Should We Use Oestrogen Cream on Our Face?
Are we really going there? Should we? Let's muse on it.
Why can’t a low-dose oestrogen cream be used on the face?
This was a question rolling around in my mind for quite a while. Should we? After all, it makes sense. Vaginal oestrogen creams – a form of localised hormone therapy, distinct from systemic HRT – have long been used to treat vaginal dryness in postmenopausal women by strengthening and repairing fragile skin. It seemed reasonable they might have similar effects elsewhere on the body, like the face.
I first encountered this idea a few years back, around 2018, while listening to a science programme on ABC Radio. They were discussing the off-label use of oestrogen vaginal cream for other parts of the body – and surprisingly, not just for women, but that's another story for another time.
You see, oestrogen, when applied directly to the skin, helps to strengthen the skin’s protective barrier, making it harder for harmful irritants to penetrate while minimising moisture loss to prevent dehydration.
So, it’s fair to say, a low-dose oestrogen cream, originally intended for one part of the body, suddenly had potential far beyond. Sure, some would say this isn’t conventional, but if oestrogen could help thicken and regenerate the skin, why wasn’t anyone talking about using it on our faces?
So I mused for a bit, then mentally filed it away under some day.
Until a doctor prescribed a low-dose oestrogen cream for me, not to be confused with the oestrogen used in systemic HRT, but a low-dose formula called Ovestin, designed to act locally with minimal absorption into the bloodstream. Suddenly, that idle curiosity was within reach, in my bathroom cabinet.
Before dabbling, I searched for answers; the information was far less comprehensive than I'd imagined. In 2018, hardly anyone seemed to be discussing topical oestrogen creams for the face. Fast-forward to 2025, and topical oestrogen creams for the face are having a moment and are being discussed more openly. A quick Google search will confirm this.
Before we delve into this topic, here’s the thing: if you're hoping existing wrinkles will miraculously vanish overnight, or even in a few weeks, you might be disappointed.
But, wait…
If you want to improve the overall texture of your skin and address the decline in collagen and thinning of the dermal layer – the real culprits behind wrinkles and volume loss – then this story is definitely for you.
I see this approach as a protective measure for skin health, beyond minimising wrinkles. This is a long game proposition, and it's worth knowing what’s what before embarking on the practice.
For me, and maybe you too, this topic is worth delving into.
So let’s unpack it.
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