Skin Changes During Menopause

Is menopause changing your skin?

Is there any part of your body that isn’t affected by menopause? You may be asking yourself that same question. Many women are familiar with some of the ways changing hormones affect your body and your life, but you may not know that changes in estrogen levels can have profound effects on your skin. 

During menopause, estrogen levels decline which can result in decreased elasticity. These changes may leave your skin feeling dry, thin, and droopy. Dr. Erica Kelly wants you to understand why these changes are happening and what you can do to lessen the effects.

What’s happening to my skin???

Menopause begins one year after your last period, and at that time estrogen levels drop and stay at a low level. Having less estrogen production causes skin to lose essential moisture which results in a whole list of problems like decreased skin thickness, decreased elasticity, and wrinkles. But, with the proper care and attention, you can combat some of these concerns and improve the quality and tone of your skin.

Decreased elasticity in the skin is one of the effects of declining estrogen levels during menopause. It is important to protect your skin every day with sunscreen and moisturizers made for sensitive skin.

– Erica Kelly, MD

Menopause, What to Expect for Your Skin:

Dry, Sensitive Skin

With less estrogen, skin is less able to retain the water it needs to stay hydrated. This means your skin may feel overly dry. You may also notice your skin is more sensitive than usual and may become irritated or itchy. Many women experience unexplained rashes during menopause.

What can you do?

1. Choose a mild skin cleanser instead of basic soap. 
2. Apply moisturizer to your entire body on a regular basis. Don’t wait for your skin to feel dry. Moisturizers with hyaluronic acid may be very helpful.
3. Avoid cleansers or moisturizers with fragrances. 
4. Take warm, not hot, showers. Hot water can remove helpful oils in the skin that can make dryness worse.
5. Moisturize immediately after you dry off from a shower. Skin can absorb moisture better while it is still slightly damp.
6. Drink plenty of water.

Wrinkles and Sagging Skin

Skin loses collagen as we age, especially during the first five years after menopause. Studies show that women’s skin can lose about 30 percent of its collagen during this initial time period, and then the loss slows but still continues. Less collagen means more wrinkles and sagging skin. 

What can you do?

1. Use broad-spectrum sun protection (minimum SPF 30) every day to reduce the wrinkles you have and help prevent new ones from forming. 
2. Level up your skin care routine to include retinol or peptides. These have been shown to increase the amount of collagen which can help fill in the lines and wrinkles that are forming. 

Increased Bruising

Decreasing estrogen levels cause skin to become thinner. Thin skin bruises more easily than thicker skin. 

What can you do?

1. Use broad-spectrum sun protection (minimum SPF 30) every day to help slow the sun’s effect on thinning skin. Sun exposure also contributes to thinning skin.
2. Use skin care products that contain retinol.

Acne

After you made it through puberty you may have thought your acne days were behind you. Unfortunately, some women experience a resurgence of acne caused by menopausal hormone changes. 

What can you do?

1. Choose cleansing products that are made for sensitive skin. Because skin becomes drier and thinner during menopause, traditional acne treatments targeted for teenagers may be too harsh.
2. Wash your face several times a day, with a gentle cleanser that contains salicylic acid. 

Slower Healing

Declining estrogen levels make it harder for skin to heal quickly. A cut or scrape may take much longer to heal than it did earlier in life. 

What can you do?

1. Protect damaged skin with an adhesive bandage to help prevent additional damage or infection.
2. See your dermatologist if you have an area that is not healing at all, or that is red, inflamed or extremely irritated. 

Dr. Erica Kelly, MD

Dr. Erica Kelly is a dermatologist who focuses on both medical dermatology for adult and pediatric patients (i.e. skin cancer, psoriasis, eczema, acne etc.) and cosmetic Dermatology (Botox, fillers and lasers). She received her medical degree from Louisiana State University and performed her residency with the University of Texas Medical Branch – Galveston.

Sources

American Academy of Dermatology

Cleveland Clinic

North American Menopause Society