The good news post menopause are no more periods.

 

The bad news is menopause can affect our skin.

1. Loss of Skin Elasticity

2. Dry Skin and Itchiness

3. Age/brown spots

4. Fine Lines

5. Acne

Rapidly declining estrogen and collagen levels post menopause are the reason for these changes in your skin. 

Skin looks plump and hydrated when estrogen is present. As hormones decline, so do their roles in maintaining skin health and vitality. Your skin can become very dry, sensitive, and prone to irritation, inflammation, and rashes. 

Loss of Skin Elasticity

Menopause and skin elasticity loss is related to a loss of collagen, elastin fibers, and hyaluronic acid - a molecule that helps the skin retain moisture. Laxity/sagginess appears most pronounced around our jaw and neck.

The Good News

Look for skincare products with Hyaluronic acid and Coenzyme Q10. Both help skin retain moisture and appear more toned. Our suggestion: Luxe Perfect-aging Serum Concentrate.

Minimally invasive non-surgical procedures performed by dermatologists such as Laser resurfacing,  IPL (Intense Pulsating Light) , and Ultrasound can be effective for tightening loose skin. 

Dry Itching Skin

One of the lesser known signs of menopause is itchy skin.  Because we're producing less collagen, our skin gets thinner, produces less natural oils, and becomes dry and itchy. Itchiness can occur anywhere on our bodies, including our female parts.

Estrogen helps our skin produce oil and hold onto water, so very dry skin during menopause is common thanks to a drop in this hormone. Dryness coupled with slow skin cell turnover can make our skin look lackluster. 

The Good News

Switching to a more gentle face cleanser that doesn't strip your skin of necessary oils will help. Look for ingredients like honey, fatty acids, aloe, and of course be sure to stay away from sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). 

To brighten skin add a ritual of exfoliation to your skincare routine. Exfoliation stimulates blood flow and circulation while improving skin elasticity.

Baths in colloidal oatmeal are proven to help relieve dry, itchy skin and are very soothing.

Age/Brown Spots 

Skin becomes thinner by the time we reach menopause causing sun damage (age spots) to become more apparent. 

The Good News 

Look for products with Retinol and double up on the sunscreen. Micropeel type exfoliantsremove surface layers of skin cells revealing smoother, clearer skin beneath. Our suggestions: Renew Triple Enzyme Micro Polish 

Microdermabrasion is a special treatment performed by a professional who uses a device to remove surface layers of skin with tiny exfoliating crystals. Microdermabrasion can be effective for reducing the look of age spots.

Fine Lines

Fine lines due to thin skin are another way menopause can affect our skin. Both are due to hormone changes. It may seem like overnight you have more wrinkles than you did the day before.

The Good News

Peptides are a great choice. Peptides are amino acids that stimulate your skin to make more collagen. Studies report anti-wrinkle benefits with regular use of peptides in our skincare products and routines.

Acne

By the time you reach Menopause you're probably thinking, I thought I was finished with acne long ago!

During peri and post menopause the balance of testosterone and estrogen levels  can cause sebum production to increase in our skin. This can result in breakouts of whiteheads and cystic acne. Diet changes, medication side effects, and stress can also trigger acne breakouts. 

The Good News

A good cleanser is key. Choose a cleanser without too many actives such as Vitamin C which can cause flare ups. Look for ingredients like honey or salicylic acid in a gentle, yet efficacious cleanser.

If the acne is related to menopause induced Rosacea, choose a cleanser containing PHA's (polyhydroxy acids). PHA's are more hydrating and less irritating than AHA's.

Next, choose a moisturizer with alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) to boost exfoliation and cell turnover. AHA's breakdown the build up of dry skin cells and reveal the smoother skin below. Always apply a serum and moisturizer while skin is still damp to lock in moisture. Our Suggestion: Flawless AHA Advanced Repair Creme

Menopause can affect the skin with a number of changes from moisture barrier issues to the structural integrity of our skin, but there are many solutions to keep our skin glowing and beautiful for the best years to come.