MENOPAUSAL
SKIN
What happens to skin during the menopause?
Skin is an endocrine organ and therefore is profoundly impacted at times of significant hormonal change. The menopause is defined as one year after a woman’s last menstrual period and in the UK the average age of menopause is 52 however the perimenopausal period can last up to 10 years before this and with this women can notice dramatic changes in their skin. Menopause is characterised by a slow decline in ovarian function which results in a decrease in the production of oestrogen and progesterone. It’s often the oestrogen decline which results in symptoms.
Most cell types in the skin have oestrogen receptors on them, which means that it can impact on skin function quite dramatically.
Oestrogen is important for skin hydration, helping to maintain barrier function and increase production of natural water holding molecules known as glycosaminoglycans. It is important for fibroblast function in producing collagen and elastin, which are key proteins of the scaffolding of the skin.
Estimates suggest that we lose up to 25% of our skin’s collagen around the time of menopause. Oestrogen also helps in the skin’s repair and protective mechanisms, leaving it more vulnerable to environmental damage.
Common symptoms of menopausal skin changes include:
1) Dryness
2) Sensitivity
3) Redness
4) Hair loss
5) Thinning of the skin (atrophy)
6) New blemishes due to hormonal fluctuations
7) Increase sagging of the skin
8) More pronounced wrinkling.
Dr Emma’s approach to treating menopausal skin
The menopause and perimenopause can be an unsettling time of change for many women. Hormones impact on most different organ systems; including skin, brain, joints, muscles, bones and heart. Changes in the skin are often the only visible signs of menopause and can cause distress.
Some woman will find menopausal skin changes upsetting and there may be a feeling that it’s ‘all downhill’ from then on and that deterioration is inevitable. This is not true and there are many different ways to take control of your skin health at this time.
A first consultation will help to establish your individual skin type and how the menopause has impacted on the skin. It’s important to get an understanding of your background health status and your lifestyle to ensure that these are optimised to help manage skin health. Dr Emma will examine your skin and then create a treatment plan to help manage skin and achieve your skin goals. In some cases, further investigations or a referral to a menopause specialist may also be advised alongside your skin care routine.
Dr Emma’s expertise with menopausal skin
Dr Emma has been managing menopausal skin for over 10 years. She has given numerous talks on menopausal skin and has been the expert voice of several scientific advances in menopausal skin care. She is very interested in how hormones impact on the skin and has helped many women successfully navigate menopausal skin. In fact, many of her patients will find that taking control of their skin at this stage of their life, means it can look better than ever before. The earlier you start to pre-empt these changes and tackle the underlying causes, the better the results.
How Dr Emma treats menopausal skin and hair
Diet
Diet is key to successfully managing menopausal skin. Natural antioxidants within the skin which usually help to protect skin can deplete, therefore increasing the intake of fruits and vegetables is essential. The increased in dryness requires a healthy intake of ‘good’ fats and sufficient protein intake is essential to ensure healthy hair growth.
Skincare
Most women will find they need to change their skin care routines around the time of menopause. Products should incorporate barrier boosting ingredients like ceramides, niacinamide and ectoin. UV and antioxidant protection is more important than ever, but needs to be tailored to increasingly sensitive skins. Dr Emma can advise on a routine to suit your individual skin.
Prescription creams
Different symptoms such as redness, dryness or blemishes may require medical creams to help tackle them. In addition, topical retinoids; tailored to your own skin’s tolerance can help to boost collagen production to reduce the signs of skin thinning and wrinkling.
Hormonal treatments
Whilst HRT is seldom prescribed for the skin alone, many women will choose to opt for HRT to help with their general health. This can be helpful for some, but may not be a viable or desired option for others. There are alternative topical creams which can help to mimic the effect of oestrogen on the facial skin.
Hair treatments
Hair loss can be a very distressing symptom and is best treated at an early stage. Dr Emma can talk you through the options with regards to scalp treatments, tablets or platelet rich plasma treatments (PRP).
Procedures
You may decide that your journey ends with creams and lifestyle alone. However, for best results with the underlying collagen loss and ageing changes associated with menopausal skin, procedures may be an option. The exact treatment will really depend on your individual needs, but may include microneedling, platelet rich plasma, polynucleotides, injectable hyaluronic acid, toxins or energy based devices.
A Word from Dr Emma
“Healthy skin as you age is entirely manageable, make an appointment to discuss your skin now.”
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