Inverted skin changes induced by estrogen and estrogen/glucocorticoid on aging dermis.

To evaluate hormone replacement therapy effects at the peripheral level, the present trial explored the oral effects of mestranol (80 micrograms/day for 10 days) and mestranol plus paramethasone (80 micrograms + 6 mg/day for 10 days) on the skin of postmenopausal women. This double-blind study included 13 patients. Skin biopsies were obtained from the thigh area by a single punch, 5 mm in diameter, before and after treatment, and the sections, six per sample, were micrometrically evaluated. Various features of the epidermis and dermis layers were stained using the hematoxylin and eosin, Masson, Verhoeff's and Gomori techniques. Statistically significant changes were found in the papillar dermis thickness; mestranol reduced it and mestranol plus paramethasone increased it. The current results encourage widening these observations of the possible advantage of this estrogen/glucocorticoid combination, in order to alleviate the cellular degenerative process.