Women’s Hormone Health
Hormones influence nearly every aspect of a woman’s health, including energy, mood, sleep, metabolism, skin, libido, and overall, well-being. As women move through their late 30s, 40s, and 50s, gradual hormonal shifts can lead to symptoms that are often minimized, misunderstood, or dismissed.
At ICON Dermatology and Aesthetics, our Women’s Hormone Health program provides thoughtful, science driven care for women experiencing perimenopause and menopause. Whether you are noticing brain fog, sleep disruption, fatigue, weight changes, hot flashes, irregular cycles, or skin changes associated with midlife hormone shifts, you deserve care grounded in current evidence and clinical expertise.
If you are seeking clarity, comfort, and a personalized plan built around your unique symptoms and goals, our team is here to help.
Why Hormone Health Matters in Your 30s, 40s, and 50s
Hormonal change is not a single event. It is a gradual transition. Subtle shifts may begin in your 30s, intensify through your 40s, and evolve into more persistent symptoms in your 50s and beyond. Too often, women are told their symptoms are simply stress, aging, or something they must push through.
In reality, hormonal changes can affect multiple systems at once, including:
• Energy and motivation
• Sleep quality
• Skin texture, tone, and hydration
• Weight regulation and metabolism
• Mood, anxiety, and emotional balance
• Libido and sexual comfort
Recognizing these changes and understanding their underlying drivers is often the first step toward feeling better.
Common Signs of Hormonal Imbalance
Hormonal changes can affect every woman differently, and symptoms do not always appear all at once. Many women seek care after realizing they no longer feel like themselves, even when previous lab results were described as normal.
Common signs of hormonal imbalance may include:
Hot flashes or night sweats
Irregular, heavier, or unpredictable menstrual cycles
Persistent fatigue or low energy
Sleep disruption or difficulty staying asleep
Brain fog or trouble concentrating
Mood changes such as anxiety, irritability, or emotional ups and downs
Vaginal dryness or discomfort
Changes in libido
Weight gain, bloating, or difficulty maintaining usual weight
Hormonal shifts often show up visibly as well, including:
Adult acne or increased skin sensitivity
Dry, thinning, or less firm skin
Uneven skin tone, hyperpigmentation, or melasma changes
Thinning hair or increased shedding
If these symptoms feel familiar, you are not alone. At ICON Dermatology, your concerns are taken seriously. Care begins with careful listening, thoughtful evaluation, and a personalized plan that looks at the whole picture, not just numbers on a lab report.
Who Can Benefit from Women’s Hormone Health Care
Women’s hormone health care at ICON is designed for those navigating hormonal transitions that are affecting how they feel, function, or experience their bodies. Many patients seek care during perimenopause or menopause, but this evaluation may also be appropriate earlier or later depending on symptoms and health history.
This care may be a good fit for women who feel that something has shifted but have not found clear answers, including those who have been told their labs are normal yet continue to experience persistent concerns. It is also well suited for women looking for thoughtful, evidence-based guidance rather than a one size fits all approach.
Because hormones influence both internal health and outward changes, care at ICON is medically grounded and aesthetically aware. Evaluation considers not only energy, mood, sleep, and metabolic health, but also how hormonal changes can affect skin, hair, and overall appearance.
At ICON Dermatology, hormone health care is individualized and collaborative. Recommendations are guided by your symptoms, goals, and lifestyle, with shared decision making and realistic expectations at the center of every plan.
Meet Amy Waters, PA-C
The Women’s Hormone Health program at ICON Dermatology and Aesthetics is led by Amy Waters, a clinician with nearly 17 years of experience in medical aesthetics and women’s health. Before becoming a physician assistant, Amy practiced as a registered dietitian for seven years, building a strong foundation in nutrition, metabolism, and preventive care. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences and a master’s degree in Health Sciences and Physician Assistant Studies.
Amy joined ICON Dermatology and Aesthetics in July 2025 and works in close collaboration with Dr. Pellicane, with whom she shares a longstanding professional relationship dating back to their early dermatology careers. She provides individualized, comprehensive hormone care under physician medical direction, grounded in clinical judgment, experience, and ongoing education.
In addition to her professional expertise, Amy brings lived experience to her work. Having navigated perimenopause herself, she understands firsthand how profoundly hormonal shifts can affect a woman’s body, confidence, relationships, and sense of self. Her approach is compassionate, informed, and deeply respectful of each patient’s goals and concerns.
What to Expect at Your First Hormone Health Appointment in North Bethesda, MD
Your first hormone health appointment at ICON Dermatology and Aesthetics is a thoughtful, unhurried consultation with Amy Waters, PA C. The visit focuses on understanding your symptoms, medical history, lifestyle, and personal goals so care can be tailored to you.
When appropriate, laboratory testing may be ordered to evaluate hormone levels and related markers. Lab results are always interpreted in the context of how you feel and your overall clinical picture, not used in isolation. Many patients return for a follow up visit to review results, discuss recommendations, and refine a plan together.
In some cases, medications may be prescribed when clinically indicated. Care is individualized rather than protocol driven, with adjustments made over time based on your response. Depending on your treatment plan, labs may be rechecked periodically, often every few months early in care. Throughout the process, the emphasis is on clear communication, reassurance, and a pace of care that feels supportive and manageable.
What Happens to Skin During Perimenopause and Menopause
As estrogen levels decline, the skin often undergoes noticeable changes. Estrogen plays a critical role in collagen production, hydration, elasticity, and barrier function. When levels fall, collagen loss accelerates, the skin becomes thinner and drier, pores may appear more prominent, and sensitivity can increase.
With the right strategy, skin can remain resilient and vibrant at any age. Amy integrates hormone aware skincare guidance with ICON’s dermatologic expertise, helping patients choose evidence-based ingredients such as:
• Retinoids to support collagen
• Vitamin C for brightening and antioxidant protection
• Niacinamide to calm inflammation and support barrier health
• Peptides to promote firmness and repair
The Truth About Estrogen and Hormone Therapy
For many years, fear and misinformation have shaped conversations around hormone therapy, particularly estrogen. Much of this confusion began in 2002 with early reports from the Women’s Health Initiative study, which raised concerns about breast cancer, heart disease, and stroke.
What those early headlines did not fully explain is that the study population did not reflect women typically seeking hormone therapy for perimenopause or menopause. The average participant was 63 years old, and many had existing risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure, or obesity. Despite this, the findings were broadly applied to all women, leading many to discontinue or avoid treatment unnecessarily.
Since that time, extensive reanalysis and decades of additional research have clarified the role of estrogen therapy. Current evidence supports the following:
• Estrogen therapy initiated within 10 years of menopause may reduce cardiovascular risk
• Estrogen has been shown to lower all-cause mortality when started appropriately
• For women with a uterus using estrogen with modern progesterone, large-scale reanalysis shows no increased risk and in some cases a reduced risk of breast cancer
• Estrogen remains the most effective treatment for hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness
At ICON Dermatology and Aesthetics, hormone therapy discussions are grounded in transparency, shared decision making, and current medical research. Our goal is to provide women with clear, accurate information so they can make informed choices about their care without fear-based messaging.
Personalized Treatment Options for Women’s Hormone Health
Every woman’s experience with hormonal change is unique. At ICON Dermatology and Aesthetics, treatment plans are personalized and developed based on your symptoms, goals, health history, and clinical findings. Care is never protocol driven. Recommendations are made thoughtfully and may include one or more of the following approaches.
Lifestyle and Nutritional Guidance
Hormonal health is influenced by sleep, nutrition, stress, and daily habits. Patients receive individualized guidance designed to support hormonal balance, metabolic health, and overall well-being. Recommendations are practical, evidence based and tailored to fit your lifestyle.
Non-Hormonal Therapies
For women who are not candidates for hormone therapy or who prefer non-hormonal options, alternative approaches may be considered when clinically appropriate. These therapies may help address symptoms such as sleep disruption, mood changes, or vasomotor symptoms, depending on individual needs.
Menopause Hormone Therapy
When appropriate, hormone therapy may include FDA-approved estrogen and progesterone options delivered through patches, oral formulations, or topical preparations. Care includes individualized risk assessment, patient education, and ongoing monitoring to support both safety and effectiveness.
Cosmetic Dermatology Treatments to Support Hormone Related Skin Changes
Hormonal shifts during perimenopause and menopause often affect the skin, including changes in collagen, elasticity, hydration, pigmentation, acne, and skin laxity. At ICON, hormone health care is thoughtfully integrated with cosmetic dermatology treatments when appropriate. These treatments are optional and recommended only when aligned with your goals and comfort level.
Depending on your skin needs, cosmetic options may include laser resurfacing or laser facials to improve texture, tone, pigmentation, and collagen stimulation, radiofrequency microneedling or Sofwave to address skin laxity and loss of firmness, injectable treatments such as neuromodulators or dermal fillers when volume loss or dynamic lines are a concern, and medical grade skincare tailored to hormone influenced skin changes.
Collaborative Genitourinary and Pelvic Care
While vulvar or pelvic examinations are not performed as part of hormone care at ICON, referral partnerships with trusted gynecology and pelvic health providers support comprehensive care. This collaborative model allows for coordinated communication and continuity between hormone care, dermatology, and aesthetic services.
Our approach is designed to address both how you feel internally and how hormonal changes may be affecting your skin and appearance. The goal is balanced, individualized care that supports long term health, confidence, and well-being.
Why Choose ICON for Women’s Hormone Health
At ICON Dermatology and Aesthetics, women’s hormone care is:
• Evidence based and grounded in current medical research
• Personalized, not protocol driven
• Delivered by an experienced clinician who understands both the science and the lived experience of midlife hormonal change
• Integrated with dermatology and aesthetic care for a whole person approach
• Provided in a private, supportive environment where concerns are never minimized
Our goal is clarity, confidence, and sustainable care that helps you feel like yourself again.
Payment and Care Structure at ICON Dermatology & Aesthetics
Women’s hormone health care at ICON Dermatology and Aesthetics is consultation based and provided within our direct pay medical and aesthetic dermatology practice. Initial consultations and follow up visits are scheduled as separate appointments, with payment due at the time of service. Pricing varies by visit type and is discussed during scheduling.
Prescriptions may be eligible for insurance coverage depending on your plan and may be filled through standard retail or compounding pharmacies based on your individualized treatment plan. Laboratory testing frequency and follow up schedules vary by patient. ICON provides documentation as needed to support patient submitted medical dermatology insurance claims.
Our goal is to set clear expectations while delivering thoughtful, patient centered care in a supportive and professional environment.
Schedule Your Women’s Hormone Health Consultation in North Bethesda, MD
ICON Dermatology and Aesthetics provides a thoughtful, personalized approach to women’s hormone health. Our team is dedicated to helping you feel informed, supported, and confident throughout every step of your care.
Women’s Hormone Health consultations at ICON are designed to listen carefully to your symptoms, review your health history, and develop an individualized plan grounded in current medical research. If you are navigating perimenopause, menopause, or midlife hormonal changes and would like to explore whether hormone health care may be right for you, call ICON Dermatology and Aesthetics at (301) 810-3600 to schedule a consultation.