SENSITIVE SKIN AT MENOPAUSE - DEW-POINT AND ELECTROMETRIC PROPERTIES OF THE STRATUM-CORNEUM

Objective: A number of menopausal women experience skin sensitive to v arious environmental threats. Method: Two panels of 15 menopausal wome n on or without HRT were compared. We studied the response of their st ratum corneum to variations in environmental humidity, either in air o r in response to an emollient. Environmental dew point and electrometr ic measurements on the skin were recorded to search for correlations. Results: Data show that the baseline stratum corneum hydration is infl uenced by the dew point. HRT improves the barrier function of the skin . The use of emollient further extends the improvement in the function al properties of skin in menopausal women. Conclusion: Both HRT and an emollient can counteract in part some of the deleterious effects of c old and dry weather. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.