Influence of age and hormone replacement therapy on the functional properties of the lips.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the influence of age and hormonal status on some functional properties of the lips of women.


METHODS
Lips properties were measured and compared through four groups of women (young with normal menses, aged with normal menses, aged and menopaused, aged, menopaused receiving hormonal replacement therapy). The following parameters were recorded: sebum excretion rate on the forehead. On the lower lip: TEWL, mechanical damping, color, tactile acuity. Moreover, capacitance images of each lips were recorded and the mean capacitance measured.


RESULTS
Changes in TEWL, mechanical damping and tactile acuity appear clearly linked to age while the increase in lip darkness could be due to hormones. Sebum excretion rate is also clearly linked to hormonal status. Surprisingly, no changes of lips capacitance were detected vs. age or hormonal status. This study confirms that upper lip is more hydrated than the lower one.


CONCLUSIONS
Most of the parameters measured on the lips have similar variations than the same parameters measured on the skin. Only sebum and color appear being dependant on the hormonal status.
Caisey
Laurence
L
L'Oréal Recherche, Chevilly-Larue, France.
Gubanova
Elena
E
Camus
Christiane
C
Lapatina
Natalja
N
Smetnik
Vera
V
Lévêque
Jean-Luc
JL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D003116:Color; D004548:Elasticity; D025802:Electric Capacitance; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008046:Lip / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012629:Sebum / Q000378:metabolism*; D012869:Skin Absorption / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D012882:Skin Tests; D014110:Touch / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D014783:Viscosity; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism*
D004967:Estrogens; D014867:Water