The influence of female sex hormones on skin thickness: evaluation using 20 MHz sonography

Abstract

Changes in skin thickness and echodensity during the spontaneous menstrual cycle, in women taking hormonal contraceptives and pregnant women were investigated by high-frequency (20 MHz) ultrasound. Women with a spontaneous ovulatory menstrual cycle (group I), women taking one-phase contraceptives (group II), women taking three-phase contraceptives (group III) and pregnant women (group IV) were measured at the following locations: proximal and distal forearm and lower leg on both sides. The skin was investigated during three phases of the menstrual cycle: days 2-4 (phase A), days 12-14 (phase B) and days 20-22 (phase C). Oestradiol and progesterone levels were determined at each phase. The pregnant women were investigated 2 weeks prepartal and 6 weeks after delivery. Group I showed a statistically significant increase in the skin thickness from phase A to phase B, but not from phase B to phase C. Group II showed no significant changes in skin thickness, whereas the skin thickness increased from phase A to phase B in group III. In group IV, the skin was significantly thicker prepartal than after delivery. The measured echodensity showed a negative correlation with skin thickness in group III and in pregnant women. We were able to demonstrate that the status of female sex hormones influences the thickness of the skin. These results can be explained by hormone-induced water retention in the skin. Sonography at 20 MHz is able to quantify these effects, which should be considered when performing ultrasound measurement in women.

Differences in Corneocyte Surface Area in Pre- and Post-Menopausal Women

“…The number of cell layers has been reported to increase slightly with age especially in men [39]. The positive influence of estrogens on skin thickness in females has also been shown [40][41][42]. Other factors that influence the corneocyte size, such as UV irradiation [43] and corticosteroid application [44], both lead to a decrease in corneocyte size.…”

Influence of epidermal hydration on the friction of human skin against textiles

“…formation of a greater true contact area) upon the iterative soaking procedure. Greater epidermal and dermal thickness (Seidenari et al 1994;Eisenbeiss et al 1998), greater corneocyte surface area (Fluhr et al 2001), as well as lower surface roughness R a and higher furrow density of forearm skin (Lagarde et al 2005) have been reported for pre-menopausal women compared with men in the same age group. Until now, no significant gender differences have been reported for skin friction (Cua et al 1990(Cua et al , 1995Kenins 1994;Sivamani et al 2003c).…”

“…We attribute these variations to the menstrual cycle that is normally associated with changes in sex hormone levels (e.g. oestrogen), as well as in the water balance (Berardesca et al 1989;Eisenbeiss et al 1998). In the pre-menstrual phase, for example, the human body retains large amounts of salts and water.…”

A Novel Measure of In-Vivo Knee Joint Laxity

“…Increases in skin thickness were seen in women on three-phase oral contraceptives during mid-cycle when taking a high dose of estradiol. The same was observed in women with a normal spontaneous menstrual cycle during days 12-22 when estradiol levels typically peak and remain high (Eisenbeiss, et al, 1998). A small number of studies have investigated the effect of water content on ligament behavior.…”