Expert urges women in their 50s to take advantage of 'free' anti-ageing treatment 'on NHS'
Women in their mid 40s and older are missing out on a treatment that can protect both their looks and health in middle age, a leading hormone doctor says.
A leading hormone doctor has urged women who are experiencing symptoms of the menopause, including thinning hair, tired skin and other signs of sudden ageing, to consider hormone replacement therapy (HRT) before buying expensive creams and supplements. Dr Jan Toledano, founder of the London Hormone Clinic said that only around 14% of women were taking HRT which meant many missing out on its benefits which include protection from heart disease and osteoporosis.
Dr Toledano said that while some commercial supplements 'may work' modern HRT, particularly body identical - also known as bioidentical - HRT, provided the building blocks for human tissue, including collagen which is frequently being sold as a supplement that can combat the signs of ageing.
Dr Tolenado said health scares around HRT had put women off when more modern advanced versions of HRT provided the building blocks that some supplements were claiming to replace.
She used the example of collagen supplements that were being sold to menopausal women. She said there was no scientific evidence that they worked any better than modern HRT.
The Daily Express conducted its own research into the efficacy of collagen, using several leading brands the six women who took part - age between 40 and 55, noticed no difference in their skin, teeth or hair. The women took the collagen supplements for four weeks and none noticed any difference.
Dr Tolenado told Midlife Money and More: "There is one way of improving your collage levels and it's called oestrogen. The hormone itself is the thing that improves your hair, skin and your soft tissue."
She added there was no evidence collagen supplements were harmful, just they would be less easily absorbed than ostrogen itself.
"Oestrogen also helps the skin hydrate, it also decreases your risk of heart disease of bone thinning and it is anti-inflamatory so it stops your skin being puffy."
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The doctor also said many women may benefit from testosterone. "It's not suitable for all women but many will see benefits in their skin moisture levels and thickness. It is also brilliant for skin and hair texture."
She said: "HRT is evidence based and has been subjected to many many studies.
While previous versions of HRT, sometimes called toxic HRT mimicked the female hormones progesterone and oestrogen, modern versions are 'bioidentical' and are more easily absorbed right into the blood stream.
Dr Tolenado said women should seek the advice of a GP. "Women need to make sure they are getting the bioidentical versions as these are the most effective. There needs to be much more awareness around HRT."
"HRT is available on the NHS and in some cases is free."
