Beyond Hot Flashes: How Menopause Affects Your Skin

Life is full of surprises. The Bengals in the Super Bowl? Who could have predicted that one? In fact, just about everything that has happened since March 2020 has had us saying, “well, that was unexpected.”

And yet there are inevitabilities too. For around half of us, we know that one day, we’ll be staring down the barrel of menopause. No matter what age it appears, menopause sparks changes throughout your body – they don’t call it “the change” for nothing! Your skin is not immune from the effects of menopause. Let’s take a look at the many ways menopause can impact your skin and what you can do about them.

Desert-Level Dryness

We all know that in menopause, our level of estrogen drops through the floor, and that’s what causes most menopause symptoms. It’s only then that we realize everything estrogen was doing in our bodies. One of its many jobs was to retain water and moisture in our skin, so once your estrogen levels drop, your skin can dry up in a hurry.

What You Can Do: Up Your Moisturizer Game

In menopause, moisturizer should become your best friend. Make sure you choose a moisturizer that’s specifically designed for aging skin, like Peter Thomas Roth FirmX Collagen Moisturizer .

Increased Wrinkles and Sagging Skin

We all know that as we get older, our skin will develop more wrinkles and will start to sag more. But did you know that menopause speeds up the process even more by dropping your collagen production? Collagen keeps your skin firm and youthful, so the sudden decline can make wrinkles seem to appear overnight.

What You Can Do: Look for Collagen-Boosting Products

There are plenty of skin care products out there to increase collagen production and reduce fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin: serums, creams, you name it. Depending on your needs, try a powerful serum like SkinMedica TNS Advanced Serum .

Bonus Remedy: Get Religious About Sunscreen

The amount of collagen in your skin is affected by two things: the amount of collagen you’re producing and the speed at which your collagen is breaking down. Sun exposure breaks down collagen in your skin at a much faster rate, so to keep your collagen around for as long as possible, wear sunscreen every day.

New Facial Hair

Everyone’s hair growth patterns are their own, but it’s undeniable that hormones play a role in facial hair growth for people of all sexes. Unfortunately, this means that unwanted facial hair growth is common during menopause – especially hair above the upper lip.

What You Can Do: Explore Your Removal Options

Luckily, there are plenty of ways to get rid of unwanted hair. You can go for the temporary basics like shaving, waxing, or tweezing. If you want a more long-term option, though, consider laser hair removal or electrolysis to stop the follicles from producing hair.

Heightened Skin Sensitivity

You might have gone your whole life being able to use any makeup or skin care product you wanted without skin irritation, and all of a sudden, after menopause, everything seems to inflame you. Why?

Your skin is likely to become more sensitive during menopause for a few reasons. First, it gets dry, and dry skin doesn’t have as strong of a barrier to protect itself against irritants. Second, your skin’s pH level changes (its acidity level), making your skin more sensitive.

What You Can Do: Switch to Gentler Products

Chances are that from here on out, you’ll be shopping for skin care products in the “sensitive skin” category. Use gentle products that are designed for sensitive skin like Avene Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Facial Cleanser from La Roche-Posay. Make sure you also choose products that don’t include ingredients that tend to irritate the skin. The top culprits are fragrances, dyes, and alcohol, but any product that makes your skin red should be kicked out of your routine.

Hormonal Acne Breakouts

It’s no secret that hormones affect acne because, well, teenagers. But it isn’t just those puberty hormones that can trigger acne; the hormonal shift of menopause can do it too. Acne in menopause is especially likely for anyone who has struggled with acne breakouts in adulthood.

What You Can Do: Choose the Right Acne Care Products

As you shop for products to battle your new acne breakouts, be selective. Most acne products are designed for a younger crowd that’s producing more skin oil than they know what to do with, so those products can be far too drying for the already dry skin of menopause. Choose products that are effective for mature skin like iS Clinical Cleansing Complex .

Increase in Brown Spots

Age spots are so common that they’re nearly inevitable (though sunscreen works wonders, hint hint). While they can develop at any age, you’re particularly likely to see more age spots and pigmentation changes when menopause hits.

This is because your skin’s overall level of melanin drops in menopause. Suddenly, the spots of excess pigment that were concealable before are a lot more obvious. If you’re using hormone replacement therapy to reduce the symptoms of menopause, it can also trigger a release of excess pigment called melasma, which creates patches of brown pigment in your skin.

What You Can Do: Use a Pigment Corrector

Fortunately, there are products designed specifically to take care of age spots and brown spots. Try incorporating a pigment corrector into your regimen, like Doctor Babor Brightening Intense SkinTone Corrector Treatment Ampoules. These products are designed to even out your skin tone and reduce brown spots.

Caring for Your Skin in Menopause

Menopause is a journey unlike any other, and for many, it’s a learning process because so much of your body is changing that you feel the need to get to know yourself again. The tips above can help you understand the shifts in your skin and, better yet, get healthier skin along the way.