Ageing and Menopausal Skin

The Menopause and Your Skin  

Menopause and the stage leading up to it known as "peri-menopause" can cause an array of symptoms. Those people are more aware of include hot flushes, night sweats, weight gain, mood swings and irregular periods, but those we might not be so aware of include painful joints, anxiety, hair thinning, insomnia, loss of collagen and dry skin.

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.

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 which is why women complain about sagging skin as collagen gives the plumpness to the skin which we have enjoyed for many years!

If you’re suffering from aging or menopausal skin – don’t worry. We can successfully treat and manage your symptoms at The Secret Garden.

What Causes Ageing Skin?

There are two key factors at play here – one which can be applied equally to men and women;

Diet, Lifestyle and Sun Exposure

Lifestyle and environmental factors have a fundamental impact on the ageing and premature aging of the skin. The older we get, the longer the greater our UV exposure and the more significant the aging becomes. Sun exposure accounts for about 80% of the damage we see with skin over time so doing all we can to avoid it is important.

Hormonal Changes and The Menopause

For women the reduction in oestrogen levels adds further complications in a wide and varied way which is unique to each one of us. As these levels begin to drop (just as they slowly increased when we were teenage girls before our periods started), we fall into the peri-menopausal phase and we start feeling changes in our body and skin. Reducing oestrogen levels affect us in many ways and are often very readily seen in 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 and also regulates how water is retained in the skin.

Busting the ageing & menopausal skin myths

“Dry skin is the only skin-related menopause symptom”

False. With lower oestrogen and potentially higher levels of testosterone, sebaceous glands can go into overdrive, which gives the appearance of oily skin and can lead to adult acne.

“Sunscreen is even more important after 40”

False – whilst older skin may become may be more sensitive to the sun and the decline of oestrogen may increase your risk of pigmentation due to a decline in melanocytes sunscreen should be a fundamental part of every skin routine from as soon as practical to start it!

A broad spectrum (mineral based) SPF tailored for your skin will help prevent age spots, wrinkles, and cancer. It is essential to use it every day, even in winter, whether you are inside or outside because UVA travels through glass — and don’t forget the backs of your hands.

“There’s no way to treat hyperpigmentation”

False. Hyperpigmentation, or dark patches on your skin are more common after 40. Since oestrogen helps regulate melanin, when oestrogen declines you’ll be more prone to hyperpigmentation and other types of sun damage, one reason sunscreen is so important. To treat it, use a serum with a high concentration of vitamin C which is helps to break down the pigment and protect against further damage. Retinoids can be a powerful remedy for hyperpigmentation when introduced carefully into a routine. Treatments turbocharge the removal of pigment and chemical peels and laser treatments are robustly tested and give great results.

“The menopause starts at 50”

The age a woman starts to experience symptoms associated with the menopause can vary dramatically. Most will start to notice symptoms when they are between 45 and 55, with the average age for UK women sitting at around 51. However, early menopause (which starts under the age of 40) happens to around 1% of women in the UK, so it is important that a woman gets the right advice about whether she would benefit from Hormone Replacement Therapy or not.. Every woman should have this available to them if they wish to follow this path.

Treating ageing skin

When you visit us in clinic, we’ll carry out a full skin analysis to understand the cause of your skin concerns.

We’ll then start you on a programme that is bespoke to your skin.

There are a wide range of treatments which stimulate skin health and support skin at any age. All of them 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 together with medical grade skincare to be used at home. But you should not worry if you don’t know this right now because we tailor your programme to help you achieve your goals.

What are the best treatments for ageing skin?

There are four particular treatments in clinic that are great for treating ageing skin and have achieved incredible results for our clients. These are NeoGen, Skin Boosters, Skin Laser and Radio Frequency Microneedling. When you visit the clinic for a skin consultation, we’ll curate a bespoke skin care plan to support your goals and give you unrivalled results by tailoring the most appropriate treatment recipe for your skin.

Not sure which treatment is right for you?

Don’t worry. Simply book a consultation with The Secret Garden skin clinic. The team will have a good look at your skin, discuss your skin concerns, and will recommend a treatment plan that matches your budget and your goals. Prices for anti-ageing / skin health and skin tightening plans are in the range of £200 - £350 a month and will fully support you to feel confident and glowing in your skin.

Secret Garden Skincare Journeys

Julie’s Pigmentation Journey