Skin Changes During Menopause

Menopause marks a significant life stage for every woman, and one that brings both new and unexpected changes to her body and mood.

When a woman enters menopause she stops having menstrual cycles and can no longer become pregnant.

This happens when a woman’s hormone production decreases to a level where she no longer produces enough estrogen which is needed for reproduction.

Perimenopause

The years leading up to menopause are called perimenopause, during which hormone production gradually begins to slow down.

Perimenopause usually lasts 3-7 years, although it can take longer or shorter in some women.

The effect of this is not only evident on how the woman feels, but also on her skin and this is what we shall be focusing on in this article.

Fortunately because this change is gradual, as a woman you will have time to adjust to the changes in your skin.

This usually means altering your skin care routine and the skin care products you use, in addition to the type of lifestyle you live.

The only exception to this is with women who have had a full hysterectomy in which the ovaries have been removed. Women who have had such an operation can go through menopause in a few days or weeks.

Symptoms Of Menopause

The symptoms a woman gets as she moves from perimenopause to menopause can vary.

Some women may experience no or very minor symptoms, while other women can experience things such as hot flushes, irritability, anxiety, depression, aches in joints and weight gain.

Skin Changes During Menopause

Below you will find a list of some of the changes you can expect menopause to have on your skin.

Muscle Mass

During menopause women lose muscle mass and muscle tone which causes their facial skin to sag.

Skin Thickness

Facial skin gets thinner and appears translucent.

Skin Lubrication

The skin produces less oil during menopause which results in it getting drier. For women who have an oily skin type, this will be less of a problem.

Skin Compaction

Skin cells become compacted and aren’t as plump which makes the skin more susceptible to wrinkles.

Skin Elasticity

As you progress through menopause elastin levels decrease which makes the skin less elastic.

A quick way to test the elasticity of your skin is by pinching it, holding it for a few seconds, then letting go and seeing how quickly it springs back to its original position.

Young skin which has lots of elastin will spring back quickly like a rubber band.

Skin Collagen

As elastin levels decline in the skin so do collagen levels. Collagen helps to support the skin so a reduction in collagen levels causes the skin to sag and develop wrinkles.

Skin Melanin Production

During menopause skin melanin production slows down. The result is a fading of a woman’s natural skin tone making her skin appear lighter.

Sweating

In menopause glandular activity slows down, which means you don’t sweat as much as you used to. Because you sweat less the skin isn’t as efficient as it used to be at eliminating toxins.

Skin Disorders

All the changes that occur in the body during menopause make a woman’s skin much more susceptible to various skin disorders. Some of these include eczema, psoriasis and rosacea.

Skin Changes During Menopause

As you can see menopause can have a significant effect on the health and appearance of a woman’s skin.

As a woman progresses through menopause her skin will become drier, more wrinkled and less elastic. The skin will sag, become looser and lose its thickness.

Unfortunately you can’t stop menopause or change when it happens to you. Menopause is a part of life.

However the good news is that all these changes that are going on in your body don’t necessarily mean your skin is going to look old and unattractive.

As was mentioned at the start of this article, all it means is that you have to change your current skin care routine, your skin care products and the lifestyle you live to these changes.

Many skin care products for example are designed specifically for women in menopause, and using the right product for your skin type can help it to look young and healthy for many years to come.

So whilst menopause may not be the most desirable thing to experience, it doesn’t have to be the end of the world.

As long as you are prepared for it and know the effects menopause can have on your body and mind, you will be in an excellent position to deal with those changes when they occur.