What changed

A jar promise for the face is not what this paper measured.

Short-term topical estradiol raised collagen markers on sun-protected hip skin, but not on photoaged face or forearm. A jar promise for the face is not what this paper measured.

The mechanism, in plain language

Short-term topical estradiol raised collagen markers on sun-protected hip skin, but not on photoaged face or forearm in that study, so a jar promise for the face is not what this paper measured. That is a short-term, vehicle-controlled topical estradiol study in older adults. Not a retail anti-aging cream trial. Not proof that a jar rebuilds facial collagen.

Rittié et al. (Archives of Dermatology, 2008) applied topical estradiol for 2 weeks in about 40 postmenopausal women and 30 men, mean age about 75. On sun-protected hip skin, procollagen I and III mRNA and collagen I protein increased. On photoaged face and forearm, there was no significant collagen induction, even though estrogen receptors and a GREB1 response were present at those sites. Hip is not face. Hip is not forearm.

A separate open study of early postmenopausal women found that about 1 year (about 12 months) of systemic estrogen alone or with progestin did not change the skin collagen parameters those authors measured. That is balance honesty, not a face-jar claim.

Honesty limits

This page explains papers. It does not tell you what your skin is doing.

• Primary brake: Rittié et al. 2008. Topical estradiol for 2 weeks. About 40 postmenopausal women and 30 men. Mean age about 75. Vehicle-controlled. Older adults. Not a retail jar trial.
• Hip (sun-protected): procollagen I and III mRNA and collagen I protein increased. Do not invent a hip fold-change percent from press summaries.
• Photoaged face and forearm: no significant collagen induction, despite estrogen receptors and GREB1 response at those sites. Site contrast is the point.
• Haapasaari et al. 1997. Maturitas. Open, non-randomized. Early post-menopause. About 43 women. About 1 year (about 12 months) of systemic estrogen alone or with progestin: null on the collagen parameters studied.
• Topical estradiol here is medical information only. Never a product call to action. Never an HRT start or stop instruction. Never a recommendation to use topical estrogen for facial anti-aging.
• No cream sold on MenoDerm. Chinese wall versus SisLuna. No Shop.

Rittié L et al. Arch Dermatol. 2008;144:1129-1140. doi:10.1001/archderm.144.9.1129

Haapasaari K-M et al. Maturitas. 1997;27:153-162. doi:10.1016/s0378-5122(97)01128-6