Yes, skinny girls and even underweight girls and women do tend to have less estrogen and lower estrogen levels, when compared to girls and women who carry more body fat, especially after menopause.
The reason your body weight affects your estrogen levels include the primary estrogen source, (Ovaries vs. Fat), Postmenopausal differences and low body fact impact.
For low body fat impact, if a girl or woman is naturally very thin, has extremely low body fat, or experiences any rapid weight loss, her body might downregulate production of reproductive hormones.
And low body fat can cause conditions, like functional amenorrhea, which is loss of menstrual periods, because the body senses it doesn't have enough energy to support a pregnancy.
for postmenopausal differences, after menopause, when your ovaries stop producing large amounts of estrogen, the fat tissue becomes a primary source of estrogen.
And as a result, heavier or obese postmenopausal women often have higher circulating estrogen levels than lean or skinny women.
And in contrast, lean women who are postmenopausal have lower baseline estrogen levels, which is also why studies like the studies reported by The New York Times, also note that women who are thin, might experience a different risk profile or responses to hormone replacement.
For primary estrogen source (Ovaries vs. Fat) during the woman's reproductive years, the ovaries produce most of a woman's estrogen.
Although, fat tissue (adipose tissue) also produces estrogen using an enzyme called aromatase to convert adrenal androgens into estrogen.
Girls and woman can live without estrogen as estrogen never actually drops to complete zero in the human body, even after menopause or even after the surgical removal of the ovaries.
When a woman's ovaries stop producing the vast majority of the woman's estrogen as a result of natural menopause, premature ovarian failure or even from the surgical removal also known as a oophorectomy, other tissues in the body will step in and produce small, steady amounts of estrogen.
When estrogen is made after menopause it comes from fat adipose tissue, adrenal glands and brain and skin.
Fat (Adipose) Tissue becomes the primary premenopausal source of estrogen after menopause, converting other precursor hormones into low levels of estrogen.
Adrenal Glands produce hormone precursors that the body transforms into trace amounts of estrogen/
And for brain and skin, localized tissues create tiny amounts of estrogen that are needed for local cell regulation and maintenance.
When estrogen levels are very low, it can lead to accelerated bone loss, which significantly raises the risk of osteopenia, osteoporosis, and bone fractures and estrogen also helps to protect the heart and keep your arteries flexible and so low levels of estrogen increase your risk of heart disease as well as stroke over time.
Very low estrogen levels can also lead to genitourinary changes, including thinning and drying of vaginal and urinary tissues, which can lead to discomfort, painful intercourse and recurrent urinary tract infections and low levels of estrogen are also linked to an increase in cognitive changes, disruption in sleep, depression and even mood swings.
If low estrogen levels are causing symptoms or other health risks there are options available which include (HRT) Hormone Replacement Therapy and even Non Hormonal Options.
Manufactured or plant derived body identical hormones can replace what your ovaries can no longer make, although it has specific risks and benefits that you have to discuss with your doctor.
And lifestyle changes, like weight bearing exercise, calcium and vitamin D, targeted non hormonal medications like SSRIs, for hot flashes and local treatments can manage specific effects.
With low estrogen it can cause what's known as a low estrogen face that looks like a face that has skin that is thinner and more fragile, dry and dull, accelerated wrinkles and crepiness, loss of firmness and sagging, inversion of the "Triangle of Youth" and increased sensitivity and easy bruising.
With low estrogen, your epidermis and dermis lose thickness, which makes your skin look more transparent or translucent so that tiny blood vessels become visible.
And a sharp drop in natural moisture binding compounds like hyaluronic acid and reduced sebum (oil) production leads to persistent dryness, rough texture and a lack of radiance.
With collagen levels dropping by around 30 percent in the first 5 years of menopause, fine lines also turn into deeper creases, especially laugh lines and crows feet and skin also develops a crepe paper texture.
Reduced elasticity and weakened collagen fibers also mean that your skin takes much longer to spring back when pinched, which results in a less defined jawline.
Also with low estrogen levels facial fat pads will shrink and drift downward while the bone below your eye sockets, cheekbones, and jaw reabsorbs.
This shifts volume away from the mid-face/cheeks which causes hollowing toward your lower face, sometimes even creating a heavier jaw or jowls.
And with low estrogen levels the skin barrier also weakens, which makes it prone to irritation, redness, rashes, or bruising from minor contact.
Estrogen is called the beauty hormone because estrogen provides skin hydration, collagen and elastin, helps with fat and facial distribution and balanced levels of estrogen support strong hair growth and healthy nails.
Estrogen boosts fibroblast activity to increase collagen and elastin production, which keeps your skin firm and even youthful looking.
Estrogen also raises hyaluronic acid levels and helps your skin retain moisture and maintain a dewy, plump appearance.
Estrogen also shapes feminine fat distribution, like around your hips and your thighs and also influences skin thickness and facial features.
The hormone Estrogen is the main and primary hormone that keeps your skin, firm, thick and also resistant to sagging.
Estrogen is a hormone that protects your skin in a few different ways which include stimulating collagen and elastin, locking in hydration and maintains your skins thickness.
Estrogen is what signals skin cells (fibroblasts) to produce elastin and collagen, which are the key protein fibers that give your skin it's structural bounce, tightness, and elasticity.
The hormone estrogen also increases natural hyaluronic acid in the dermis, which also helps your skin retain moisture and stay plump.
Estrogen also supports the density and the barrier function of both the epidermis and dermis, which prevents the tissue from thinning out.
When estrogen declines it leads to rapid collagen loss and sagging and wrinkles.
As estrogen levels drop during menopause and perimenopause, your skin can lose up to 30 percent of it's collagen within the first 5 years.
And the loss of structural proteins and moisture also leads to thinner, less resilient skin, which results in sagging, fine lines and deep wrinkles.
There are also other hormones that also influence the firmness of your skin, which include progesterone, testosterone and cortisol.
Cortisol is a stress hormone, which breaks down collagen and elastin when elevated chronically, accelerating skin aging and slackening.
Testosterone helps to regulate oil also known as sebum, production and overall skin density, though declining levels of testosterone can also reduce skin firmness.
And Progesterone supports skin elasticity and circulation, which helps to keep your skin looking vibrant.
You can also tighten saggy skin naturally although tightening skin naturally involves supporting collagen production, building underlying muscle mass, and protecting existing elastin.
Exercise and Strength Training.
Resistance training: Lifting weights 2 to 3 times a week helps build muscle mass beneath the skin, which can fill out loose areas and improve the appearance of sagging, especially after weight loss.
Focus on compound movements like squats, deadlifts, and push-ups.
Facial massage and rolling: Using a jade roller, gua sha tool, or hands with upward strokes can boost local blood circulation and support lymphatic drainage.
Nutrition and Hydration.
Protein and collagen support:
Consume adequate lean protein and consider targeted supplements like hydrolyzed collagen peptides paired with vitamin C, which are necessary for natural collagen synthesis.
Internal hydration:
Drinking plenty of water and getting essential electrolytes helps maintain skin plumpness and cellular resilience.