How to treat menopause skin

As we approach menopause, there are many changes a woman’s body will endure. Not least of all changes within the skin. And since a woman lives 40% of her life in a post-menopausal state, we ought to learn how to work with it.

Oestrogen is a hormone that plays a vital role in skin function, for men and women alike. Many studies have highlighted oestrogen’s protective effects on our skin and shown it can be used to reduce and even reverse the effects of ageing on our skin! 

What is Menopause vs. Peri-menopause? 

Perimenopause is the transitional period before menopause – this is when oestrogen and progesterone levels fluctuate and then gradually decline. This process usually begins in your forties and can go on for 4 to 10 years;

During this time, you may experience menopause-like symptoms, such as hot flushes, mood changes, night sweats, insomnia or irregular periods. 

Once you are menstruation-free for a full 12 months, menopause has begun and these symptoms may begin to subside. 

It is the accompanying changes in oestrogen levels that greatly affects our skin. First fluctuating in perimenopause followed by a steep decline during menopause itself.

How menopause affects your skin

During the first 5 years of menopause, studies show women’s skin loses about 30% of its collagen.

This sudden loss, thankfully then levels out to about 2% every year for the next 20 years…but this is still double the 1% annual loss we experience from age 25.

You may notice…

• fine lines and wrinkles develop more around the eyes and upper lip
• skin laxity and sagging shows up around the cheeks, jawline, and neck
• skin dryness makes the skin appear more dull

So what can we do about it?

As the body changes, there are lifestyle changes we can embrace to support this transition holistically. Getting more sleep, reducing stress levels, doing exercise (especially weight lifting), adjusting your diet (and even fasting can help – read this book!). It’s also worth exploring if HRT, (hormone replacement therapy), is right for you.

The skin can be supported through a combination of skincare and aesthetic treatments that help to prevent further collagen loss and stimulate more collagen production. Let’s take a look at how your skincare routine can be adjusted to support your skin through this challenging transition.

Tighten up your skincare routine

1) Cleanse

Your skin will benefit from extra moisture. Choose creamy cleansers that hydrate instead of foam or gel cleansers that can strip moisture from your skin.

2) Exfoliate

Your skin refreshes itself in 28 days, with 12 days to slough away in our 20s…this cycle gets longer and longer as we get older.

Your skin now needs assistance to exfoliate and reveal fresh skin below.

Gentle skin resurfacing with antioxidant vitamins and light acids is much kinder to skin than physical exfoliation with a brush!

3) Hydrate

Our skin gets drier as our oil glands become less active.

Reduce your time in hot showers, use richer creams with plenty of ceramides in. You may also benefit from first applying hyaluronic acid serum straight after a warm bath for maximum hydration.

4) stimulate collagen production

Consider using a skin care product that contains retinol or peptides. These ingredients can increase collagen in your skin.

Antioxidant vitamins A & C, alongside alpha-hydroxy acids are known to stimulate collagen production in hundreds of dermatology studies when applied topically.

5) Sunscreen

Protect your skin from UVA rays that cause our skin to age more quickly and remember that they come through cloud and glass…so important to wear daily come sun or rain.

You will also be reducing your risk of getting pigmented age spots so don’t forget to apply it to your hands too.

How to find the right products for you

Everyone’s skin behaves differently and we all have our own preferences. 

Together we can plan a skincare routine with a focus on your particular skin type, needs, and preferences…using a combination of medical-grade and prescription products to get real results in a safe way.

Aesthetic treatments that can help

When you’ve adjusted your skincare routine and reviewed your diet, increased your sleep and reduced your stress but you’re still in need of that special extra boost to freshen and plump your beautifully maturing visage, that’s where aesthetic treatments come in.

And I’m all for embracing some of the changes, but there are certain treatments that can support the skin to preserve and even regenerate its own collagen to maintain better skin health when performed safely.

So when you feel like your resting facial expression doesn’t reflect your inner mood – perhaps you have developed a fixed scowl, downturned mouth or a tired look – these treatments may help to refresh your skin and boost your confidence. Whether it’s deep set skin lines or laxity that’s bothering you, we will make a plan that suits you best. 

My top three treatments

1. Botox

This preserves collagen. By reducing the skin creasing that erodes collagen over time, botox gives the skin a rest and time to rebuild its collagen for approximately 3 months. Even 2 treatments per year will give your skin 6 months off. 

Perfect for reducing that scowl and smoothing out wrinkles.

2. Skin boosters

Injectable skin boosters like Profhilo will immediately flood the skin with hydration and then over time will stimulate the body to produce more collagen. So it has immediate and long-lasting effects.

This is great for improving skin quality, when your skin is dry, lax or crepey.

3. Dermal fillers

Fillers can replace lost volume, reshaping your features to provide more structure and lift.

This can make a huge difference to areas such as the temples as they hollow with age, cheeks degeneration and flattening, chin regression and poorly-defined jawlines as the skin loosens here.

Where to start

The first step would be to come see me for a consultation to discover the options available to you.

To find out more about our treatments, book a consultation with Dr. Miriam A. She will assess your skin and provide comprehensive information about what treatments are available and give you advice on safety and your suitability for each treatment.