Menopause and Your Skin: Understanding and Managing Changes

Blog Topic by Dr. Kate Healy, Merrion Medical Aesthetics

Nearly all women notice a change in their skin and hair as they move through the perimenopause, the menopause, and beyond. You may have noticed dry and dull skin, acne, thinning, fine lines, and wrinkles, as well as an increase in red and brown spots. Make-up no longer sits as nicely but can collect in the fine lines and looks patchy on dry skin. These changes can be both upsetting and frustrating. Here we explore why this happens and what you can do to look and feel your best as your hormones change.

How Menopause Affects Your Skin

Skin changes during menopause are multifaceted, influenced by an interplay of hormonal changes, physiological processes, and external factors. Understanding the intricate mechanisms underlying these changes is crucial for developing effective skincare and lifestyle strategies to address the unique needs of menopausal skin.

The Impact of Estrogen Decline on Menopause and Your Skin

The menopause heralds a significant decline in estrogen and progesterone levels. Estrogen, in particular, plays a pivotal role in maintaining skin health by promoting collagen production, enhancing skin elasticity, and regulating moisture levels. As estrogen levels decline during menopause, the skin undergoes profound structural and functional changes.

Skin Laxity, Fine Lines, and Wrinkles During Menopause

Collagen and elastin are structural proteins essential for maintaining skin plumpness, firmness, and elasticity. Estrogen decline leads to a reduction in collagen and elastin synthesis, resulting in thinning skin, loss of firmness, wrinkles, fine lines, and an increased appearance of dark circles under the eyes. We all lose collagen as we age, but this speeds up in the menopause. Studies have shown that within the first five years of menopause, women may experience a 30% decline in collagen levels, with continued degradation thereafter.

Addressing Dull and Dry Skin in Menopause

Estrogen plays a crucial role in regulating skin hydration. As estrogen levels decline, the skin’s ability to retain moisture diminishes, leading to dryness, dehydration, and compromised barrier function. This moisture deprivation contributes to symptoms such as itching, flakiness, and a dull complexion.

Managing Hormonal Acne in Menopausal Skin

We often associate acne with teenage years, but women can also experience acne during the menopause. This is because while estrogen levels decline during menopause, androgen levels may remain relatively stable. This hormonal imbalance can manifest as an increase in sebum production, leading to oily skin, acne breakouts, and unwanted facial hair growth. Androgens also play a role in stimulating the activity of sebaceous glands, exacerbating skin issues commonly associated with menopause. Chronic inflammation from acne and excessive sebum contributes towards accelerated aging of our skin.

Maintaining pH Balance in Menopause Skincare

Hormonal fluctuations during menopause can disrupt the skin’s natural pH balance, altering its acidic mantle and compromising its protective barrier function. A shift towards alkalinity may increase the skin’s susceptibility to inflammation, irritation, and microbial infections. Maintaining optimal pH levels is essential for preserving skin health and minimizing the risk of skin disorders.

Understanding Estrogen Deprivation and Skin Health

The drop in estrogen is responsible for the hot flashes and broken sleep many women suffer from in the menopause. This lack of estrogen can also affect your mood and cause anxiety, depression, and increase in stress. Stress and poor sleep will affect our health and wellbeing in many ways including our skin and self-confidence.

Effective Skincare Strategies for Menopause and Your Skin

Understanding these underlying mechanisms is essential for devising comprehensive skincare regimens tailored to address the specific needs of menopausal skin. Targeted interventions aimed at replenishing moisture, stimulating collagen synthesis, regulating sebum production, and restoring pH balance can help mitigate the adverse effects of hormonal changes on the skin.

1. Collagen-Boosting Ingredients for Menopause and Your Skin

Incorporate skincare products containing collagen-boosting ingredients such as retinoids, peptides, and growth factors to stimulate fibroblast activity and promote collagen synthesis. Retinoids, in particular, have been shown to improve skin texture, reduce wrinkles, and enhance overall skin tone and elasticity.

2. Hydrating Skincare for Dry Menopausal Skin

Choose moisturizers and serums enriched with hydrating ingredients to replenish moisture and fortify the skin’s natural barrier. Look for products specifically formulated for dry, menopausal skin to provide optimal hydration and nourishment.

3. Managing Acne for Menopause and Your Skin

For women experiencing acne breakouts during menopause, incorporate skincare products containing retinol, salicylic acid, or niacinamide to regulate sebum production and reduce inflammation. Avoid heavy, pore-clogging formulations and opt for lightweight, non-comedogenic products suitable for acne-prone skin. Choosing a good acne-suitable cleanser and exfoliator is really important, as well as an acne-friendly SPF.

4. Balanced pH in Menopause Skincare

Use gentle cleansers and toners with a balanced pH to cleanse the skin without disrupting its natural barrier. Avoid harsh, alkaline formulations that can strip away moisture and exacerbate dryness and irritation. Opt for products specifically designed to maintain the skin’s acidic mantle and support its protective function.

5. Self-Care Tips for Healthy Skin During Menopause

Getting good quality sleep, managing stress, having a healthy diet, doing daily exercise, and rehydrating with water will all benefit our skin as well as our overall health and happiness. While sometimes hard to make time for or to prioritize ourselves, caring for ourselves in these core areas is vital to our wellbeing. If you are struggling with your sleep or stress, making an appointment with your family doctor is a great place to start—there are lots of ways to find help, solutions, and support.

6. Sun Protection for Menopausal Skin

Prioritize daily sun protection with broad-spectrum sunscreen to prevent UV-induced damage, premature aging, and hyperpigmentation. Choose lightweight, non-greasy formulations with at least an SPF 30 or higher, and reapply regularly, especially when spending extended periods outdoors.

If you wish to learn more about skincare in the menopause and solutions that can help you, reach out to Dr. Kate at Merrion.

Recommended Skincare Products for Menopause and Your Skin

For Fine Lines and Wrinkles in Menopausal Skin

Wrinkle and Texture Repair by ZO offers a unique formulation of fast-release, deep-penetrating retinoid—it reaches the dermis to tackle signs of aging and pigmentation. It also incorporates ZPRO, designed to boost volume, and ZCORE to target skin elasticity and firmness.

For Hydration in Menopausal Skin

Hydrinity offers an amazing renewing serum complete with Supercharged Hyaluronic Acid to boost radiance and replenish dry skin.

Acne Solutions for Menopause and Your Skin

ZO’s scientifically based complexion clearing kit is a 4-product package designed specifically for acne-prone skin.

For pH Balance in Sensitive Menopausal Skin

ZO’s gentle cleanser and calming toner pH balancer is a must for anyone with sensitive skin.

Sun Protection for Menopausal Skin Health

Check out Thoya’s natural tinted mineral sunscreen with 5 different tints. 100% natural mineral origin ingredients, certified organic ingredients, vegan, gluten-free, hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, and non-comedogenic. It also protects against visible and blue light. What’s not to love!