As I’m sure your know October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  And  given this current focus, I think its the right time to raise  concerns  about a popular underground beauty treatment that going around on the internet.

Reading other beauty and lifestyle blogs, I’ve come across posts  recommending  the use of estrogen based vaginal creams  to deal with facial aging.   Its actually not a new idea.  Decades ago, research  showed that estrogen creams encouraged the growth of collagen, relieved dryness and  lessened lines and wrinkles.    For a while estrogen creams were even available without prescription on drug and department store shelves.

Then  the research took a troubling turn when  estrogens were  linked to increased risk of breast cancer– and the hormones were quicky removed  from beauty aids for more than 25 years.   Today estrogen creams are  making an unwise comeback as  some women are using  vaginal estrogen creams  as wrinkle fighters.  In healthcare, this is known as  “off label use”   a term often used in malpractice suits. 

While estrogen creams  may smooth and tighten the skin, the concerns of breast cancer  should put it in the never use category.  The current wisdom about the estrogen /breast cancer link even includes concerns about weak estrogen like substances   including paraben preservatives and soy– much less a cream that includes actual estrogen. 

There are many so much safer age fighters including Retin A , Tri-luma, alpha hydroxy acids, IPL and lasers  that estrogen creams should not be  even a blip on your beauty radar.