Menopause and Skin Changes

Menopause is a natural occurrence in women who experience menstrual cycles. It comes about with age, usually affecting women around the age of 51. When there is no menstrual cycle for 12 months consecutively, it is advised to get confirmation of menopause from your doctor

It is a biological process, but it impacts lives physiologically as well as psychologically. There are certain symptoms that come along with menopause:

• Irregular periods

• Vaginal dryness

• Hot flashes & Night sweats

• Sleep problems

• Mood changes

• Weight gain and slowed metabolism

• Thinning hair and dry skin

• Loss of breast fullness

Menopause is when the ovaries stop producing eggs as well as estrogen. Estrogen is responsible for many processes, including protecting the vagina’s health by producing acidic pH levels, bone growth, immune and cardiovascular regulation, cell proliferation and death, liver protein expression, maintaining healthy vaginal wall muscles, etc. If the production of estrogen is stopped, all these and more tasks to retain a healthy body fail.

One of the roles of estrogen is regulating skin health. Estrogen is a proven measure to enhance moisture/hydration of the skin cells, and as it starts to decline with age, women face thinning of the skin, dryness, wrinkles, pigmentation of the skin, and the healing of any wounds on the skin is delayed. As seen in many women above 30, a lack of estrogen causes frown lines, and an uneven skin tone. Estrogen levels are linked to the production of collagen, which is a fiber-like protein in the body. Loss of collagen leads to sagging and thinning of the skin.

Skincare for Menopause

Menopause and skin care are related as its symptoms often cause skin damage. In fact, women as young as 30-year-olds start experiencing dry or wrinkled skin. As estrogen starts declining, it is crucial to engage in skincare that can provide the nutrients your skin requires to grow healthily.

Many skincare products use natural or chemical ingredients to work on different aspects of the skin. Some heal the skin, some smoothen it, and some remove scarring. For a specific problem, a particular ingredient helps, though it is advised to learn about them before applying them.

Key Skin Concerns During Menopause

Best skincare for menopausal skin can be determined based on the key problems that they face.

Dryness & Loss of Moisture

Pre-menopause sets off the decline of estrogen, and soon menopause stops the production altogether. Estrogen is responsible for setting in moisture or hydration of the skin cells, ensuring dermal thickness, and increasing the proliferation of fibroblasts that aid in the growth of connective tissues. Without it, the skin cells face the reality of dryness and itchiness. It can irritate the skin and make it lose the proteins that make it strong and flexible.

For this, there are several productsthat one can apply. Some of the best skincare for menopausal skin include ingredients like hyaluronic acid, lactic acid, glycolic acid, ceramides, mucopolysaccharides, and sebum-producing oils/serums. Several moisturizers provide hyaluronic acid, lactic acid, and glycolic acid in them. Mucopolysaccharides are also used to hydrate the skin cells. Jojoba oil or squalane are some ingredients that can increase the production of sebum, thus hydrating the skin.

Fine Lines & Wrinkles 

Stopping the production of estrogen, menopause can accelerate skin aging in many women. Loss of estrogen results in lower collagen levels as well. Women may observe fine lines and wrinkles on their face and body. These can be treated with skincare ingredients like peptides, retinol, and sunscreen.

Peptides stimulate collagen production, which is a type of protein fiber that retains the smoothness of the skin. It can reduce the fine lines as well. Retinol works on wrinkles and fine lines too. It is proven to show anti-aging benefits. Sunscreen is crucial for numerous reasons. It not only protects the skin from the harmful radiations of the sun (which damages the skin), it has the potential to derail the rise of wrinkles.

Thinning Skin and loss of elasticity

Maintaining the elasticity of the skin is a role for the collagen present in the skin. It is a fiber that enhances the elasticity of the connective tissues. Lack of estrogen can also cause the skin to thin out. It is difficult to reverse this effect, which is why it is best to start early. 

Nevertheless, there are several ways to control thinning of the skin. For example: avoid sun exposure, apply moisturizers and topical creams, etc. Women can also take collagen supplements, which are theorized to enter the bloodstream after being digested in the gut. Retinol combined with a few vitamins can help replenish the elasticity of the skin. Hyaluronic acid, genistein, hazel extract, cocoa flavanols, etc. can aid in the same.

Increased Facial Hair

The body maintains a ratio of estrogen to testosterone, and in women, usually, there is more estrogen than testosterone. With the lack of estrogen, the ratio is imbalanced, and testosterone is present at a higher level than estrogen. This results in the testosterone impacting the body, like the growth of facial hair. This is harmless but can affect the self-esteem of many women. Prevention of the imbalance can be done by consuming a balanced diet rich in proteins, carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables. You can also balance your hormones by taking in phytoestrogens or estrogen in other forms.

Learn more about hormonal imbalances

Laser hair removal is also quite common, but it is theorized that it affects best if you have dark hair as it attacks melanin. Electrolysis is a permanent solution, but must be done carefully by a licensed professional. It aims at the growth cells in hair follicles and destroys them so the hair can’t grow back. A topical treatment is the use of the cream eflornithine (Vaniqa) which is applied when women observe excessive facial hair. It has to be applied to the area with the hair growth twice a day. It is a preventive measure and cannot remove the hair that has already grown.

Acne & breakouts

Menopause causes several skin ailments, including acne and breakouts. There is an imbalance in the hormones as there is a lack of estrogen and an abundance of testosterone. This is observed to be one of the main causes of menopausal acne. Other factors like stress, cosmetics applied on the face, and dietary and lifestyle changes also play a vital role.

Treatment can be challenging, but there are skin care products for menopausal women. Topical therapy that involves topical antibiotics should be avoided, preferring a combination of benzoyl peroxide, topical retinoids (retinol acid), azelaic or salicylic acid.

Sunspots & hyperpigmentation

Estrogen plays a role in the production of melanin, and without it, there is a visible decrease in the melanin levels in the skin. Lack/reduced melanin makes our skin vulnerable to sun damage like sunspots and pigmentation. Discoloration can be difficult to remove, but women can increase their vitamin C intake as a natural remedy. Using sunscreen daily can help as well. Topical retinoids can lighten the dark spots.

It is easier to prevent the damage by wearing hats or clothing that blocks sunlight, avoiding going under the sun, and using sunscreen that has an SPF of 30 minimum.

Daily Menopause Skin Care Routine

Having a proper skincare routine is something that will help everyone who is consistent with it. For women, the best skincare for menopausal skin can look like below:

• Cleansing: wash your face using lukewarm water and a mild cleanser that contains ceramide, hyaluronic acid, and/or glycerin.
• Moisturizing: use one that has ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and/or glycerin.
• Sun protection: Always apply sunscreen before you step out under the sun. It should have an SPF of 30≤ and a non-nano zinc oxide above 10%. Sunscreen is typically applied every few hours depending on the sun exposure.
• Nighttime care: cleanse your face with the same cleanser, and apply an anti-aging serum/lotion with peptides right before you sleep. A form of retinol can also be applied.

Advanced Skincare Treatments for Menopause

Apart from skincare for menopause, there are other treatments that can cover similar skin concerns. Women who want to treat wrinkles, fine lines, and scars can opt for laser therapy. It can remove old skin cells, diminish hyperpigmentation, and reduce dryness and/or thinness of the skin.

Microneedling is another procedure that increases collagen production thereby treating skin concerns. It works by making micro-punctures in the skin with sterilized miniature needles. It can enhance skin elasticity and reduce the appearance of scars or dark spots.

These are treatments for the skin, but if you choose, you can diminish the symptoms of menopause, which would decrease the intensity of these skin ailments. This can be done by dealing with menopause directly by a process called Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT). BHRT boosts the hormone levels which eases the symptoms of menopause. Bioidentical hormones can be taken in several forms: pills, patches, creams, gels, or injections.

Benefits of BHRT

It reduces the severity of the following symptoms:

• Hot flashes

• Night sweats/chills

• Mood changes

• Memory problems

• Weight gain

• Sleep issues

• Reduced libido or painful sex

There are some side effects of BHRT as well, including blood clots, stroke, gallbladder disease, heart disease, or breast cancer. This is why the pros and cons must be discussed with your doctor at great length.

Lifestyle Factors that Affect Menopause Skin

Diet & nutrition

Menopause can affect your metabolism which could lead to weight gain. It also impacts your cholesterol levels. Menopausal skin can get worse if the body is not provided with the nutrients that it requires. The cells need protein to grow healthily, and a diet that misses it will harm them.

There are some foods that can aid with the reduction of skin issues like dairy products, healthy fats in fish, flaxseed, chia seeds, and hemp seeds, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, foods that contain phytoestrogens (soybeans, chickpeas, peanuts, flaxseed, barley, berries, plums, green and black tea, and grapes. Quality protein is essential to increase muscle mass and bone strength.

There are certain food items that need to be avoided. For example, highly processed food, food with added sugar, alcohol, caffeine, and food with high salt content.

Hydration

Drinking enough water daily can reduce the feeling of dryness of the skin. Around 8-12 glasses of water a day are suggested to be consumed to reduce bloating that sometimes accompanies hormonal changes. Water is theorized to help prevent weight gain as well.

Sleep

Sleep issues can pose a major problem eventually. Constantly losing sleep or over-sleeping can disrupt the routine you had, and make your body lethargic or tired, which makes you emotionally tired as well.

Some sleeping problems may be caused by the measures you are taking to control the symptoms of menopause. If you suspect this, visit your doctor and alter your course of action.

Poor sleep can worsen the symptoms of menopause as well, so it is crucial to get proper sleep every night.

Stress management

Stress is a major factor in various ailments. Stress is proven to create an imbalance of hormones, worsening the symptoms of menopause. If estrogen levels are disrupted early on, it makes it more difficult to protect your skin from dryness, redness, itchiness, or acne.

Managing stress becomes as important as skin care for menopause. This can be done in many ways, including consistent exercise, engaging in hobbies, or going for counseling.

Conclusion

Menopause is a natural process that must be treated with care because it is happening to your own body. Its symptoms can be subsided with consistent skincare or treatments like BHRT. Menopause brings about a lot of ailments, but there are many ways of ensuring that your skin and health stay protected. Early preventive measures are encouraged. Post-menopause is a new phase of life that must be embraced with beauty and confidence.