Most women will experience changes on several levels, physically, psychologically and mentally, as a result of lower levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone in connection with menopause. Hwill What this means in concrete terms will be individual and will be experienced very differently from woman to woman. Here, the focus is on skin health and what you should make sure to apply to the skin for the best possible skin health during this transition.
perimenopause
Even the timing of when these changes occur, often in the form of dry, irritated, sensitive skin with a tendency to break out and loss of resilience and elasticity, will vary. Typically, you will often notice this already in your mid-forties, with the so-called perimenopause, i.e. the transition phase that marks the end of reproductive age. Often this involves fluctuating hormone levels, culminating in menopause, the milestone that can be medically defined as a year without menstruation due to low levels of oestrogen and progesterone. Our skin cells have receptors, or receivers, for hormones. Lower levels of hormones will eventually cause this system to shut down.
Changes in the skin
The loss of moisture and plumpness in the skin as a result of less natural moisturizing factors in the skin, such as hyaluronic acid, occurs at an accelerated pace during menopause and can lead to poorer barrier function, which in turn can lead to rashes, increased irritation and reactions. Declining collagen production can eventually have a significant effect on the skin's resilience, elasticity and fullness. The skin loses about 30% of its collagen content during the first 5 years after menopause. Many women describe this as feeling their skin «collapsing», so that over a relatively short period of time they feel their skin starting to sag, and get more wrinkles and lines.
A decrease in oestrogen, while the testosterone level does not decrease correspondingly, can lead to increased sebaceous gland activity with subsequent breakouts. The skin also loses UV-protective cells, known as melanocytes, in the outermost layer of the skin during menopause, making it more susceptible to sun damage and pigmentation.
How you can take action and counteract poor skin quality
Fortunately, there are a number of measures that you can take to reduce and minimize the effects that reduced hormone production has on the skin. The focus here is on effective products with active key ingredients and treatments that can help, although this does not exclude the possibility that other measures will also be beneficial. These include hormone supplements, sleep/rest, exercise and dietary changes.
Key ingredients
So, there are some key ingredients that you should make sure to include in your skincare routine to minimize these changes due to declining hormone levels. Vitamin A, the most and best documented ingredient in skin health, is crucial here. It will stimulate increased collagen production for more resilience and elasticity, improve your immune system, moisturize, reduce sun damage, even out skin tone and improve skin texture. This molecule is found in various formulations. Perhaps best known are retinol and tretinoin, but it is also available in more gentle formulations, such as retinyl palmitate, which can be used all year round.
AHAs, also known as fruit acids, can help with cell renewal, hydration and provide softer, smoother skin. High levels of antioxidants, peptides and nourishing ingredients to counteract moisture loss will further help ensure that your skin is equipped to counteract the negative changes caused by menopause.
If you find it difficult to decide which products and treatments your skin needs, I'd love to help you achieve optimal skin health that looks and feels great. I offer a free, no-obligation consultation, where we can find out what will benefit your skin best based on your skin condition, wishes and budget.
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