Caring for menopausal skin
Caring for menopausal skin
In this article, we’ll be exploring some of the common skin problems that women face during the menopause, delve into their underlying causes, and discuss some suitable treatments that will help you to maintain healthy and radiant skin.
For women, the menopause marks the end of our reproductive years. Although it’s a natural transition, menopause and the period of perimenopause that can often precede it for several years, each come with a host of physical and hormonal changes.
One aspect of this that’s often overlooked is the effect of those hormone changes on our skin.
Indeed, perimenopausal and menopausal skin needs extra care to address the unique challenges it faces.
In this article, we’ll be exploring some of the common skin problems that women face during the menopause, delve into their underlying causes, and discuss some suitable treatments that will help you to maintain healthy and radiant skin.
Common menopausal skin problems
Dryness and Dehydration
If you’re perimenopausal, you’ll probably notice that your skin seems far dryer and more dehydrated than usual. This is because the gradual decline in fertility as we move towards the menopause sees a drop in oestrogen levels.
In turn, this results in a decrease in oil production, causing dry skin and an impaired skin barrier. This can lead to itchiness, flakiness, and a general feeling of discomfort.
Wrinkles and fine lines
People are often surprised to learn that collagen and elastin – the building blocks of strong, healthy, smooth skin with plenty of elasticity - start to deplete once we enter our twenties. This causes the skin to become thinner, more fragile, and prone to lines and wrinkles.
This becomes more pronounced during menopause. In fact, researchers have found that women’s skin loses around 30% of its collagen during the first five years of being menopausal. After that, the decline is more gradual at around two percent collagen loss per year.
As a result, it’s during perimenopause and menopause that wrinkles and fine lines become more visible, particularly around the eyes, mouth, and forehead.
Sagging Skin
It’s also the loss of collagen and elastin in the skin that contributes to sagging, causing issues such as jowls and a less-defined jawline. People tend to worry that this has an ageing effect and seek treatments to tighten the jawline, neck, and chin.
Age spots and hyperpigmentation
Hormonal changes during menopause can trigger an increase in melanin production, leading to the formation of age spots and uneven skin tone. This can make the skin appear dull and aged.
Acne and breakouts
As if the menopause doesn’t have enough symptoms to contend with, another common problem is acne and skin breakouts caused by hormonal fluctuations. This can be particularly frustrating when you’re dealing with other age-related skin concerns simultaneously.
Causes of menopausal skin problems
So, what are the causes of all these changes to our skin? We’ve touched on some of the issues in the points above, but let’s review them again:
Hormonal Changes
The primary trigger for menopausal skin problems is the decline in oestrogen levels.
As well as being one of primary female sex hormones, oestrogen plays a crucial role in maintaining skin elasticity, hydration, and collagen production. Its reduction leads to thinner, drier, and less resilient skin.
Reduced collagen and elastin production
As we’ve explored above, ageing naturally leads to a decrease in collagen and elastin production. During menopause, this decline accelerates, contributing to wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging skin.
Oxidative Stress
Oestrogen is an established antioxidant within the body, so when a woman’s oestrogen levels start to drop, it leads to something called ‘Oxidative stress’. This is an imbalance between the production of harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species (ROS) or free radicals and the body's ability to counteract or neutralise their effects.
Increased oxidative stress can also be due to environmental factors like UV exposure and pollution. Whatever the cause, it damages skin cells, leading to skin ageing and other problems.
Slower cell turnover
Cell turnover slows down as we get older, causing dead skin cells to accumulate on the surface. This can make the skin appear dull and contribute to clogged pores and breakouts during perimenopause.
Treatments for menopausal skin problems
If perimenopause or menopause are leaving you with skin problems that you would like to address, you’re probably looking for the most effective treatment options. These can include:
Treatments that hydrate and moisturise
As we’ve seen, a drop in oestrogen levels can cause your skin to become dry. It’s important to use a rich, hydrating moisturiser as part of your daily skincare routine to combat dryness. Look for products with hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and ceramides to lock in moisture and repair the skin barrier.
The ageLOC LumiSpa System from Nu Skin works to address a range of skin ageing issues and includes skincare products designed to lock in hydration and leave your skin feeling supple and moisturised.
Sun protection
Sunscreen remains a vital defence against age-accelerating UV rays. Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 and apply it daily.
Antioxidant-rich serums
Serums containing antioxidants like vitamin C and E can help to combat oxidative stress, protecting the skin from free radical damage and promoting a more youthful appearance.
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
If you’re experiencing severe menopausal symptoms, including skin problems, then hormone replacement therapy (HRT) under medical supervision can help replenish your oestrogen levels and the levels of other hormones. Many women find this transformative, and it can also improve skin health.
Wrinkle reducing treatments
Topical retinoids and peptides can stimulate collagen production and improve skin texture. They also assist in reducing the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging skin.
In addition, you might want to consider non-surgical cosmetic treatments that aim to minimise the signs of skin ageing.
Wrinkle relaxing injections work by temporarily blocking the nerves that make targeted facial muscles contract, smoothing out your skin.
Dermal filler treatments are designed to replace lost volume so that your skin looks younger and more youthful. An injectable treatment like Profhilo goes a step further by hydrating, lifting and stimulating fresh collagen and elastin production to strengthen your skin.
Skinade is a drink that contains a high concentration of specially formulated nutrients and collagen peptides. It has higher absorption rates than collagen tablets and hydrates the skin as well as balancing oil production, which is helpful if your skin is prone to hormonally triggered breakouts.
Another option is to have a light to medium skin peel when your skin needs a boost. At Medikaur, we have a number of different peel options that can address issues caused by perimenopause or menopause.
Skin needling is another treatment that harnesses your body’s natural healing response to trigger fresh collagen and elastin production, counteracting some of the skin changes caused by a drop in oestrogen.
And if you’re particularly worried about developing jowls or losing definition around your jawline, the Nefertiti Neck Lift can help to counterbalance the effects of gravity and ageing.
Taking care of menopausal skin
Menopausal skin requires tailored care to address the specific challenges that arise during this stage of life.
By understanding the causes behind the common skin problems and implementing suitable treatments, it’s possible to achieve healthy, radiant skin as you navigate through the menopausal transition.
Remember, consistent skincare, a healthy lifestyle, and expert support can greatly enhance the quality and appearance of menopausal skin. Today, there are some fantastic options to help slow down the affects of ageing and replenish our natural supplies of collagen and elastin to some degree.
If perimenopause or menopause is affecting your skin, book a consultation to discuss the treatments that can help you strengthen and revitalise your skin as it weathers these hormonal shifts.