–259.Callens A, Vaillant L, Lecomte P, et al. Does hormonal ageing exist? Br J Dermatol. 1996;135(5):770–775.Thornton MJ. Estrogens and aging skin. Dermato-Endocrinology. 2013;5(2):264–270.Verdier-Sévrain S, Bonte F, Gilchrest B. Biology of estrogens in skin. Exp Dermatol. 2006;15(2):83–94.Ashcroft GS, Greenwell-Wild T, Horan MA, et al. Estrogen accelerates cutaneous wound healing. Nat Med. 1999;5(11):1209–1215.Draelos ZD. Phytoestrogens and skin aging. Dermatol Ther. 2007;20(5):305–310.Lephart ED. Equol’s anti-aging effects via estrogen receptor beta activation. Rejuvenation Res. 2016;19(4):290–299.Draelos ZD. A double-blind randomized pilot study evaluating topical methyl estradiolpropanoate (MEP). J Drugs Dermatol. 2018;17(11):1186–1189.Cohen J, Downie J. An open-label study evaluating periorbital rejuvenation with MEP in estrogen-deficient skin. J Drugs Dermatol. 2022;21(11):1185–1190.Santen RJ, et al. Managing menopausal symptoms in breast cancer survivors. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2010;95(10):4462–4474.Enjoy 15% off peri and menopause skincare at clearaestheticsmd.com/store with code PAUSE15 Instagram: @theskinpause & @drcorinneerickson Website: theskinpause.com
