It is often noticed that after the menopause women begin to age faster.
Wrinkles spread rapidly, skin quickly loses elasticity and smoothness.
To a large degree this seems to result from the decline in estrogen levels after the menopause. Of all hormones that decline with age, estrogens have the most dramatic effect on the skin. Estrogens are known to protect women from heart disease, and now it seems that they also slow down skin aging. Several studies indicate that postmenopausal women on estrogen replacement therapy develop less wrinkles and have better skin texture and elasticity than those not taking estrogens. While going on estrogen replacement is a complex decision requiring the analysis of one's medical history, women after menopause can get the skin benefits of estrogen with topical preparations.