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POSTED: 12 Jul 2023

Menopause Skin Changes & How to Treat Them

is a physiological change that usually occurs the ages of 45 to 55. It occurs due to a change in levels and an end to a woman’s cycles. This has a number of on a woman’s health, including skin . The term "menopause skin" is a collective name for the skin changes that occur due to these hormonal shifts. In this we are going to how menopause skin lead to like itching, dryness and acne, and how you can treat them.

What Happens to Your Hormones During Menopause?

occurs when a woman’s ovaries stop eggs. As a result, the levels of the hormones oestrogen and . These two play a number of roles in the body. There is also a change in FSH and LH, which are hormones that the pituitary gland . They the ovaries to produce eggs and release hormones. During menopause, FSH and LH levels increase as the ovaries become less to them. This contributes to the typical symptoms and risks that some people may experience.

is the female sex hormone. It is responsible for a number of bodily functions, regulating the menstrual cycle, maintaining bone health and protecting the heart. Progesterone is a that the ovaries . It works with oestrogen to the menstrual cycle and prepare the uterus for . That’s why at menopause, periods may become irregular or stop altogether. The in oestrogen and progesterone levels during menopause can cause well-known menopause symptoms like hot flushes, night sweats, sleep problems, vaginal dryness and mood swings. It can also the risk of osteoporosis, which puts you at risk of fractures and heart disease.

These symptoms can vary from woman to woman. As such, menopause may be more or less severe depending on the individual. This is to consider when looking for the best treatments.

How Does Menopause Affect Your Skin?

Oestrogen is a key player in skin health and promotes the production of collagen and elastin. These two proteins are responsible for making your skin plump, firm and elastic. also regulates the skin’s moisture and barrier function. Progesterone, on the other hand, controls oil production, promotes new skin cell growth and blood vessel . It also has wound and properties. The in these hormones gives rise to a variety of skin problems, including itching, dryness, , and . These are together known as "menopause skin".

Skin Itching, Dryness and Sensitivity

As and progesterone levels go down, so do collagen, elastin and natural oils. As such, your skin may become dry, flaky and itchy. The decline in progesterone, which has effects, can make this worse. The reduced levels also weaken the skin’s protective . This leads to increased skin sensitivity, inflammation, redness and irritation.

Accelerated Skin Ageing

The reduced collagen and elastin can speed up and worsen the appearance of as well as . Collagen gives the skin its strength and . When collagen levels decline, the skin becomes thinner and more prone to wrinkles. Elastin and together maintain the skin’s elasticity. When these are reduced, the skin is less able to bounce back after being stretched, which can give the appearance of sagging.

Acne Breakouts

The imbalance during menopause can trigger sebum over-production, which leads to clogged pores and . and normally help to the oil glands under the skin. When the levels of these drop, the body may produce more androgens in their place. Androgens are a type of male that is normally present in women in smaller . Excess stimulate the oil glands in the skin, which leads to an in oil production. The oil or sebum can clog pores, which then become or inflamed and result in .

Additionally, other like , poor sleep and dietary changes can also lead to acne. Stress cortisol, which is another hormone that can cause the skin to more oil. Poor sleep and changes can also cause changes in the skin’s and exacerbate acne.

Facial Redness & Flushing

Hot are a common . They are sudden and transient of warmth and flushing that spread over the body, particularly in the face, neck and chest. When hot occur, they cause the blood in the skin to dilate (vasodilation). This is your body’s to cool down and results in skin redness and flushing.

hot flushes can lead to persistent redness and broken capillaries. This redness looks similar to that seen in rosacea. Furthermore, when capillaries break they give rise to a network of tiny, red, web-like lines under the skin’s . These are called or