Sex hormone changes at menopause contribute to declining skin health. How menopause and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) impact skin’s inflammatory response is not well understood. We investigated the impact of HRT on sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)-induced skin inflammation in post-menopausal women.
In post-menopausal women with (+HRT, n = 9; 54yrs [48 – 63 yrs]) and without (–HRT, n = 11; 56 yrs [48 – 63 yrs]) HRT treatment, SLS (1.25%) was applied to skin to induce an irritant response. Twenty-four hours post-SLS removal, irritant dermatitis was assessed clinically, and changes to skin barrier proteins and immune cells were quantified in untreated and treated skin by immunofluoresence. Clinically, there were no significant differences in skin irritant responses between those taking or not taking HRT. In response to SLS-challenge, thicker filaggrin (p<0.05) and keratin-10+ (p<0.01) layers were found in the +HRT group vs the –HRT group, but no differences were found in untreated skin. Following SLS-challenge macrophage infiltration increased in both groups; a significantly greater response of CD68hi M1-like macrophages was seen in the reticular dermis of the +HRT group vs the -HRT group (p<0.01). In SLS-treated skin, fewer mast cells were found in the +HRT group vs the –HRT group (p<0.05). Epidermal Langerhans’ cell (LC) numbers were unaffected, however, dermal CD207+ cells, indicative of migrating LCs, increased significantly following SLS-treatment in the +HRT group vs the –HRT group (p<0.01). Thickening of filaggrin and keratin-10+ epidermal regions could reflect an enhanced barrier response in those receiving HRT; combined with increased dermal macrophage infiltration and migrating LCs, this may contribute to an improved repair response in these individuals. As higher dermal mast cell numbers are indicative of an aged phenotype, HRT further mirrors traits of younger skin.

ESDRLB010 - The impact of hormone replacement therapy on skin inflammation in post-menopausal women

50th Annual Meeting of the European Society for Dermatological Research. VIRTUAL MEETING