Can Estrogen Cream Really Improve Wrinkles and Dryness?

Estrogen creams have long been used as a hormone replacement therapy to help alleviate menopause symptoms—but recently, other topical estrogen creams have hit the skincare scene, marketed as a fix for signs of aging.

On TikTok and other social media platforms, creators and medical professionals have joined the conversation, with some claiming that estrogen creams can reduce the appearance of wrinkles on your face, add moisture, amplify collagen production, and more.

In a TikTok video with over 100,000 views, influencer Chalene Johnson told her followers that she started using estrogen cream after learning how women’s collagen levels drop after menopause.

“If you’re trying to make your skin look more youthful, get yourself some estrogen cream,” she recommended.

With these glowing online reviews, estrogen cream may seem like a no-brainer for anyone approaching or going through menopause. But can the treatment really solve your age-related skin issues? Possibly—but not necessarily, experts said.

There is some evidence that estrogen creams could be beneficial for skin health, but this research is only in its early stages.

“Long-term clinical trials on safety and efficacy are limited,” Kristina Collins, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Austin Skin, told Health. “And most research focuses on prescription estrogen, rather than over-the-counter [options].”

Here’s what we know so far about estrogen creams for anti-aging and whether experts recommend giving them a try.

When it comes to estrogen creams for skin, there are two distinct product options: the cream typically intended for vaginal use, and newer blends developed for anti-aging.

Vaginal creams are usually prescribed to treat menopause symptoms such as hot flashes or vaginal dryness, itching, and burning.

And they usually contain estradiol as the active form of estrogen. Sometimes, though, they may include other types of estrogens as well, said Brendan Camp, MD, board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology in New York.

Estrogen creams marketed specifically for anti-aging, on the other hand, have different formulations. According to Collins, they may use estrogen or estrogen-like compounds to address skin aging.

“They often contain estradiol, estriol, or plant-based phytoestrogens like genistein (from soy) or resveratrol (from grapes and berries),” she explained. “These ingredients aim to restore some of estrogen’s lost benefits on the skin, such as boosting collagen production, improving hydration, and enhancing elasticity.”

Generally, the hormone content of these creams is weaker than what you’d find in a vaginal cream, said Marianna Blyumin-Karasik, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and co-founder of Precision Skin and Body Institute in Florida.

Whereas the vaginal estrogen your doctor might prescribe as hormone replacement therapy is potent enough to reach your bloodstream, anti-aging estrogen creams are less concentrated, designed primarily for skin effects.

Though the two products are different, “prescription vaginal estrogen creams are used off-label to address skin concerns associated with menopause,” Camp told Health.

Anti-aging estrogen creams are largely marketed toward perimenopausal and postmenopausal women, since they’re most likely to experience hormone-related changes to their skin during this stage of life.

“As we go through perimenopause, our estrogen level in skin declines and that increases skin dryness, impairs skin barrier and wound healing, and decreases firming and plumping molecules such as collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid,” Blyumin-Karasik told Health.

Replacing lost estrogen could curtail some of these effects.

However, you should be careful with any product that tweaks the body’s natural balance of hormones—there is a possibility for some side effects.

For one, applying estrogen creams to your skin could result in some undesirable hormonal changes, Collins said. “Even though absorption is lower than oral estrogen, there is a potential for systemic effects, such as breast tenderness or changes in hormone-sensitive tissues,” she said.

Plus, more research is needed to determine whether estrogen skincare creams are safe for certain groups.

Younger people with normal estrogen levels should avoid these anti-aging creams, as should those with a history of hormone-sensitive conditions such as breast or uterine cancer, Collins said. It’s also best to avoid estrogen-based products if you have a blood clotting disorder, she recommended.

Vaginal estrogen creams have a long history of effectiveness when it comes to treating women’s health issues, such as vaginal dryness and painful sex. But for now, it is likely too soon to say the same about anti-aging estrogen creams.

These skin supplements are often poorly regulated and “vary widely in potency and formulation, making their efficacy and safety less predictable,” said Collins.

There are some promising studies out there on estrogen creams for skincare, though many are dated and small.

A 2001 study, for example, revealed that applying estrogen to the face increased hyaluronic acid and other healthy, hydrating acids in the skin. Similarly, a 2003 study of 65 people found that an estradiol cream outperformed a glycolic acid cream for increasing thickness in the skin’s outer layer.

More recently, a small 2018 study found that when estrogen-deficient women used a “cosmeceutical” with estrogen, they experienced less skin dryness, dullness, and atrophy than those in a control group.

Overall, Blyumin-Karasik called the research results “moderate and optimistic.”

But estrogen creams still may not be your dermatologist’s first line of defense for treating signs of skin aging. Other products—both over-the-counter and prescription—have a better, longer history of confirmed results.

“Early studies suggest that estrogen creams may improve age-related skin changes,” said Camp. “But until there is more evidence, it is recommended to use products and ingredients with a proven track record of efficacy, such as retinols, alpha and beta-hydroxy acids, antioxidants like vitamin C, and sunscreen.”

If you do want to try estrogen creams, however, look for a product that’s been third-party tested for quality and purity. And, as with any supplement, be sure to talk to your doctor before you start using one.