GoodPharma Night Cream with Estrogen

Estrogen and Skin Aging

Hormones play an important function in skin physiology. The skin has a significant number of estrogen receptors, and estrogen plays a major role in the maintenance of collagen.  Collagen fibers are responsible for the skin’s resilience (structure, thickness, tone) and for the skin’s ability to retain water

The skin loses 30% of its collagen in the first five years after menopause and then 1% each year thereafter for the next 20 years.  This rate is comparable to the bone loss following menopause.   Although sun exposure and tobacco smoke are associated with premature skin aging, current evidence suggests that for women the years following menopause are more of a factor on skin quality than chronological age.

Women who have been on postmenopausal hormone therapy have been shown to have thicker, healthier skin with higher collagen content.  For women who are not interested in hormone therapy, the facial application of the estrogen, estriol (E3), contained in GoodPharma Night Cream Plus Estrogen has been shown to have positive effects on the skin without increasing estrogen levels throughout the body.

Because there only limited studies on overall absorption of estrogen from face creams and because certain women may have different absorption rates, this product is not recommended for those women who cannot tolerate any amount of additional estrogen (e breast cancer patients).  It is also likely that if this cream is used in larger quantities than recommended or to more areas than the face that some estrogen may be absorbed throughout the body.

One study has shown that 6 months use of treatment with estriol produced a significant increase in collagen with resultant increase is skin elasticity and firmness.  The participants in the study also showed  a substantial reduction in wrinkle depth and pore sizes and an increased ability of the skin to retain water.

Estrogen and Androgenic Acne

Androgenic acne occurs in females who have excess androgens (male hormones).  These women usually have excessive oily skin and flare-ups in the chin, jawbone, and lower face area.  Often this condition is accompanied by excessive hair growth in unusual places, premenstrual flare-ups, and irregular menstrual cycles.  The main treatment for these women is estrogen therapy, usually in the form of birth control pills, to suppress the effects of excess androgens.  Hormonal treatment is one of the few acne treatments to actually reduce the production of sebum that leads to clogged pores.

Recently, several local dermatologists have had some success in androgenic acne patients using the GoodPharma Night Cream with Estrogen.  The combination of estrogen which helps to suppress the sebum production and tretinoin which unplugs clogged pores seems to work well for these patients.

GoodPharma Night Cream plus Estrogen(E3) is an evening anti-wrinkle cream to help with fine lines, firming, and sun damage.  It is available on prescription only.  THIS PRODUCT CONTAINS ESTROGEN AND IS FOR WOMEN ONLY. This cream contains:

Estriol – a soy based estrogen that has been shown to improve skin aging symptoms in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women.  Significant improvements in elasticity, firmness, wrinkle depth, pore size, and collagen fibers were noted in a published study.

Tretinoin  (the active ingredient in Retin-A and Renova) – for use in improving sun damaged skin, lightening sun spots, and removing fine wrinkles.

Alpha Lipoic Acid –an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory that improves the overall appearance of the skin. It is particularly useful for acne scars and enlarged pores.

Coenzyme Q-10 – an antioxidant that helps to protect against free-radical damage. It is also used for fine line reduction

DMAE - an antioxidant membrane stabilizer that enhances the effects of antioxidants and acts as a firming agent.

Glycolic Acid - an alpha hydroxy acid that helps eliminate the dead surface cells of the skin.

Although the tretinoin in this product is low strength, it may make the skin more sensitive to sunlight.  Therefore, the product should only be used at bedtime and a sunscreen should be used during the day.

To minimize the risk of systemic hormonal effects, application should be limited to a pea-size amount daily. 

When used in a published study, this amount did not increase the overall estrogen levels in the body

Directions:

-          Wash and dry face at bedtime

-          put a pea-size amount on palm and use fingertip to dab small dots on face

-          pat skin to spread into a thin layer

-          wash off in morning and use a UVA/UVB sunscreen (SPF 15 or greater) during the day

If redness or irritation occurs, wait 30 minutes after washing and drying before applying and then apply every other day until irritation subsides. It may take 3-4 months before brown spots and freckles fade and fine wrinkles diminish.

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