Do you age faster without estrogen?

Author: Dr. Lia Hammes Jr.  |  Last update: Sunday, July 6, 2025

Estrogen deficiency following menopause results in atrophic skin changes and acceleration of skin aging.

Does estrogen make you look younger?

Estrogens have significant effects on skin physiology and modulate epidermal keratinocytes, dermal fibroblasts and melanocytes, in addition to skin appendages including the hair follicle and the sebaceous gland. Importantly, skin aging can be significantly delayed by the administration of estrogen.

Will I age quicker without HRT?

Their clock found that post-menopausal women and people with gynae organs on combined HRT (with progesterone and oestrogen) had slower cell ageing than those not on HRT, which could explain why HRT has previously been linked to lower risk of some age-related diseases.

Does lack of estrogen make you age?

During menopause, lower levels of estrogen have a big impact on your skin. Less estrogen makes you prone to thinning, sagging, and wrinkling. Fortunately, you can relieve some of the skin-related effects of aging by taking care of your specific skin care needs.

What happens if you don't replace estrogen?

Because early loss of estrogen increases the risks of many conditions, including cardiovascular disease, people who lose their estrogen before age 40 are at risk for heart disease if they don't use hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

How to Fix Your Low Estrogen Levels

What happens to a woman with no estrogen?

These lower hormone levels cause a number of health issues throughout your body: Brain and nervous system – You experience a mix of physical and emotional symptoms like mood swings, memory loss, irritability, hot flashes, fatigue, night sweats, anxiety, and depression.

What happens if you suddenly stop taking estrogen?

If you stop HRT abruptly, your hormone levels will drop from high to low within a short amount of time. As a result, your body may go into 'overnight menopause', and bothersome symptoms like hot flushes, sleep disturbances, and mood changes may quickly reappear, disrupting your daily life.

At what age does your face change most?

In your 40s, your ageing skin can become drier, making lines and wrinkles more pronounced. You continue to lose subcutaneous fat, but not equally from all areas. Fat pads around the cheeks and above the mouth are generally the first to go, followed by fat from around the sides of the mouth, chin and jawline.

What does a low estrogen face look like?

Low estrogen skin tends to be thinner, showing more visible blemishes and wrinkles. Low estrogen skin also has lower collagen reserves. Collagen is the naturally occurring protein that keeps your skin looking smooth and full.

What happens to a woman when she no longer produces estrogen?

Low estrogen: May delay puberty, slow or prevent sexual development. Occurs in perimenopause and menopause, often leading to painful sex, lower sexual desire and hot flashes.

What age should a woman stop taking estrogen?

North American Menopause Society 2022: “Hormone therapy does not need to be routinely discontinued in women aged older than 60 or 65 years and can be considered for continuation beyond age 65 for persistent VMS [vasomotor symptoms, ie.

Will I look older without HRT?

Does HRT reverse skin ageing? HRT may help improve certain aspects of skin ageing, such as reducing wrinkles and improving skin hydration, but it does not reverse skin ageing completely.

How to tell if you have low estrogen?

Irregular periods, hot flashes, difficulty sleeping, mood swings, and headaches can all be signs of low levels of the hormone estrogen in women. The most common cause of low estrogen is perimenopause, your body's transition into menopause, but other factors can be involved.

What does a woman with high estrogen look like?

High levels of estrogen can cause weight gain, particularly around the breasts, belly, hips, and thighs – feminine curves, if you will. Fat cells also produce estrogen, albeit a different form of estrogen than what our ovaries make.

What does estrogen do to your face?

Estrogen's key role in maintaining the skin's structural and functional integrity is well established with evidence that shows that estrogens are essential for skin hydration, sebum production, improved barrier function of the stratum corneum, and increased collagen and elastin content (Duarte et al., 2016, Verdier- ...

Is it better to go through menopause without HRT?

Menopause is a highly personal change - it has different symptoms and experiences for everyone. For people with certain existing conditions and risk factors, it will definitely be better to go through menopause naturally. Others may choose to. And, for some, HRT is the only suitable option.

Which hormone is called the beauty hormone?

Estrogen is often considered the “beauty hormone” due to its positive effects on skin. It plays a vital role in: Collagen production: Estrogen helps maintain skin thickness and elasticity by stimulating collagen production, which keeps skin firm and youthful.

What are the facial signs of high estrogen levels?

In women, feminine facial shape (e.g., small jaw, small nose, and reduced interocular distance) is linked to higher estrogen (see Law Smith et al., 2006) and superior immune function (Foo et al., 2020 While the face might be the center of our visual attention, the human body contains numerous morphological features - ...

Can estrogen reverse skin aging?

They involved menopausal and postmenopausal women who used topical estrogen — including in gels, creams, ointments and patches — on their faces, abdomen, buttocks, forearms and thighs. The authors concluded that it was “plausible” that estrogen could minimize wrinkles and improve skin dryness, texture and elasticity.

At what age does a woman's beauty peak?

After surveying over 16,000 individuals across eight different countries who were all asked at what ages they think men and women are most beautiful, the data found that the overall average age where women are found to be most attractive is 28.

What makes a woman look older than her age?

Skin: Things like excessive sun damage, liver spots, and enlarged pores are common foes that age our skin quicker than we'd like. Another thing that may affect your skin and make it look older is an uneven complexion caused by loss of collagen and elastin.

What ages your face fastest?

MYTH 3: Dry skin ages faster

The main cause of prematurely aging skin is sun exposure. Other factors include smoking, lifestyle choices, and exposure to pollution. Exposure to these factors breaks down collagen fibers, which are responsible for keeping the skin looking youthful and plump.

What happens when you no longer have estrogen?

The years after menopause can present new and unique health challenges. Some of the more bothersome symptoms of menopause (like hot flashes and night sweats) may disappear. But decreased estrogen levels put you at risk for health conditions like osteoporosis and heart disease.

Is it better to not take estrogen?

No, menopausal women do not need to take estrogen and progesterone. However, they can be helpful in treating hot flashes and night sweats for certain patients. Every woman is different. Some may not experience bothersome symptoms associated with menopause, which occurs 12 months after a woman's last period.

What happens when a woman goes off estrogen?

The most likely risk is that your menopausal symptoms return. Some research also suggests a rise in blood pressure and a slight increase in risk of heart attack or stroke in the year after stopping HRT. But overall, the risks of stopping HRT are low. And you can do it in a slow, comfortable, and safe way.

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