Peri-menopause and menopause are marked by a reduction in estrogen production and the skin is the largest non-reproductive organ in the body that utilizes estrogen. It’s not surprising then, that skin changes post-menopause are one of the most unwelcome, yet readily recognizable, signs of aging. Skin thickness is gradually reduced, and skin loses moisture, elasticity, collagen protein content, lubricating sebum, fatty acid protection from inflammation, and wound healing capacity. The changes occur gradually, so that one day a closer look in the mirror reveals some unwelcome surprises. While most women seek remedies for what they observe in the mirror, clinicians may worry more about what is happening to her bones. As we age, changes in collagen protein occur that account for the age-related skin changes. They also contribute to deterioration in bone quality and quantity. Can skin wrinkling, therefore, be an early warning sign of bone loss?
A group of scientists at Yale University thinks so. The Yale study looked at the effects a drop in estrogen had among 114 early postmenopausal women. This is the period when estrogen loss may be the most rapid. As part of the study, the scientists evaluated skin wrinkling and sagging as compared to bone mineral density tests (BMD). They found that more skin wrinkling throughout the body was associated with having lower bone density in the spine, femoral neck of the hip, and other body sites. By contrast, smoother skin with less wrinkling was linked to greater BMD at those same locations.
There were other interesting connections between wrinkling and BMD that were presented in an abstract of the Yale study at the Endocrine Society Meeting June 4-7, 2011. More forehead wrinkles were found to correlate with lower bone density in the femoral neck, while skin firmness in the face and forehead was tied to stronger bones at the hip and spine. These data and conclusions are preliminary and have not been published in a peer-reviewed journal.
While the reported observations are tantalizing, they need to be substantiated before skin wrinkling may be accepted as an indicator of bone loss. Still, check your family history. Was there a connection between skin wrinkling and loss of bone? Maybe it’s time to make sure your bones are O.K.
Lubna Pal, M.D.; #P3-126. Presented at: The Endocrine Society 93rd Annual Meeting & Expo; June 4-7, 2011; Boston MA.
