Menopause and Skin Health FAQs
What is the menopause? How is my skin affected?
Menopause is actually the point in time when a woman stops having periods and being able to reproduce. The stage leading up to that is actually known as "peri-menopause", but people tend to just refer to "menopause" to encompass this whole phase of a woman's reproductive life.
Peri-menopause usually lasts around four to eight years, but it can be longer or shorter for some women. The average age of the menopause is around 51.
During this time, women may experience an array of symptoms, including those people are more aware of, like hot flushes, night sweats, weight gain, lower libido, vaginal dryness, incontinence, mood swings and irregular periods, to those we might not be so aware of, such as painful joints, anxiety, hair thinning, insomnia, loss of collagen and dry skin.
Our life expectancy has increased significantly. Even 100 years ago, menopause was not really acknowledged, and in the centuries before that, women barely lived to the age where they would transition through menopause.
While much more is understood about menopause today and conversations are starting to open up around it on a much more public level, menopause is really a more modern phenomenon, which is why many women feel overwhelmed by what is happening to their bodies and their appearance. "I look tired" or "I don't feel like myself" are two of the things women most often say when they come to a skin clinic, and this is understandable as a lot happens to the skin during menopause.
The link between the skin and hormones is well acknowledged, so it makes sense that the dramatic changes in hormone levels experienced during the perimenopausal and menopausal years would impact on the skin.
During menopause, oestrogen levels reduce and cause a variety of side effects, including on the skin. This is because oestrogen plays a fundamental role in the production of collagen and elastin, the principal component of our skin which gives volume.
The epidermis also begins to thin as cellular turnover reduces and the capillary blood flow slows down. This leads to reduced barrier function, which means the skin often becomes quite dry. Reduced oestrogen levels are also thought to make it harder for the skin to retain water.
Finally, there is an increased risk of pigmentation during menopause. This is because your melanocytes (the cells that produce skin pigment or melanin) degenerate and produce less melanin, which is your natural protector against the sun. Melanin can also be overproduced in certain areas which have previously been exposed to a lot of sun. This is due to a lack of oestrogen, which would usually help regulate this process. As a result, the skin is more sensitive to the sun's damaging rays, and you may see an increase in pigmentated patches, brown spots or age spots on sun-exposed areas such as the face, chest and backs of the hands.
How can I look after myself and my skin during my menopause?
Menopause can be a challenging time both physically and emotionally for many women. A time when their appearance can change alongside many other things that made them "who they are".
Modern medicine has made dramatic inroads into life expectancy, and so nowadays, the age we enter menopause is an age we still have a lot of life ahead of us. For this reason, it's understandable that women want to look and feel their best. Menopause is not the end of the road; it is the beginning of a new chapter.
If you are struggling with the effects of peri-menopause, you can seek help from a doctor or specialist. There are many things that can be done to help you through this period of your life, including Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). You do not need to suffer in silence.
In terms of looking after your skin, one of the major priorities is hydration. Dryness is a major concern during menopause, so it is really important to do all you can to improve hydration. Drinking plenty of water is, of course, the first step, but hydration can also be improved with the use of medical skincare and treatments.
Ingredients that stimulate oestrogen receptors have also become key in maintaining menopausal skin health. Aside from hydrating agents, anti-oxidants and retinol are key.
Another key factor is boosting collagen and elastin. When women enter menopause, they lose a significant amount of collagen and elastin, the things that keep your skin looking plump and firm. It is estimated that women lose 30% of their collagen in the five years following menopause. This reduction drops to about 2% after five years.
In addition, the hormonal fluctuations experienced during menopause can leave you vulnerable to pigmentation. As such, sunscreen should be worn every day – whether it is sunny or not. In fact, everyone should wear sunscreen every day, rain or shine, whether you are menopausal or not. Sun damage is the number one cause of premature ageing, so adding this into the mix with the changes during menopause is a road to nowhere skin-wise.
Other ways to support yourself are through diet, exercise and lifestyle changes. A healthy balanced diet will help counteract weight gain around the middle, something many women experience. You can also eat foods containing phytoestrogens such as soya beans, legumes, lentils, chickpeas, tofu, flaxseeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds and cashews.
Lifestyle wise. Reducing alcohol intake, stopping smoking, getting plenty of quality sleep and avoiding sugar-filled junk foods and caffeine can all help promote better health.
Does my skin age faster after the menopause?
Your skin does age faster during and after menopause. This is due to a number of factors, primarily caused by the reduction of oestrogen. It is also part of the physiological ageing process as male skin ages too, so it’s not just about hormonal
As women approach menopause, their hormone levels start to drop due to the slowing down of ovarian activity.
Reductions in levels of hormones like progesterone and testosterone can lead to changes in sebaceous gland secretion, resulting in a duller complexion and lacklustre skin.
Lower oestrogen levels mean the skin becomes dry and less able to retain water. Dry skin looks more wrinkled and texturally compromised than plump, hydrated skin.
At the same time, women lose a dramatic amount of collagen post-menopause. In fact, the number is as high as 30% in the five years following menopause. This reduction drops to about 2% after five years. This can cause wrinkles to develop.
Add to this increased risk of sun-damage related pigmentation due to hormonal fluctuations, and it's a recipe for premature skin ageing.
What can I do for my menopausal skin?
Common problems experienced with menopausal skin are dryness, pigmentation, loss of collagen and elastin, sagging, textural changes, a tried or dull appearance and lines and wrinkles.
Prevention is far better than cure, and therefore starting skincare routines (particularly with ingredients like retinol) as early as possible is the Holy Grail. If you are not breastfeeding or pregnant, starting in your mid-20s is ideal.
The first step when embarking on any medical skincare regime is to have a consultation with a specialist. They can help guide you as to what your individual skin needs are, as every woman will experience something different during menopause.
Always start by protecting your skin with SPF. SPF is the cornerstone of any skin health regime. Sun damage is the number one cause of premature skin ageing, so protecting your skin from the sun's damaging rays can stop you from accelerating that ageing process even further.
From there, we look at ingredients that stimulate oestrogen receptors and collagen production to ensure we slow down the rate of loss and make sure that the skin cycle remains at four to six weeks. This is a normal part of ageing. However, a slower skin cycle means that we end up with more dry, dead skin on the skin's surface, which gives it a very dull look.
Key ingredients include hyaluronic acid, retinoids (vitamin A) and peptides
Hyaluronic acid is a powerfully hydrating ingredient because it has the ability to attract water. We naturally have hyaluronic acid in our skin, and levels deplete with age.
Retinoids are the overarching term for derivatives of vitamin A, which are converted in the body to retinoic acid, the active form of vitamin A. Retinol is a type of retinoid.
Retinoids work at a gene level, reducing minimising pigment and helping to increase cell turnover to reduce pigmentation, also enhancing collagen and elastin production, smoothing skin and evening pigmentation. Starting it does need a little support so you get the most benefit and minimise any side effects, but once you have it built into your routine, this can be transformative for the skin.
Peptides are the building blocks of amino acids, which ultimately build proteins. When we apply them to the skin, they fool it into believing it is broken, and this increases the production of new cells with more collagen and elastin.
Collagen drinks can be very gimmicky when you look at the contents. However, supplying the gut with high levels of hydrolysed collagen in a form that can stimulate the production of both type I and type II collagen does seem to increase hydration and improves the thickness of the skin. At a time when depletion of collagen is so rapid and taken up by key joints etc however is is always better to improve the diet as much as possible. And save on supplements!
Will HRT help my skin through menopause?
There are many benefits to Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), both physical and cognitive. In terms of your skin, there have been numerous studies that suggest HRT can help in the management of skin-related symptoms associated with menopause. It is worth pointing out that it is not indicated for this.
Studies have shown HRT can help increase epidermal hydration and skin elasticity and thickness (Sator et al. 2001) as well as to boost dermal collagen levels (Brincat MP et al. Climacteric 2005; 8: 110-123)
In one observational study, more than 3,000 women found that compared to non-users, HRT use was associated with a statistically significant reduction in dry skin and wrinkling (Dunn LB et al. Arch Dermatol 1997; 133(3): 339-342)
Why is my menopausal skin so dry?
Dryness is one of the major skin problems associated with menopause. This is because our hormone levels crash, causing the skin barrier function to become compromised and cell turnover to slow. This means the skin loses some of its ability to hold onto water, and it becomes dry and more wrinkled looking as a result.
What is the best skincare in menopause?
Using a range developed specifically for menopausal skin, such as Emepelle, can help. This range contains "MEP technology", which allows the skin to behave as if the oestrogen was still there, helping to restore lost collagen and maintaining skin integrity, giving brighter, firmer and well-hydrated skin. Emepelle also includes retinol in its night cream or a standalone product.
AlumierMD Resurfacing Serum is another product we recommend. It allows us to support you with titration of the dose gently upwards. This is made in doses from 0.25% to 1% of pure, potent retinol but with active peptides, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide (vitamin B3). This keeps the skin hydrated and the barrier function optimal. So your skin gradually smooths, the pigment left from spots slowly reduces, and fine lines gradually disappear.
For hydration, the AlumierMD Ultimate Boost Serum increases your skin's hydration to minimise fine lines and wrinkles and bounce light off that uneven texture to keep it looking radiant, soft, plump and smooth and aid hydration. Sometimes with menopausal skin, it's the layering of multiple products which give short term comfort while skin rebalances and hormone levels settle.
Sunscreen is really non-negotiable. Every day, inside or outside, it will protect you from the sun's ageing rays (UVA). The sun has two types of damaging rays – UVA and UVB. UVB is what gives us a sunburn on a sunny day, UVA is what causes premature ageing, and it can penetrate grey cloudy skies and glass. This type of radiation is responsible for 80% of skin ageing.
Choosing a formulation that suits your skin type is essential, and it's essential that you love what you use. We recommend AlumierMD Sheer Hydration Broad Spectrum SPF.
Hydration - How do I hydrate my menopausal skin?
Dehydration is one of the biggest problems for menopausal skin. Your skin becomes dry during menopause for a number of reasons, namely lower levels of oestrogen. This, in turn, causes your skin cell turnover to slow down and become sluggish, meaning that dead skin cells don't fall away as quickly as they used to. At the same time, skin barrier function is compromised leading, and the skin's ability to retain water diminishes.
Drinking more water is always a good thing for your health and one of the easiest ways to boost hydration in your skin. But, it still may need a helping hand, and that's where professional products and treatments come in.
Hydrating moisturisers or serums containing ingredients like hyaluronic acid can help quench dry cells, while powerful ingredients like retinol can help improve the function of your skin.
In the same way, professional treatments such as peels and skinboosters can aid skin hydration in different ways. While peels remove sluggish dead skin cells from the surface of your skin and encourage healthy cell turnover, skinboosters inject your skin with a fresh dose of hyaluronic acid, one of nature's most hydrating ingredients.
Best treatments for menopausal skin? Improving menopausal skin and looking younger
There is a wide range of treatments that stimulate skin health and support skin at any age. They all focus on stimulating fibroblast cells to make more collagen and elastin. It's important to know what treatment you enjoy here, whether it's chemical peels, microneedling, injectable skin boosters, laser rejuvenation, radio frequency microneedling or HIFU.
Chemical peels
Chemical peels help exfoliate the outer layer of skin and increase cell turnover.
HIFU
HIFU is a non-surgical treatment that can lift and tighten the skin with dramatic yet natural-looking results without the need for any invasive procedures. HIFU stands for High-Frequency Ultrasound Energy. It uses ultrasound energy to create heat in lower levels of the skin (the dermis). This triggers your body's own natural healing response, causing you to make new collagen, the building block of our skin. This remodelling of your collagen results in a lifting and sculpting effect. HIFU is safe and effective and can be used all over the face, neck and body.
Skinboosters
Skinboosters are effectively like an injectable moisturiser. They allow us to get hyaluronic acid molecules into the skin, but unlike dermal fillers, they are lightweight and lightweight and non-volumising. Injecting them just below the skin's surface gives long-lasting hydration and subtle plumping.
Radio Frequency Microneedling
Radio frequency microneedling is a revolutionary treatment that stimulates the skin's healing response, encouraging the production of precious growth factors, collagen and elastin for a naturally rejuvenated, revitalized, regenerated and tightened skin.
Non-ablative laser resurfacing
Non-ablative skin resurfacing has a similar action to microneedling. It stimulates fibroblasts to make more collagen. However, the method it uses to do this is different, and people can respond in different ways. Non-ablative laser resurfacing puts small columns of heat down into the skin, producing a wound-healing response.
Is retinol good for menopausal skin?
Retinol is one of the most effective anti-ageing ingredients, and so it is great for menopausal skin.
Retinoids are the overarching term for derivatives of vitamin A, which are converted in the body to retinoic acid, the active form of vitamin A. Retinol is a type of retinoid.
Retinoids work at the gene level, reducing minimising pigment and helping to increase cell turnover to reduce pigmentation, also enhancing collagen and elastin production, smoothing skin and evening pigmentation, which means they target nearly every skin-related problem associated with menopause.
There's a journey with retinol. It can be a bit irritating to start with, but the payoff can be huge. Starting it does need a little support, so you get the most benefit and minimise side effects, but once you have got it built into your routine, this can be transformative for the skin.
The best starting products are microencapsulated retinol which drip feeds the skin with vitamin A, maximising the contact time and minimising side effects.
How do I boost my collagen production in menopause?
You can boost your collagen production in menopause in a number of ways. The most effective is a combination of medical-grade skincare and professional treatments such as retinol and microneedling or non-ablative laser resurfacing.
Retinol stimulates fibroblasts to synthesise collagen fibres and improves skin elasticity. Note that retinols can make your skin photosensitive, so you must be careful in the sun and when having any light-based treatments like laser. Your skincare professional will be able to advise you whether to come off retinol-based products before undergoing treatments.
Microneedling works by stimulating the skin's healing response, encouraging the production of precious growth factors, collagen and elastin. Non-ablative skin resurfacing has a similar action. It too stimulates fibroblasts to make more collagen. However, it does this using laser heat energy rather than needles to trigger the wound healing response.
There have also been some suggestions that HRT can boost collagen production because it replenishes low oestrogen levels, one of the major causes of accelerated collagen loss.
How can I tighten my skin after the menopause?
Many women want to know how to tighten their skin after menopause. When we enter menopause, we start to lose our collagen and elastin at a rapid rate. This means many women are not prepared for the sudden and accelerated ageing that accompanies menopause.
Collagen and elastin give our skin structure, elasticity, firmness, and youthful appearance. When they drop so significantly, skin can become saggy.
One of the most effective treatments for skin tightening is High-Frequency Ultrasound Energy or HIFU. HIFU uses ultrasound energy to create heat in lower levels of the skin (the dermis). This triggers your body's own natural healing response, causing you to make new collagen. This remodelling of your collagen results in a lifting and sculpting effect.
Top tips for menopausal skin
Build a good skincare routine with medical-grade products. Make sure this includes a retinol
Drink plenty of water and eat a varied and healthy diet
Get support from an expert who can help you.