title: The effects of systemic hormonal replacement therapy on the skin of postmenopausal women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the effects of hormonal replacement therapy on the skin of postmenopausal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-one postmenopausal women were randomly allocated to receive either hormonal replacement (valerate estradiol--2 mg/day for 21 days and cyproterone acetate--1 mg/day for 10 days) or placebo, both in a cyclic scheme for 6 months. Neither patients nor investigators were aware of the group allocation. Histologic changes were evaluated by skin biopsy of the left upper arm at baseline and after 6 months of treatment, utilizing computerized image analysis to assess the ratio area of epidermis/basement membrane length (AE/BML), ratio area of keratin/basement membrane length (AK/BML) and collagen and elastic fibers content.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Collagen content of the left upper arm increased after 6 months of treatment only in the hormonal group (+6.49%; P < 0.05). Other parameters did not present any significant alteration after treatment in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hormonal replacement for climacterics increases skin collagen content.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetric and Gynecology, Hospital das Clínicas of University of São Paulo Medical School, Brazil. qb02834@zaz.com.br
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Sauerbronn
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Fonseca
authors.forename: V R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Bagnoli
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Saldiva
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Pinotti
mesh_terms: D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis; D017373:Cyproterone Acetate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004958:Estradiol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000502:physiology; D045167:Progesterone Congeners / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D045167:Progesterone Congeners; D017373:Cyproterone Acetate; D004958:Estradiol; D003094:Collagen