Menopause is a natural phase in a woman's life that brings about significant hormonal changes. These changes can profoundly impact our skin’s health and appearance. Understanding what happens to our skin during this time and how to support it is essential for maintaining its health and vitality. This article aims to provide a comprehensive guide on how to care for your skin during menopause, including skincare routines, advanced treatments, and lifestyle adjustments.
Understanding Menopause and Your Skin
During menopause, the body undergoes several hormonal fluctuations that can affect the skin:
Decreased Estrogen Levels: Estrogen is crucial for maintaining skin’s collagen and moisture levels. Reduced estrogen leads to dryness, thinning, and the appearance of wrinkles.
Lower Progesterone Levels: This can increase skin sensitivity and contribute to breakouts.
Testosterone Fluctuations: These can result in increased oiliness and acne and the appearance of sebaceous hyperplasia.
The Impact of Collagen and Bone Density Loss
In the first five years of menopause, women can experience a 10% loss in bone density coupled with a 30% loss of collagen. This significant reduction is due to the decrease in estrogen levels, which affects several estrogen receptors responsible for collagen production. As collagen depletes, the skin loses its elasticity and firmness, leading to sagging and wrinkles. Additionally, bone density loss during menopause contributes to a loss of volume and firmness in the skin, as the bones underneath provide structural support. Notably, no amount of Botox or fillers can compensate for this bone density loss, making it essential to address these changes holistically.
Common Skin Issues During Menopause
Dry Skin and Itching: The drop in estrogen reduces the skin’s ability to retain moisture, leading to dryness and itching.
Increased Sensitivity: Hormonal changes can make the skin more sensitive, necessitating a review of your skincare routine.
Age Spots: With decreased estrogen, melanin production can increase, causing age spots on the face, hands, neck, arms, and chest. Did you know that oestrogen keeps your melanin production under control? So, as your oestrogen levels dip during perimenopause, melanin synthesis increases which may mean you notice more age spots appearing on your face, hands, neck, arms and chest.
Redness and Inflammation: Reduced estrogen can also lead to increased redness and inflammation, often referred to as “inflammaging.”
Preventative and Supportive Skincare Routines
Daily Skincare Routine
Gentle Cleansing: Use a gentle cleanser to avoid stripping the skin of its natural oils. Avoid facial cleansers and body soaps that can be drying.
Moisturizing: Apply a rich moisturizer to your face and a nourishing body butter or lotion after cleansing and throughout the day as needed to combat dryness.
Include an oil based product on your daily skin care routine. The Glow Oil by Ginger&Me is amazing to support Perimenopausal and Menopausal skins.
Sun Protection: Use sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher every day, even on cloudy days, to protect your skin from UV damage and prevent age spots.
Advanced Skincare Treatments
Microneedling: This treatment stimulates collagen production and can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and improve skin texture. But before adding this to your regiment, your skin barrier must be healthy, so pay attention to your daily skin care routine.
Chemical Exfoliation and Enzyme Treatments: These help in removing dead skin cells, promoting cell turnover, and improving overall skin health. O'Cosmedics Enzyme Peels are excellent for maintaining healthy skin.
LED Light Therapy: Did you know that LED light treatments can not only help with the visible surface of our skin by improving collagen production, but can also dramatically support the loss of bone density. Some preliminary studies have shown that LED therapy can activate fibroblasts, improve blood flow, and encourage bone growth, which is beneficial during menopause. This is super exciting!
Supporting Your Skin from Within
Collagen Supplementation: Taking collagen supplements can help replenish the collagen lost during menopause.
Vitamin C: This antioxidant is essential for collagen synthesis and protecting the skin from oxidative stress.
Healthy Diet: A diet rich in fibrous fruits and vegetables, and probiotic-rich fermented foods supports gut health, which is crucial for overall skin health.
Gut Health and Skin
A healthy gut can significantly impact your skin's appearance. Ensure you nourish your gut with a balanced diet, Include bone marrow in your diet, get adequate sleep, and practice stress management techniques like yoga and meditation to support the health of your gut. You will always hear me say, "beauty begins in the belly."
Addressing Bone Density Loss
Bone density loss contributes to the structural support loss in your skin. Preventing bone density loss involves:
Exercise: Weight-bearing exercises can help maintain bone density.
Calcium and Vitamin D: Ensure you get enough of these nutrients to support bone health. In Canada we tend to be Vitamin D depleted so pay attention to it.
LED Light Therapy: As I mentioned earlier, it not only supports skin health but also helps in maintaining bone density.
Research Insights on Bone Density and LED Light Therapy
Research has shown the significant benefits of LED light therapy in supporting bone density and collagen production. A 2010 study highlighted that LED therapy could activate fibroblasts and improve blood flow, leading to increased bone growth. Additionally, a 2017 study demonstrated the efficacy of LED light treatments in stimulating collagen production, thereby supporting skin health and mitigating the effects of menopause on the skin.
Tailoring Your Skincare Routine
Menopause is a good time to reassess your skincare routine. Consider incorporating:
Retinol: Retinol helps boost collagen synthesis and maintains youthful skin. The O'Cosmedics Potent Retinol is highly recommended in my studio for many of my lovely clients.
Hydrating Oils: Oils can help combat dryness and flakiness. Learning to love oil-based products can provide much-needed lubrication for dry skin. The Glow Oil by Giger&Me and the Youth Activating Oil Balm by O'Cosmedics are some of my client's favorites to add, specially during the winter months to support their skin lipids need.
Personalized Help
Understanding your skin's specific needs during perimenopause and menopause can be challenging. If you need personalized assistance with your skincare routine, advanced treatments, or product recommendations, don't hesitate to reach out for professional guidance.
Menopause brings about significant changes to our skin, but with the right knowledge and care, we can support and maintain our skin’s health and appearance. A combination of a good skincare routine, advanced treatments like Microneedling, Enzyme peels and LED therapy, and supportive lifestyle changes can help us navigate this phase with confidence. Remember, it’s never too early to prepare for the changes our skin might go through during perimenopause and menopause.
For more personalized advice and to explore advanced treatments, feel free to book a consultation. Your journey to healthier, more radiant skin during menopause starts here!
Update 08/02/24
Here is a great study that can help you with your overall health if you are dealing with peri-menopause and menopause. This article came out a couple of days ago, so read it, print it and take it to your primary Doctor. 👉🏼 THE MUSCULOSKELETAL SYNDROME OF MENOPAUSE
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