This article has been compiled by Vaibhavi Kodnani, a content writer at Proactive For Her.
As you near menopause, the estrogen levels in your body start to decline. While your body is undergoing various physical and emotional changes, your skin drastically transforms too. But don’t you worry, for you are not alone. We assure you that these changes are completely normal and manageable through medical treatments, home remedies and support.
You may experience the following skin changes
Skin dryness: Dropping estrogen levels causes loss of humectants that keep the skin hydrated. Hence, your skin tends to become dry.
Skin thinning: Along with dryness, you may also feel that your skin has thinned out.
Loss of skin elasticity: Elastin protein is responsible for maintaining your skin’s elasticity. But the loss of estrogen also affects elastin production, thus directly affecting the skin's elasticity.
Sagging and wrinkling: Similarly, collagen production slows down - a protein that is one of the main building blocks of our skin and that provides suppleness to the skin, giving us a youthful look. Hence, it leads to sagging and wrinkling of the skin.
Vaginal atrophy: Just like your skin, even the vaginal walls become thin and dry due to a decline in estrogen. It can be extremely uncomfortable, causing itching and irritation. Even sexual intercourse can be painful.
Skin allergies: Due to the loss of humectants, the skin becomes more prone to skin allergies and rashes.
Acne: Some may also develop cystic and nodular acne under hormonal control that is extremely painful.
Hyperpigmentation: Many women notice pigmentation on their cheeks, known as melasma. Apart from this, many may even develop pigmentation on the neck, underarms or private parts.
Facial hair: Low estrogen and high testosterone levels during menopause lead to facial hair growth.
Rosacea: Rosacea is a skin condition wherein the skin becomes red and sensitive, causing itching and burning. Even the blood vessels become visible. Those who are prone to this condition may notice its flare-up during perimenopause or menopause. But due to hot flashes, it can even happen to those who have never experienced rosacea.
Pruritus: You may notice itching, burning and rashes on your entire body due to skin dryness. It is called pruritus.
Hot flashes and night sweats: Low estrogen levels affect the hypothalamus in the body. When the hypothalamus feels that the body is too warm, it starts a series of changes for cooling the body in the form of a hot flash. During a hot flash, you will notice intense heat over the face, neck and chest, sudden reddening of the skin, flushing of the face and sweating. When this happens at night, it is called night sweats.
Hair fall: The fluctuating hormones also affect the hair, and you may notice hair thinning and hair fall.
Are these skin changes reversible?
The majority of the skin changes are manageable with appropriate medical treatments. Every person’s treatment plan will vary based on the symptoms they present. However, it is crucial to remember that it will take time to show results, and being patient with yourself is necessary.
What are the medical treatments?
Your doctor would prescribe a skin care treatment plan based on your skin type, age and the skin symptoms you have due to menopause. The majority of the treatments are targeted at moisturising your body as the lack of moisture mainly leads to various skin changes.
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
If you are experiencing menopause symptoms in extreme intensities that are affecting your daily functioning and routine, your doctor may consider putting you on low-term hormone replacement therapy. Based on your blood test results, you would either be given estrogen or progesterone or both for a short period of 1-2 months. They are available in the form of tablets or creams. If your testosterone is high, something to lower it is given. However, HRT has its repercussions. Taking estrogen can decrease the calcium in the body leading to arthritis, and it also increases the chances of developing uterine cancer. Therefore, it is not a preferred choice of doctors. It is only given after weighing the pros and cons of it and under necessary circumstances.
Supplements
Your doctor may also prescribe some supplements to ease your menopause symptoms.
Calcium: Loss of estrogen affects bone health; they lose calcium and become weak, fragile and porous. It may lead to the development of osteoporosis. Hence, calcium becomes crucial for menopausal women.
Vitamin D: Taking Vitamin D supplements is important for the effective absorption of calcium in the body.
Collagen: As the skin loses collagen during menopause, taking collagen supplements can have good skin benefits.
Omega-3 fatty acids: To combat skin dryness, Omega-3 fatty acid supplements or fish oil can benefit.
Ashwagandha: If you are suffering from rosacea or skin allergies, then taking ashwagandha tablets can help.
What are the home remedies?
There are some simple tips to calm, hydrate and moisturise your skin.
Cold compress bag: Always keep a cold compress bag ready with you. You can carry it whenever you travel outside too, and use it for relief from hot flashes.
Oatmeal bath: To manage the excessive dryness, you can have an oatmeal bath.
Recipe:
- Take 2-3 tbsp of oatmeal in a porous cotton cloth and tie it into a small pouch.
- Put this pouch in your bathtub or bucket of water for 10 minutes.
- After that, squeeze that pouch in the water to release a colloidal or slimy and shiny layer of oatmeal that will make the water moisturising.
- Taking a bath with this water will hydrate and moisturise your body.
Coconut oil massage: Coconut oil is also a good moisturiser for the skin.
- After taking a bath, do not towel dry your body.
- Rub coconut oil on your wet skin until the water dries off. The oil will trap the water in your skin, thus helping in moisturising.
What is the best skincare routine to follow?
As your skin undergoes many changes at the time of perimenopause and menopause, you need to alter your skincare routine as well. The products that were possibly working for your skin may not suit you anymore. Having a morning and night skincare routine is crucial to managing skin changes. Your skincare routine will also vary according to your symptoms. Hence it is best to consult a doctor if you feel your skin has drastically changed. However, some general tips include:
- Use skincare products with the right ingredients: Ensure your skincare product formulations have ingredients such as retinol, copper peptides, collagen, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin C.
- Moisturise your skin: For dry, itchy and irritated skin, a urea-based moisturiser would work best.
- Sunscreen is a must: Use a good sunscreen that is SPF 50 and above.
- Use the right towel: If you have excessive dryness, pruritus and itching, switch from Turkish towels to cotton-based towels.
Can your diet make a difference?
Your diet can make a significant difference in managing your symptoms. Here are a few tips:
- Eat natural, bright, colourful fruits and vegetables.
- Consume a wholesome, healthy diet.
- Drink lots of water.
- Take supplements if your diet is lacking certain nutrients.
- Maintain a food diary to record any allergic reactions to foods. It will help you avoid those foods and prevent allergies.
What lifestyle changes should you make?
Adopt the following lifestyle changes to take care of your body as you experience various changes.
- Incorporate daily exercise into your routine.
- Meditate to calm your mind and body.
- Have a good sleep pattern. If your sleep is getting disturbed due to night sweats or mood alterations, consult your doctor to avoid complications.
How to choose the right makeup?
When choosing makeup, the three main skin concerns are excessive dryness, rosacea or hot flashes and pigmentation. Here are some makeup tips to keep in mind:
- Do not apply heavy foundation.
- Invest in a good concealer or BB cream, CC cream or tinted sunscreen.
- You can choose a green concealer if you feel your skin has become too red.
- Keep your makeup light if you get rosacea or hot flashes so that you can reapply it easily.
- Do not opt for oil-based makeup just because your skin is dry. Instead, choose smooth makeup.
- Go for a hydrating moisturiser.
- Always try the makeup products before buying them to check if it suits your skin.
Recommended skincare brands
A few recommended skincare brands having good products are:
- Obagi: They have the best products for menopausal or aged skin.
- Bioderma (Range - Pigment Bio): This is a good range for people with sensitive skin having pigmentation.
- Bioderma (Range - Atoderm): This range is suitable for people with sensitive skin prone to allergies.
When should you consult a doctor?
Various skin changes are bound to occur as you approach menopause, and it is normal. You may be able to manage them with some changes in your skincare routine, makeup, diet and lifestyle. However, if these symptoms hamper your daily life, consult your doctor and get started on medical treatments for the same. You may also experience dyspareunia or painful sex and UTIs due to vaginal dryness and imbalanced pH levels. Do not ignore these problems. Similarly, you can manage hot flashes, melasma, acne, rosacea, facial hair growth and any other skin changes well with an appropriate treatment plan.
Bottom line
Firstly, accept that these skin changes are an inevitable part of your life. Since perimenopause lasts from 2-5 years, you have to be patient with the whole process. Seek advice from your doctor to understand these changes and start on suitable treatments and a skincare routine. Joining support groups can be beneficial; it will assure you that you are not alone. If you feel it is affecting your emotional well-being, opt for therapy.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for educational purposes and should not be construed as medical advice. Please consult with your healthcare practitioners before undertaking any changes in your diet or adding supplements.
Proactive For Her is a digital clinic for women, offering accessible, personalized, and confidential healthcare solutions. We offer products and services for out-patient health concerns of Indian women, across their lifetime - from puberty to pregnancy to menopause. To know more on the sexual and reproductive health of women, visit https://www.proactiveforher.com/