Estrogen Cream for Aging Skin: Dermatologists Explain the Benefits and Risks
Once Popular, Now Trending Again—But Do These Moisturizers Pass Today’s Safety Standards?
Published: Jun 28, 2025
The Skin Benefits of Topical Estrogen Creams
The phrase “everything old is new again” couldn’t be truer than when it comes to trends in skincare and social media hype. Enter: estrogen creams. Yes, these hormone-based beauty moisturizers were popularized in the 1930s, and now they’re back, driven, in large part, by social media, especially TikTok.
But why the return? The science is compelling. Dr. Robyn Gmyrek, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, points out that women could see up to a 30% decrease in collagen within the first five years of menopause. This is mainly due to the fact that estrogen has a significant role to fill in activating skin receptors that create collagen and elastin, and because of decreased estrogen levels with menopause, women have a significant decline. It is thought that estrogen creams also stimulate the same receptors in the skin to fight for the collagen production and is a way of making the skin look like it has more of it.
After being sidelined due to safety concerns (more on that soon), estrogen creams are back with a vengeance. With a rising interest on social media – and some evidence from dermatology – they are being marketed as a cure for many signs of aging like dryness, fine lines, and sagging skin.
But how effective are they? And are they safe?
We spoke with leading dermatologists to put the facts behind this hormone-infused skin care revival into perspective.
How Estrogen Impacts Your Skin: The Role You Didn’t Know About
Surprisingly, estrogen is very important for your skin health. “It is required for keeping the skin firm, soft, and hydrated,” explains Dr. Jessie Cheung , a board-certified dermatologist specializing in hormone therapy based in Willowbrook, Illinois. Why? Because fibroblasts, the skin-supporting cells that are responsible for triggering collagen and elastin, contain estrogen receptors. These two proteins are crucial to keeping skin firm and elastic.
According to Dr. Robyn Gmyrek, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City, estrogen also helps to stimulate natural levels of hyaluronic acid in the skin, which not only now helps with moisture retention but also improves the skin barrier, protects against oxidative stress, and mitigates healing from damage or injury.
In other words, estrogen is a skin friend, eliciting a complexion that is dewy, resilient, and youthful looking.
As estrogen levels start to decline during perimenopause and menopause, many people notice a sudden increase in visible skin aging characterized by more dryness, fine lines and a loss of firmness.
Among the three main estrogens synthesized in the human body (estradiol (E2), estrone (E1), and estriol (E3)), estriol is the least potent but has been highlighted for its dermatologic use, especially in topical formulations addressing skin aging. Estriol may have a selective binding preference for estrogen receptors expressed primarily in the epidermis and dermis. This selective action may allow estriol to provide localized hormonal therapy.
“New data suggests that estriol may help improve dermal quality,” says Dr. Gmyrek. One industry-sponsored pilot study assessed a daily application of a 0.3% estriol cream for 12 weeks. Participants in this overlapped study reported statistically significant improvement in appearance (cutaneous elasticity), hydration level, and surface texture but experienced no systemic hormonal effects.
While further, larger peer reviewed studies are warranted, these reports indicated that estriol could provide a low-risk localized treatment for clinically impacted estrogen-deficient skin. This is particularly relevant in patients during perimenopause and post menopause.
Are there any health risks to using estrogen creams?
If you are worried about whether there are health risks to using estrogen creams on the skin – especially since estrogen has been linked to certain cancers – you will be glad to know that experts feel topical use is generally safe. Dr. McBride said, “Estrogen that is applied locally to the skin has little effect on the body hormone levels.”
Keep in mind that many of the creams contain estriol, which is a much weaker form of estrogen. According to Dr. Mona Foad, a board-certified dermotologist in Cincinnati, estriol has not been shown to stimulate breast or uterine cells in animal studies or clinical trials. This is in contrast to other estrogen formulations, like estradiol, which are typically prescribed for vaginal dryness. Estriol-based creams also tend to have less side effects, and cause less skin irritation, according to Dr. Mindy Goldman, an OBGYN in San Francisco who is also it’s chief clinical officer at Midi.
Still, be careful. Dr. Foad states that “topical estrogen products have hormonal effects so must generally be used carefully.” Even if the estrogen products are applied to the skin, they may be absorbed into the bloodstream, especially at high doses or with long-term use. Individuals who have a history of breast cancer- especially estrogen receptor-positive- should only start using these treatments after obtaining authorization by their healthcare provider, because the long-term safety of these for this population are not well known, says Dr. Cheung.
Should Estrogen Face Cream Be Part of Your Skincare Routine?
Our experts largely concur that using estrogen-containing topical products on the skin can be beneficial. But when would be the best time to begin? There is no set timeline because it is highly individualized. In general, the most notable skin changes due to hormonal fluctuations principally take place around the time of menopause, which usually happens around age 51.
On average, the transition to menopause, known as perimenopause can take four to six years, though in some instances, it can take up to ten years. For that reason, many women in their late 30ss and 40s can start to notice some early skin changes due to decreasing estrogen levels, elucidates Dr. Goldman. (Keep in mind that women currently using hormone replacement therapy, HRT, do not need to add additional estrogen creams for the skin, according to Dr. McBride.)
In addition to on the shelf estriol creams you can obtained the vast majority by prescription. You can also access these products through telehealth services such as Musely, Alloy, and Midi. Dr. Foad recommends that the best practice is to always consult a health care provider prior to using any topical estrogen product, especially if there is a personal and/or family history of hormone sensitive cancers such as breast or uterine cancer.
While topical estrogen may have significant favorable outcomes for skin health, it is not a panacea for changes due to aging. “I always recommend adding retinoids, alpha hydroxy acids, antioxidants, and sunscreen every day to both prevent and repair the signs of aging,” says Dr. Gmyrek. She also advised there is still limited research comparing estrogen creams with those well-known antiaging ingredients.
Ultimately, you want to build a skincare routine that is safe, sustainable, and customized for your skin’s individual needs. According to Dr. Cheung, more dermatologists are are noticing a trend toward individualized, regenerative aging treatments, and hormone-based products are perfect for this. “It’s not just about covering up signs of aging, it’s about creating health from within.”
Since every woman’s journey through menopause is unique, so should her skincare routine reflect her character.
