Top 4 Menopause Skin Problems and Solutions
From hot flashes to mood swings, there are many unfavourable effects of menopause on a woman’s body. While there is liberating freedom we get from not having our period every month, the hormonal changes in our body causing menopause skin problems. This forces us to make changes, especially when it comes to our skincare routine.
The reduction in estrogen in our bodies has a major effect on the appearance and texture of our skin. While there is nothing we can do to avoid going through menopause, we can reduce the effects it has on our skin. Listed below are four of the main effects menopause has on our skin and ways we can fix them.
Top 4 Menopause Skin Problems
Skin Condition: Adult acne
Cause(s): Excess testosterone
Solution: Medical advice and Vitamin A cream
Prior to menopause, the trace amounts of testosterone worked harmoniously with our estrogen. Now post-menopause, the small amounts of testosterone roam around in our body freely and become a dominant hormone. This can then lead to cases of adult acne, one of the most common menopause skin problems reported by women.
Do not make the mistake of thinking adult acne is the same as what we went through as teenagers. Adult acne can be in isolated areas and can quickly become inflamed. Should this occur, here are some steps you can follow to minimize any trauma to your skin.
- Discuss your problem with a medical professional such as a dermatologist or a homeopathic doctor with an interest in a woman’s hormonal health issues.
- In your discussion with your medical professional, ask about your condition and the use of vitamin A, usually known as Retin A.
- Review and revise your skincare routine as necessary. Pay special attention to your cleanser and moisturizer. Make sure your cleanser is a gentle, non-foaming cleanser such as the Skindulgence Cleanser. For you, moisturizer make sure it has the essential vitamins and minerals necessary to replenish and rejuvenate your skin while not weighing it down. A very gentle yet effective moisturizer is the Skindulgence Moisturizer and is effective on all skin types.
- Always protect your skin with sunscreen, even in the winter. This will help to prevent post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
Skin Condition: Sagging skin and loss of volume
Cause(s): Loss of collagen
Solution: Skincare with Vitamin C
As a woman gets closer to menopause, she may notice the symptoms of acne are reducing but it has been replaced with another issue. This issue does not happen overnight, yet many women notice they begin to lose volume in the skin. While this does not cause a wrinkle such as those caused by smiling and can bring down the look and texture of your skin.
This loss of volume can appear around the eyes, cheeks and mouth and it signals a loss of collagen, which gives the skin its strength and structure.
- As you review your skincare routine look to use create a regimen that includes a high potency and stable vitamin C. When used daily, vitamin C is a vital ingredient in building collagen. Make sure to purchase your serums in air-tight packaging to improve stability, or opt for a vitamin C powder that you can mix with other serums or moisturizers.
- Stimulating the tissues under the skin can help to promote both collagen and elastin production thus returning some volume to your skin. A product such as the Skindulgence Firming Facial System was developed specifically for home use. Through the ingredients and stages of the facelift, the stimulation of the muscles under the skin goes through an isometric workout, tightening, toning and helping to restore your skin’s youthful appearance.
Skin Condition: Hyperpigmentation, blotchy skin and uneven skin texture
Cause(s): Hormones affecting pigment production
Solution: Sunscreen and vitamin B3
If we only knew when we were young what we know now, that beautiful tan we worked so hard to develop in the summer, has no turned into blotchy pigmentation. It is again magnified and made worse by hormonal deficiencies. With the reduction in melanocyte-stimulating hormones, your pigment production can become dysfunctional, leaving you with uneven pigmentation that seems to have come out of nowhere. While this can be alarming and distressing to see on your skin, there are solutions.
- Protecting your skin has to be at the top of your list for keeping it looking its best. Always be sure to wear sunscreen. Look for a sunscreen with moisturizing properties and potent antioxidants like green tea, L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and tocopherols (vitamin E).
- Niacinamide (vitamin B3), when applied topically in a serum formulation, will help to protect the skin from the infrared heat of the sun, which can exacerbate the onset of uneven pigmentation.
Skin Condition: Bone and fat loss
Cause(s): Decrease in oestrogen
Solution: Vitamin D and dermal fillers
With the reduction in oestrogen production, you will also start to notice actual changes to the shape of your face. Bones will begin to shrink and the fatty tissue pads around the eyes and cheeks will begin to diminish and shrink. The end result will be a somewhat hollow and aged appearance of your face. While this can sound depressing there are steps you can take to slow down and minimize the process.
- Keep your vitamin D levels as high as possible by getting at least ten minutes of sunshine every day. If it’s wintertime and the getting direct sunlight is difficult, or you choose not to be in the sun, increase your vitamin D through eating eggs, oily fish, mushrooms and unprocessed cheese.
- Have your vitamin D checked annually and if you are found to be within the low range of acceptable, or even deficient, your doctor will recommend you incorporate at least 400IU of a vitamin D oral supplement.
- For the loss of fat pads under the eyes, which give the eye area a dark and sunken appearance, consider dermal fillers in the tear trough (the area just below the eye). For the best possible results, this procedure should always be done by a skilled cosmetic doctor.
Menopause is a natural part of a woman’s life. Every woman is different as to when she will start experiencing perimenopause symptoms. While you may not directly see the effects, knowing what is can happen will allow you to start altering your skincare routine as well as your diet to lessen the effects.
In addition to looking at your diet and skincare routines, look at some of your lifestyle habits as well. It’s a great time to stop smoking and reduce your alcohol intake. Last but not least is making sure to have a positive attitude about the change you are going through.