What changed

Oily and dry can both be true.

In the first decade after menopause, sebum can fall on average while women still differ a lot. Forehead Sebumeter work comparing about 50 untreated women and about 50 on HRT, not a cream trial.

The mechanism, in plain language

In the first decade after menopause, sebum excretion can fall on average while still varying widely between women, so oily and dry reports can both be true. That comes from forehead Sebumeter work comparing about 50 untreated women and about 50 women on HRT. It is not a cream trial. It is not a survey of how many women feel both at once.

The same literature notes that HRT can soften some follicle measures but does not simply control seborrhea. A separate open HRT study found about 7–15% greater thickness by site and about 35% higher casual sebum in treated women, while hydration scores were not different. Dry is not only about sebum.

Honesty limits

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

• Primary paper: Piérard-Franchimont and Piérard 2002. First post-menopause decade. Forehead Sebumeter. About 50 untreated and 50 on HRT.
• Untreated arm: declining sebum excretion rate, longer replacement time, larger mean pore size, huge between-woman spread.
• HRT arm: changes less prominent. Authors still say HRT does not significantly control seborrhea.
• Callens 1996 is open and non-randomized. Context only: treated women showed about 7–15% greater thickness by site and about 35% higher casual sebum in that study; hydration was not different.
• Nobody measured “oily and dry at once” as a prevalence percent. That is moment language for compatible reports.
• No cream sold on MenoDerm. No SisLuna. No HRT start, stop, or change instruction.

Piérard-Franchimont C, Piérard GE. Dermatology. 2002;204:17-22. doi:10.1159/000051804

Callens A et al. Dermatology. 1996;193:289-294. doi:10.1159/000246272