Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology (Aug 2022)
Factors Influencing Skin Aging and the Important Role of Estrogens and Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs)
Abstract
Edwin D Lephart,1 Frederick Naftolin2 1Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and The Neuroscience Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA; 2Department of Research and Development, e-Bio Corporation, Woodbridge, CT, USACorrespondence: Edwin D Lephart, Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and The Neuroscience Center, LS 4005, College of Life Sciences, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 84602, USA, Tel +801 422-2006 ; +801 319 8173, Fax +1 801 422 0700, Email [email protected]: The narrative for this overview focuses on updating the factors that influence skin aging and the important role estrogens and selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) play in this process (mainly utilizing journal reports and reviews from the last four years). Estrogens have been known and studied for over a century. For many years, it has been recognized that estrogens are important in the maintenance of human skin. Women seek cosmetic and medical treatments to improve dermal health and physical characteristics to enhance their self-perception and inhibit skin aging, particularly in highly visible body areas. The goal: to retain estrogen’s positive benefits while aging and especially at/after menopause where estrogen-deficient skin contributes to the dramatic decline in skin health. In this overview, both background information and recent novel findings are included that cover aging (general mechanisms), skin aging, and factors that influence skin aging (intrinsic, extrinsic, skin microbiome and gut microbiome.) Plus, estrogen’s general role in maintaining skin health is presented through the classical estrogen receptors alpha (α) and beta (β) and non-classical (or non-genomic) estrogen receptor (G protein-coupled seven transmembrane receptor). More importantly, the various benefits of 17β-estradiol in skin health are examined (ie, skin collagen and elastin profiles that follow 17β-estradiol levels during aging and at/after menopause). Finally, a revision of information for estrogenic skin topical applications involving isoflavonoid compounds that act as SERMs, but are classified as endocrine disruptors, and a topical estrogen analog are explored to update the known and unknown characteristics of these treatments. Further study is warranted to understand the biological and molecular mechanisms by which estrogens support and enhance dermal health and wellbeing.Keywords: estrogens, skin aging, estrogen receptors, SERMs, isoflavonoid, microbiome
