Dr. Green Featured in Provoked Magazine
An online magazine for women over 50, covering culture, health, money, humor, and personal essays. It publishes first-person pieces and a weekly newsletter, with most content free to read.
Should Your Vaginal Estrogen Double as Skincare? Aug 2026
Dr. Michele Green, a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist in New York City, provides much of the historical and scientific context. She explains that estrogen in skincare isn’t new but a recurring trend, noting that decades ago brands like Revlon and Estée Lauder sold estrogen-containing anti-aging moisturizers until the FDA cracked down in the early 1990s by classifying them as unapproved drugs. She adds that menopause-focused startups and telehealth companies have since built dedicated facial estrogen lines as purpose-built alternatives to off-label vaginal formulations.
On the biology, Green describes how estrogen stimulates fibroblasts, the cells that produce collagen and elastic tissue, yielding firmer, thicker skin, and boosts hyaluronic acid production in the dermis, likely explaining the hydration and plumpness users report. She reassures that it isn’t too late to start after menopause, citing a small 2007 study in which 16 weeks of topical estradiol increased epidermal thickness and dermal collagen in postmenopausal women, though she notes sun damage makes fibroblasts less responsive to estrogen signaling.
On the trend itself, Dr. Green is cautious, stressing that vaginal estrogen creams were never formulated, tested, or dosed for facial use, so applying them that way means guessing at both dose and bloodstream absorption. She notes facial use is off-label and not FDA-approved, and that the American Academy of Dermatology doesn’t recognize it as an established treatment for wrinkles or dryness.
Read more at https://provokedmagazine.com/should-your-vaginal-estrogen-double-as-skincare/
Should You Slather Your Face with Salmon Sperm? July 2026
The article looks at PDRN (polydeoxyribonucleotide), the salmon-sperm-derived skincare ingredient popularized by Korean skincare brands such as Rejuran. Now everywhere from K-beauty to Lancôme, PDRN promises firmer, smoother, more hydrated skin. Dermatologists interviewed acknowledge it has real potential — supporting collagen production, wound healing, reduced inflammation, and skin barrier repair — but the catch is that most supporting research involves injectable versions (used in South Korea but not FDA-approved in the US) or lab and animal studies, not the topical creams and serums most consumers would actually buy.
The core problem with topical products is molecular size: PDRN molecules are generally far too large to penetrate intact skin, meaning serums likely sit on the surface rather than working “at the cellular level” as marketed. Facials that pair PDRN with microneedling or lasers may improve absorption, but evidence there is still limited. The advice: stick with proven staples like vitamin C, retinoids, and sunscreen, and for those wanting a more intensive treatment, microneedling with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has stronger data behind it than the salmon sperm facial.
“By supporting the skin’s natural repair processes, salmon PDRN may help improve skin texture and tone, enhance hydration, reduce the appearance of acne scars, soothe sensitive skin, and promote firmer, more resilient-looking skin,” noted Dr. Green in the article available at https://provokedmagazine.com/should-you-slather-your-face-with-salmon-sperm/
