Quality of Life, Skin Aging
Conditions
Keywords
Skin aging, Menopausal symptoms
Brief summary
The purpose of the study is to determine the response of skin parameters related to skin aging to the local action of DHEA in postmenopausal women.
Detailed description
Humans, along with the others primates, are unique among animal species in having adrenals that secrete large amounts of the inactive precursor steroids dehydroepiandrosterone(DHEA)and especially its sulfate DHEA-S. The marked reduction in the formation of DHEA-S by the adrenals during aging results in a dramatic fall in the formation of androgens and estrogens in peripheral target tissues, a situation that has been proposed to be associated with age-related diseases including skin atrophy, insulin resistance and obesity. Moreover, much attention has been given to the benefits of DHEA administered to postmenopausal women, especially on the bone, skin, vagina and well being after oral as well as percutaneous administration of the precursor steroid. Therefore this study proposes to study the effect of 0.3% DHEA cream during a period of 12 months administered twice daily to postmenopausal women. During the study several biological and clinical parameters will be evaluated. In summary, these include blood steroid levels, distribution of hormonal receptors in the skin, sebaceous gland activity, skin hydration, skin wrinkles and finally skin genomic evaluation. Subjects will be evaluated at specific time intervals for the above mentioned parameters as well as tolerability and adverse reactions.
Interventions
DRUGDehydroepiandrosterone
3.0 ml of 0.3% DHEA cream applied on the skin twice daily.
DRUGPlacebos
3.0 ml of placebo cream applied on the skin twice daily.
Sponsors
CHU de Quebec-Universite Laval
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
60 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Healthy postmenopausal women who have taken hormonal replacement therapy for at least two years but not during the last 6 months prior to the study. * Aged between 60 and 65.
Exclusion criteria
* Significant dermatologic, metabolic and endocrine disease. * Diagnosis of cancer or history of hormone-dependant cancer. * Over exposure to sun or tanning session during the previous two months. * Narcotic addiction, alcoholism or smoking.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Determination of local activity of DHEA for a 12 months period in parameters such as wrinkles, sebaceous gland activity, changes in skin morphology and other physical skin parameters. | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Evaluation of tolerance to local skin application of DHEA for a 12 months period and potential beneficial effects on quality of life including sexual life. | — |
Countries
Canada
Outcome results
None listed