I have 4 friends who are in menopause. 2 are on synthetic hrt and 2 use the herbal remedies. Although the same age 52, the 2 that have been on hrt for approximately 4 to 5 years skin appears much more supple and youthful. Can anyone tell me if this is just my imagination? :o

Not sure but a friend recently let me read a book by Suzanne Somers (Sex was in the title, can't remember the whole thing) but....several doctors that she uses and highlights in her book advocate using bioidentical hormones forever because all of our symptoms are our bodies screaming for what we should have in our bodies. Interesting read. Has anyone else read this book. What do you all think about this theory.

I did read the Suzanne Somers book. It was very interesting and started my search for bio-identical HRT. It makes so much more sense to me than synthetic HRT which only seems to cover up unpleasant symptoms - what bio-identical seems to do is replace the actual hormones that our bodies would or have been producing. If one has the unpleasant meno symptoms there is no reason we shouldn't get some relief (hopefully bio-identical) Afterall, if you have a heart problem you wouldn't be expected to "Just deal with it"! When I first read the book I didn't really understand why she said it could be a long and tedious search to find the right care - now I do understand. It has been several months and I still haven't gotten to the right source to help with the HRT. I found this website late last week and have been trying to read everything - hopefully I will find some help here because I don't feel that I should have to deal with all of these crazy symptoms - I have 2 children that are very active and I love being able to be the "soccer mom". but want to feel halfway decent. So, I guess what I am saying is that I believe Suzanne Somers is right on track and hopefully one day soon western medicine will catch up....!

kammom, I'd say Western medicine will probably catch up to natural hormones in, oh, maybe 30 to 50 years? Doctors are COMPLETELY brainwashed by (and in the pocket of) the Big Pharmaceutical companies so it will take forever. They HATE natural supplements of any kind because it takes away from Big Pharma. We should all KEEP AT our doctors and demand they learn about this. Eventually, they may learn in order to get us off of their backs!

I've been using bioidentical HRT for about four years and think there is some truth to the idea that it has a positive affect on the skin. There's a book that discusses this very issue, Eve's Rib by Dr. Maianne Legato. The book is about gender-specific medicine and the information is both useful and interesting. Sections on HRT, osteoporosis and cardiovascular health were especially helpful. I got the book at my local public library, then bought a copy so I could refer to it whenever I chose.

There was an obvious change when I began an HRT regimen. The first thing I noticed was a difference in my facial skin. It did look smoother and tighter. I weaned off the HRT (last dosage was about 2 weeks ago) and the first sign I noticed was my skin changing.....disappointing at first; but it's "all" me.

I can also attest that after starting NHRT my skin looks better than it has in years. I'm sure no one would say to stay on it for this reason, but I'm telling you, it sure does help to have SOMETHING that's better during menopause. I saw Dr. Judith Reichmann on the Today show a few months ago and she says she has a compounding pharmacist make up topical estrogen cream for facial use. I've read several companies are trying to keep estrogen stable enough to formulate a face cream as well. Nice that Dr. Reichmann can prescribe this for herself! I'm betting my doctor would find it sheer vanity! Kimber

I have friends who stood brave and continued to take HRT Premarin. They too appear very youthful. I think the Premarin was made from the "urine of pregnant race-horses" as not one of them has gained one ounce since starting menopause. Maybe, I should get a cup, find the pony "stables" and get my own "sip"of youth... eewww yukkk (hehehe) Keep smiling and take care.

You know, it amazes me that women still use the synthetic stuff when pure estradiol is available at any pharmacy. Even estrace (oral) is identical to what our bodies make (and a lot of the patches). A lot of the prominent meno doctors say, Why in the world would a woman treat hormone loss with drugs (Premarin) instead of with the hormone (estradiol) they are losing? The drug just takes away some symptoms, but doesn't actually replace our own natural estrogen. Same for progesterone. It's just goofy the way a lot of us trust our doctors, when down the line we find out they are full of you-know-what.

They've done studies on skin and HRT. The skin's thickness was the same whether the woman took hormones, or not. Thicker skin is correllated with youth. The sun does the most skin damage!!!

I'm not necessarily suggesting that you use hormones to look better, but . . . I really have noticed my skin is clearer and more refined. I thought I'd seen some study somewhere, and a local compounding pharmacy has it on its website: Maturitas 2001 Jul 25;39(1):43-55 The influence of hormone replacement therapy on skin ageing: a pilot study. Sator PG, Schmidt JB, Sator MO, Huber JC, Honigsmann H. Department of Special and Environmental Dermatology, University of Vienna, General Hospital, Wahringer Gurtel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria. OBJECTIVES: We studied the effect of hormonal treatment on skin ageing in menopausal women. METHODS: Twenty-four patients (45-68 years; mean age, 54.9 years) without hormone treatment for at least 6 months were included. Patients were assigned to three therapy groups: 1, oestrogen only (Estraderm TTS 50) (n=6); 2, transdermal oestrogen and progesterone (Estraderm TTS 50 and 0.4 mg progesterone vaginal suppository) (n=7); and 3, oral oestrogen and progesterone (2 mg Progynova and 0.4 mg progesterone vaginal suppository) (n=8). One group without therapy was included as a control group (n=3). Treatment was continued for 6 months. Three patients, one from group 2 and two from group 3, discontinued therapy before the study endpoint. The following skin parameters were measured at monthly intervals during treatment: skin surface lipids, epidermal skin hydration, skin elasticity and skin thickness. Concomitant clinical evaluation included a subjective clinical evaluation form, a patient questionnaire and laboratory tests for oestradiol, progesterone and follicle stimulating hormone. RESULTS: Mean levels of epidermal skin moisture, elasticity and skin thickness were improved at the end of treatment based on both subjective and objective evaluation in patients with hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Skin surface lipids were increased during combined HRT, which may reflect stimulatory effects of the progestagen component on sebaceous gland activity, while oestrogen alone has a sebum-suppressive action. In the HRT groups, the questionnaire for climacteric complaints demonstrated significant improvements, while laboratory tests showed increases in oestradiol and progesterone and decreases in FSH. CONCLUSIONS: HRT with the mentioned regimes significantly improved parameters of skin ageing. H'mmmm . . . . Kimber

I think it makes complete sense that estrogen would improve skin aging. I can't remember her name, but a well-know dermatologist in NYC raves about it and makes a skin cream with estrogen that she says is just enough to affect skin, but doesn't increase blood levels to any significant degree, in case some women don't want additional estrogen in their bodies.

Conflicting studies, I guess!!! You also have to know who funded the study. God, am I a skeptic. I agree that estradiol is available in pill and patch form, so I use that. Estrogen is carcinogenic in it's natural form, however. Heavier women are at higher risk for breast cancer, because they retain more natural estrogen. Sunscreen will help prevent aging skin, likely more than estrogen. I get my Vitamin D via a pill.

Interesting ... I take no hormones and rarely use moisturizers since I've moved to FL. Used to have dry skin up north, now oily since I moved. I still look young for my age and stay out of the sun. I wonder if it is all the humidity and moisture in the air?

Instead of trashing the TriEst with progesterone, which made me feel worse, I should have smeared it on my face. That was a costly experiment.

Interesting, so I guess I should run out and buy some estrogen cream for my face!!!

Collage pharmqacy makes E facial cream but you need a Rx for it. I've too noticed facial skin improvement even I have good skin so far but it started sort of glowing for a month I took Biest but Progesteron ruined it for me, LOL. I will bring it up to my dr and see what he thinks. Interesting, that synthetics don't cause weight gain, wonder if they cause cancer or only naturals cause it.