Skin wrinkles and rigidity in early postmenopausal women vary by race/ethnicity: baseline characteristics of the skin ancillary study of the KEEPS trial.
OBJECTIVE
To characterize skin wrinkles and rigidity in recently menopausal women.


METHODS
Baseline assessment of participants before randomization to study drug.


METHODS
Multicenter trial, university medical centers.


METHODS
Recently menopausal participants enrolled in the Kronos Early Estrogen Prevention Study (KEEPS).


METHODS
Skin wrinkles were assessed at 11 locations on the face and neck using the Lemperle wrinkle scale. Skin rigidity was assessed at the forehead and cheek using a durometer.


METHODS
Skin wrinkles and rigidity were compared among race/ethnic groups. Skin wrinkles and rigidity were correlated with age, time since menopause, weight, and body mass index (BMI).


RESULTS
In early menopausal women, wrinkles, but not skin rigidity, vary significantly among races, where black women have the lowest wrinkle scores. In white women, chronological age was significantly correlated with worsening skin wrinkles, but not with rigidity. Skin rigidity correlated with increasing length of time since menopause, however, only in the white subgroup. In the combined study group, increasing weight was associated with less skin wrinkling.


CONCLUSIONS
Skin characteristics of recently menopausal women are not well studied. Ethnic differences in skin characteristics are widely accepted, but poorly described. In recently menopausal women not using hormone therapy (HT), significant racial differences in skin wrinkling and rigidity exist. Continued study of the KEEPS population will provide evidence of the effects of HT on the skin aging process in early menopausal women.
Wolff
Erin
E
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA.
Pal
Lubna
L
Altun
Tugba
T
Madankumar
Rajeevi
R
Freeman
Ruth
R
Amin
Hussein
H
Harman
Mitch
M
Santoro
Nanette
N
Taylor
Hugh S
HS
D000367:Age Factors; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004548:Elasticity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D010919:Placebos; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000187:drug effects / Q000208:ethnology / Q000502:physiology*; D045167:Progesterone Congeners / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D044469:Racial Groups; D015595:Skin Aging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000502:physiology*; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects
D010919:Placebos; D045167:Progesterone Congeners; D004958:Estradiol