Susan's Place Transgender Resources

I was wondering if HRT will help reduce wrinkles. I am just starting to get some on my face and I am a bit worried. I was wondering  what what results you were having and if anyone had any good results from lotions or anything for that matter.

Thanks


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I didn't have wrinkles when I started HRT so I can't answer that but just look after your skin, moisturise everyday and don't go in the sun without sunscreen.

Some people are more expressive than others, wrinkles from smiles isn't a bad thing

I didn't have wrinkles when I started either. It's possible it could help, but I wouldn't bet on it getting rid of wrinkles. Hugs
Mariah

Plenty of genetic women get wrinkles! HRT might help you a bit, at least initially - but if you have them consider avoiding lifestyle behaviours and diet that may be behind wrinkles (too much sun, smoking, alcohol, bad food) and look into a good moisturising and skin care routine as that will make a bigger difference...

Thanks for the feedback girls. I definitely wanted to know the effects of a the hormones but also wanted to know what everyone was using for skin products and if they had good results. I know I was not clear on that in my post.

I have been moisturizing everyday for the last couple of months with a high end cream I got from my laser place. My wife says my skin has definitely improved and now I also use Oil of Olay anti-aging cream too everyday to try and combat some of the wrinkles that are starting.

I have many years of sun damage and at least one more to go because of work but I will definitely be all about the sun block this year.

I was just hoping to have a couple of years as the woman I always knew that I was before aging hit to hard.


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Quote from: EmilyClark on January 15, 2016, 08:23:20 AM
Thanks for the feedback girls. I definitely wanted to know the effects of a the hormones but also wanted to know what everyone was using for skin products and if they had good results. I know I was not clear on that in my post.

I have been moisturizing everyday for the last couple of months with a high end cream I got from my laser place. My wife says my skin has definitely improved and now I also use Oil of Olay anti-aging cream too everyday to try and combat some of the wrinkles that are starting.

I have many years of sun damage and at least one more to go because of work but I will definitely be all about the sun block this year.

I was just hoping to have a couple of years as the woman I always knew that I was before aging hit to hard.


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I've been using olay for about 15 years, with spf 15 in it. Not a high end product but I like it and haven't got any wrinkles in those 15 years.

The best moisturizer in the world is progesterone and with estrogen should slow down signs of ageing. This has been confirmed by several studies. Both together keep skin hydrated, plump, more elastic and prevent dryness. I personally think those are enough to SLOW down (not stop) ageing, perhaps slightly reverse recent signs of ageing...keeping stress to a minimum is also VERY important and I believe hormones play a part also in making us less stressed. Avoiding staying in the sun too much, of course and all the other things mentioned by others.

I believe we are being duped by the cosmetic industry into believing all these products/moisturizers help with ageing. These products do not go deep enough in the skin and are unable to mimic the powerful effects hormones have on our skin. They only make us poorer and companies richer. :( My 2 cents...

Serenation, sounds like we are using the same product so I'm glad its worked well for you.

Kay, I appreciate your input and will definitely look into that cream. I do also agree that most of them are nothing more than a fancy moisturizer and are just trying to drain our purses.

Thanks ladies

Quote from: EmilyClark on January 15, 2016, 10:37:07 AM
Kay, I appreciate your input and will definitely look into that cream.

Progesterone is a hormone available in creams BUT usually taken orally (Prometrium, Utrogestan).

Hmm, I don't know if HRT would have any effects in the reduction of wrinkles.

Wrinkles apear when you stop producing collagen. I explained it a bit better in this article. Hope it helps!

http://pixie.life/anti-aging-creams-do-they-really-work/ (http://pixie.life/anti-aging-creams-do-they-really-work/)

Quote from: LadyEleanor on January 15, 2016, 02:29:19 PM
Hmm, I don't know if HRT would have any effects in the reduction of wrinkles.

Wrinkles apear when you stop producing collagen.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18794456

"Two-week topical estradiol treatment stimulates collagen production in sun-protected hip skin, but not in photoaged forearm or face skin, in postmenopausal women and aged-matched men. These findings suggest that menopause-associated estrogen decline is involved in reduced collagen production in sun-protected skin. Interestingly, alterations induced by long-term sun exposure hinder the ability of topical 2-week estradiol to stimulate collagen production in aged skin."

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17653955

"Estrogens have a profound influence on skin. The relative hypoestrogenism that accompanies menopause exacerbates the deleterious effects of both intrinsic and environmental aging. Estrogens prevent skin aging. They increase skin thickness and improve skin moisture. Beneficial effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on skin aging have been well documented"

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17194967

"Estrogen treatment in post menopausal women has been shown to increase collagen content, dermal thickness and elasticity. Biophysical properties are also significantly improved for the parameters reflecting hydration and sebum secretion."

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16797821

"Our data suggested that topical estrogen associated to systemic estrogen therapy seems to increase the expression of skin collagen amount, which may prove to be beneficial for the postmenopausal facial skin."

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10656502

"Our data suggest that the decrease of skin collagen is an estrogen-related phenomenon."

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15507111

"The skin is a target organ for various hormones, and sex steroids have a profound influence on the aging process. A decrease in sex steroids thus induces a reduction of those skin functions that are under hormonal control. Keratinocytes, Langerhans' cells, melanocytes, sebaceous glands, collagen content and the synthesis of hyaluronic acid, for example, are under hormonal influence. Topical application of estrogens has a positive effect on skin aging parameters, whilst numerous studies have also shown the positive influence of systemic hormone replacement therapy on skin aging."

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6416400

"The implication of this finding is that oestrogen or testosterone, or both, prevents the decrease in skin collagen content that occurs with aging and protects skin in the same way as it protects bone in postmenopausal women."

And on and on...I have full studies explaining it in more detail. I think it's pretty unequivocal. But, sun damaged skin is less likely to recuperate. :(

p.s.: risks mentioned in studies, associated with estrogen are those found with non bio-identical estrogen, not bio-identical.

wrinkles apear before women stop producing significant amounts of estrogen.

Quote from: EmilyClark on January 14, 2016, 06:18:27 PM
I was wondering if HRT will help reduce wrinkles. I am just starting to get some on my face and I am a bit worried. I was wondering  what what results you were having and if anyone had any good results from lotions or anything for that matter.

Thanks


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Trans women get beautiful skin, while us trans guys' skin goes down the crapper when we block our estrogen and add testosterone.  It is obvious to me the change in trans women I have known prior to HRT.  Their skin gets softer and smoother looking.  they become radiant.  Does it decrease the wrinkles, I don't know, but it definitely looks like it does from where I am.

I definitely have noticed an increase in wrinkles since testosterone.

Seems to me when it comes to skin it is all down from here for us guys and all up from here for you women!  :)

I drank very heavily till age 36 and used some drugs ( a fair amount when I was younger). I smoked till age 45. I am 53 and have been on HRT 2 years 7 months. I noticed a great reduction of the minor wrinkles I had. Also, I started using coconut oil on my face a year ago. My Mom and dad had very minor wrinkles too as well as my brother and sister. My brother has put a large amount of drugs and alcohol and tobacco through his system. My dad died at 60 and I expect my brother will too. My sister drinks a fair amount and weekends she drinks to excess.

Estrogen and progesterone and negligible T, coconut oil and genetics make a big difference. 

My trainer expressed how my face has no lines or wrinkles. Both of the woman that do my face electrolysis said the same too.

There is a woman at work that is 2 days younger than me. Never smoked or did drugs and drinks very little. She has a lot of wrinkles. Also her hands look old too. My hands look young. 

I've been trying to take better care of my skin since transitioning.  There is a website that I've found to be very helpful -- skintour.com.  It seems to be run by a practical dermatologist. 

She's a big advocate for:
- daily use of a high-quality sunscreen (she tells you what ingredients to look for)
- Retinol (vitamin A) for wrinkles
- Vitamin C gel
- moisturizing, but don't worry so much about the product price

Quote from: LadyEleanor on January 15, 2016, 05:57:13 PM
wrinkles apear before women stop producing significant amounts of estrogen.

A few things to consider...

1) Estrogen levels start to already significantly drop by late 30's, early 40's
2) Birth control pills taken by millions of women worldwide interfere with women's natural estradiol production. Estrogen in birth control pills (ethinyl estradiol), in doses taken, in terms of useful effects on skin/breasts, etc, is much less than would be naturally provided by their ovaries.
3) During menstrual cycles, estrogen levels increase AND decrease, reducing the benefit one would get from more constant high enough levels of estradiol, as is the case, for instance, during pregnancy or, in the case of transwomen.

All that aside, studies have unequivocally shown that estrogen affects positively such things as hyaluronic acid, collagen, skin thickness, etc. that, together, have a beneficial, significant impact on the appearance on wrinkles.

Since being on higher doses of estrogen (and progesterone), many have commented on my glow. I also pass for younger than when my doses were significantly lower.

I do have some wrinkles and facial scars and now that my skin is thinner they do seem to have diminished in appearance. But I love my crow's feet! I have earned my few wrinkles and intend to keep them!

HRT should be a combination of progesterone and estrogen. Progesterone stops cancer of the womb lining, so depending whether or not someone has had a hysterectomy at menopause makes docs decide if they go on a combined pill or just estrogen pill. That is my understanding from talking to endo's and reading about the medication I was prescribed.

I got switched from combined to just estrogen after srs. for reasons that my body is now the same as a early onset menopausal woman who has had a hysterectomy and that's how they treat women like me.

I was on progesterone for a decade or more previously.

Serena,

Do you remember the name of the combined pills, the active ingredients in them? I seriously doubt you were taking PROGESTERONE. Rather, you were taking a PROGESTIN. And I wonder if you were actually taking bio-identical estradiol.

Hysterectomized women DO take progesterone sometimes. Progesterone is more than just for protecting against uterine cancer in ciswomen. It has a plethora of benefits revealed by countless studies, among them, counteracting water retention with estrogen alone, dryness, brittle nails, increasing libido in some, improving memory and sleep, being neuroprotective, stimulating lobuloalveolar breast structure, increased fat deposition, improving mood, etc.

Quote from: KayXo on January 15, 2016, 04:26:31 PM

"The implication of this finding is that oestrogen or testosterone, or both, prevents the decrease in skin collagen content that occurs with aging and protects skin in the same way as it protects bone in postmenopausal women."

And on and on...I have full studies explaining it in more detail. I think it's pretty unequivocal. But, sun damaged skin is less likely to recuperate. :(

p.s.: risks mentioned in studies, associated with estrogen are those found with non bio-identical estrogen, not bio-identical.

KayXo you're always such a great source of information.  Thank you posting.

Paige :)

Mine have reduced.  That's probably partly because I quit smoking a year ago.  I use Argan oil on my skin during the day and coconut oil at night.  Both are supposed to be pretty good for skin.  The Argan oil soaks in and dries after a few min while the coconut oil stays pretty oily on the surface


Sapere Aude

Hormones that work from the inside out and affect the deeper layers of the skin are the ones which truly make a difference. I have my doubts about any oils or creams applied to the skin.

I'm not sure if the coconut oil does anything for wrinkles but it does cure dry skin.  I was getting really dry skin on my arms and a few days of the oil fixed it.


Sapere Aude

Dry skin can be naturally countered by progesterone without having to resort to creams/oils to make the superficial layer of skin feel less dry. All you are doing by applying these creams/oils is you are just covering the dry skin with oil on top and not really addressing the issue from within, increasing/stimulating sebum production, the skin's natural oil.

I'm already taking progesterone though.


Sapere Aude

Quote from: Deborah on February 06, 2016, 02:35:00 PM
I'm already taking progesterone though.

Are you taking enough? Is E too high relative to P, causing dry skin? Doctors tend not to prescribe a high enough dose of P to make a significant difference as P is metabolized quickly and has poor bio-availability. The reason why doctors are cautious about prescribing progesterone and higher doses is because they confuse it with medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) which has several detrimental effects on the body and psyche and because of the WHI study which showed deleterious effects of MPA.

Taking P with food increases bio-availability twofold but please advise your doctor beforehand if you intend to take it this way.

I think it's a pretty high dose but honestly I'm not sure.  I take it twice a day (hopefully that doesn't violate the dosage rule).  My E has never been really high but then it hasn't been measured since Sept. 

My face hasn't really had a dry skin problem.  It was mainly my arms and legs a few weeks ago so I'm not really sure what was going on since it largely cleared up.

I did change my diet a week ago so maybe that is contributing to an improvement.  Basically I have switched to the type diet you have suggested before.  So processed carbs are eliminated and total daily carbs cut by more than 50%.  Over the past week I have averaged 123g/day down from 300g or more per day before.

This really is a grand experiment. :-)


Sapere Aude

My face seems fine... but my skin has become so thin... and I lost a lot of weight so the combination of the two have caused my skin on my arms especially to be a little wrinkled.. Of course I used to have 18 inch guns.. and now they are about 12 inches.. and my forearms are skinny and I used to have huge forearms.. I suspect it must be the loss of muscle.
Keri

Estrogen helps the skin from thinning too much but the loss of T definitely makes skin thinner.