Sensitive skin at menopause; dew point and electrometric properties of the stratum corneum

• Published in: Maturitas Vol. 28; no. 3; pp. 221 - 227
• Main Authors: Paquet, F, Piérard-Franchimont, C, Fumal, I, Goffin, V, Paye, M, Piérard, G.E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 12-01-1998; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Emollient; Environmental humidity; Epidermis - drug effects; Epidermis - physiology; Estrogen Replacement Therapy - standards; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) - pharmacology; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) - therapeutic use; Female; Galvanic Skin Response - drug effects; Galvanic Skin Response - physiology; Hormones. Endocrine system; Humans; Humidity; Medical sciences; Medrogestone - pharmacology; Medrogestone - therapeutic use; Menopause; Menopause - drug effects; Menopause - physiology; Middle Aged; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Progesterone Congeners - pharmacology; Progesterone Congeners - therapeutic use; Sensitive skin; Skin Tests - methods; Stratum corneum; Environmental humidity; Stratum corneum; Sensitive skin; Emollient; Menopause; Human; Chemotherapy; Replacement therapy; Hydration; Female; Skin; Sex steroid hormone; Cutaneous sensitivity
• ISSN: 0378-5122; 1873-4111
• DOI: 10.1016/S0378-5122(97)00079-0

Objective: A number of menopausal women experience skin sensitive to various environmental threats.
Method: Two panels of 15 menopausal women on or without HRT were compared. We studied the response of their stratum corneum to variations in environmental humidity, either in air or in response to an emollient. Environmental dew point and electrometric measurements on the skin were recorded to search for correlations.
Results: Data show that the baseline stratum corneum hydration is influenced by the dew point. HRT improves the barrier function of the skin. The use of emollient further extends the improvement in the functional properties of skin in menopausal women.
Conclusion: Both HRT and an emollient can counteract in part some of the deleterious effects of cold and dry weather.