From the Guidelines
DHEA does not have a direct, evidence-based benefit for improving skin atrophy, and its use for this purpose is not supported by the provided guidelines and studies 1. The provided evidence primarily discusses the management of various skin conditions, such as atopic dermatitis, vitiligo, and psoriasis, with a focus on the use of topical corticosteroids and other treatments. While skin atrophy is mentioned as a potential side effect of topical corticosteroid use 1, there is no mention of DHEA as a treatment for skin atrophy. Some key points from the evidence include:
- Topical corticosteroids can cause skin atrophy, especially with long-term use 1.
- Alternative treatments, such as topical pimecrolimus, may have a better side-effect profile than highly potent topical steroids 1.
- Regular skin checks are recommended for patients receiving long-term therapy to assess for atrophy 1. It is essential to prioritize the most recent and highest-quality evidence when making recommendations. However, in this case, the provided evidence does not support the use of DHEA for improving skin atrophy. Therefore, it is not recommended to use DHEA for this purpose, and alternative treatments should be considered based on individual patient needs and the guidance of a healthcare professional.
From the FDA Drug Label
INDICATIONS: Temporarily supports the body to rebalance Adrenal and DHEA output. Symptoms of imbalanced Adrenal and DHEA may include: low energy, depression, anxiety, dry eyes, skin, and hair, loss of head hair. The answer to how DHEA improves skin atrophy is not directly stated in the provided text, but it can be inferred that DHEA may help with skin issues, as dry skin is listed as a symptom of imbalanced Adrenal and DHEA.
- Key points:
- DHEA may help with skin issues
- Dry skin is a symptom of imbalanced Adrenal and DHEA However, the label does not explicitly state how DHEA improves skin atrophy. 2
From the Research
Mechanisms of DHEA in Improving Skin Atrophy
- DHEA improves skin hydration and sebum production, as well as bone mineral density in older patients, while limiting the progression of skin atrophy 3
- Topical DHEA cream stimulates local collagen production, which can help to improve skin atrophy 3
- DHEA treatment increases the rate of sebum production, improves skin brightness, and counteracts the papery appearance of skin and epidermal atrophy, a characteristic feature of hormone-related skin aging 4
Effects of DHEA on Collagen and Collagenase Gene Expression
- DHEA increases procollagen synthesis and inhibits collagen degradation by decreasing matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-1 synthesis and increasing tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloprotease (TIMP-1) production in cultured dermal fibroblasts 5
- DHEA inhibits ultraviolet (UV)-induced MMP-1 production and the UV-induced decrease of procollagen synthesis, probably due to the inhibition of UV-induced AP-1 activity 5
- DHEA slightly increases collagen production in a dose-related fashion, with its maximal effect occurring at 10(-5) M DHEA, and increases the steady-state levels of alpha1 (I) procollagen mRNA 6
DHEA and Skin Aging
- DHEA may be related to the process of skin aging through the regulation and degradation of extracellular matrix protein 5, 6
- DHEA reduces age-related skin atrophy by stimulating procollagen and sebum production 7
- Topical DHEA tends to improve skin brightness, counteract papery appearance of skin, and epidermal atrophy, a characteristic feature of hormone-related skin aging 4