Menopausal skin is a joy, isn’t it? I woke up a few days ago with spots – big, pink blemishes that can’t be hidden.
I avoided teenage acne and while I had some outbreaks in my 20s, my skin has never been too troublesome (when I was 30, a 20-year-old lad in a bar told me my skin was beautiful, but that’s a story for too much wine…) But now I find my skin is not as good as it was, which is great on top of all my other menopause symptoms.
Menopausal acne is just one way our hormones can have an impact on our skin. But there are steps we can take, from tweakments through skincare acids to lifestyle changes. Preventative healthcare specialist Dr Michael Barnish, head of genetics and nutrition for wellness company Reviv, tells us more about menopausal skin…
How does menopause affect our skin?
“The menopause is defined as a cessation of menstruation for a period of 12 months, and the several years leading up to the menopause are known as the perimenopause. The age women experience the menopause is variable, with the average usually falling between 50 and 53 years. This age group often makes up a large proportion of patients for medical aesthetic practitioners. It is therefore extremely important to understand the relationship between menopause and the skin.
“Menopause is a result in the decline and changing of our hormone levels. Although it’s different for everyone, the symptoms of the perimenopause average around four years.
“There are four main hormones that are involved in the menstrual cycle: oestrogen; progesterone; luteinizing hormone, and follicle. The skin changes that begin to appear during the perimenopausal years are mainly from a reduction in the oestrogen levels.
“The decrease in oestrogen production from the ovaries leads to the many symptoms associated with the menopause. These include dryness, atrophy, fine wrinkling, poor healing, altered fat distribution and hot flushes. Other symptoms that can arise from these hormone changes include dizziness, heart palpitations, insomnia, anxiety and backache.”
Why does growing older affect our skin?
“The ageing process causes reduction in collagen and hyaluronic acid. Combined with elastin fibre fragmentation and decreased blood flow, the dermis atrophies [wastes away] and the cell turnover rate is affected.
“Other factors can also add to the ageing process such as environmental influences, sun exposure, excessive alcohol intake, poor diet, smoking, pollution and sleep. It is therefore important to take note of a patient’s lifestyle, particularly if they are menopausal.
“The reduction in extrinsic ageing factors can help reduce the rate of ageing much quicker.”
What role does oestrogen play in menopausal skin?
“Oestrogen plays a big role in the growth and repair of our skin, it also carries essential nutritions to the skin.
“Although menopausal skin is likely to become drier, in some individuals, congestion can occur, even signs of acne, and this is down to a change in the level of oestrogen.
“Oestrogen has a role in the maintenance of skin proteins, collagen and elastin. The reduction in oestrogen production impacts on the repair of collagen and elastin within the skin, resulting in thinner, less elastic skin
“Oestrogen also has the job of depositing fat evenly throughout the female body. During the menopause and the reduction of oestrogen levels, these fat deposits become redistributed from an even distribution can occur. This explains the loss of facial fat and fat from the breast tissue. This does effect the loss of fat in certain areas such as the face, neck, upper limbs and breasts. This leads to the appearance of wrinkled, lax skin that has lost its underlying supporting fat.
“These signs are generally among the most concerning signs of ageing for some women and leads them to seek aesthetic procedures to manage these changes through facial fillers or surgery.”
What treatments are available?
“Aesthetic practitioners routinely manage the effects of ageing on the face and, generally, a large proportion of work is with menopausal patients.
“There are several options for patients who want to avoid surgery to improve their appearance:
- Dermal filler injections
- PRP Injection of platelet rich plasma into the skin
- Radio-frequency treatments
- High-focused ultrasound
“With the ever-changing hormonal effects, its important to address each patient’s skincare needs. Revision of the home skincare regimen and professional treatment remedies can help to support menopausal skin and control the effects of fluctuating hormones.
“Antioxidants, pigment regulators, growth factors and DNA repair enzymes are all key ingredients that should be considered in the management of menopausal skin.
What lifestyle changes can help?
“There are simple steps to take, such as avoiding sun exposure and smoking. I always recommend using a high-factor sunscreen, stopping smoking and excessive consumption of alcohol and reducing nutritionally poor diets. All these small and easily fixed issues can make big changes.”
How has menopause affected your skin? I’d love to know in the comments below. Huge thanks to Dr Michael.
Good to read this interesting piece about menopause.
I am a doctor and I have managed many cases of menopausal symptoms in women.