Menopause Effects On Skin & Wellbeing

In this article I will focus on the effects menopause has on the skin. I will briefly touch on other health and wellbeing implications that can be experienced during menopause. I will also aim to provide support to manage the typical symptoms of menopause.

Menopause is a natural stage of life when a woman’s menstrual cycle stops and her ovaries no longer produce eggs. It typically occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, although some women enter menopause at a younger age.

There are three basic stages of menopause; peri-menopause, menopause and post- menopause. During these stages the ovaries begin to atrophy, which causes a decline in the production of oestrogen and progesterone, the hormones responsible for stimulating the menstrual cycle. The fluctuation of hormone levels during the stages of menopause can cause the cessation of menstrual periods. Menopause is defined at the point of 12 months after the last menstrual cycle.

The effects of the menopause can vary from person to person. It is possible to go through it without symptoms, although 80% of women do experience some at varying degrees.

For some women menopause can be an extremely daunting and challenging time.

Common Menopause Symptoms:

• Hot flushes
• Night sweats
• Sleep disturbances
• Mood swings
• Anger
• Headache or migraines
• Brain fog
• Vaginal dryness
• Urinary tract infections
• Bladder weakness
• Low libido
• Weight change
• Thinning of hair
• Excess body hair
• Skin concerns 

Menopause Effects On Skin
Having an insight into the symptoms and potential skin changes associated with menopause can help you better prepare for and manage them.

Changes in oestrogen levels during menopause can affect the skin in a variety of ways. Some of the most common skin-related effects are described below.

Dryness – Oestrogen helps keep the skin hydrated. As oestrogen levels decrease during menopause trans-epidermal water loss takes place. As a result of the moisture loss the skin may become dehydrated and fine lines more visible. The skin also can become dry, with possibly a rough texture.

Signs Of Ageing – The drop of oestrogen levels can also contribute to the loss of collagen in the skin. Studies show that a women’s skin loses approximately 30% of its collagen during the first 5 years of menopause, with a gradual decline of a further 2% for each year. Collagen is paramount for providing the skin with volume and luminosity. As collagen diminishes, the skin loses volume, firmness, and wrinkles develop.

Acne Symptoms – During menopause when women’s oestrogen levels decline, male hormones such as testosterone and dihydrotestosterone may increase. The increase of adrenal hormones can cause an increase in oil production, leading to acne symptoms. Typically, acne symptoms include spots, pimples, congested pores, blackheads, whiteheads, pustules, milia, and more severe acne such as nodulocystic acne.

Skin Discoloration – The passing of time, in addition to the decline in oestrogen, accelerates the ageing process, with other visible signs such as age spots, uneven skin tone, and other skin discolouration. During the hormonal changes in menopause, the skin may produce more melanin, causing the skin to darken in some areas.

Sensitive Skin – Many women experience hot flushes in varying degrees. Hot flushes cause the skin temperature to rise, promoting an overload in the skin’s surface veins, and sweating may also occur. Repeated hot flushes can cause permanent prominent facial veins in sensitive skin.

Managing Menopausal Skin Changes
Menopause, in addition to external stressors, poor diet, alcohol, smoking, and certain topical skin care ingredients, exacerbates the ageing process of the skin. This causes a weakened skin matrix, which will steadily decline and collapse, promoting loss of skin tone, texture, volume, luminosity. Acne symptoms, age spots and uneven skin tone may also be concerns.

The best way to manage skin changes caused by menopause is to take steps to protect the skin from further damage.

If menopause is having profoundly negative impact on your skin and confidence, then seek out some skin care solutions. Your personal preferences and aesthetic goals will depend on your skin care approach.
Whether you undertake a professional approach or home solutions, the help to improve skin should inevitably involve the following:

Key Steps:

• Sunscreen
• Moisturise
• Hyaluronic Hydration
• Rejuvenation
• Collagen Stimulation
• Anti-oxidant Protection
• Nourish & Repair
• Cell Turnover Stimuli

Diet & Lifestyle
It is also important to eat a healthy diet. Limit sugar intake to reduce inflammatory skin and body symptoms. Eat whole grains and a good selection of plant-based foods. Oily fish, seeds and nuts will provide essential fatty acids to support skin heath, among other essential physiological and mood benefits. Eat a high calcium diet to support bone health. Limit alcohol intake and hot spices to prevent intensified hot flushes, dehydrated and sensitive skin, Kombucha offers a great alternative to alcohol. Avoid eating foods too late in the evening to allow your digestive system to metabolise, which supports healthy skin and prevents the common menopause expanded tummy.

Drink 1.5 to 2 litres of water daily for essential hydrated skin, and prevent urinary infections. Fresh sage with mint tea was a favourite drink of mine during menopause, so why not give it a go.

Engage in regular physical activity such as yoga to help maintain overall heath and ideal weight. Join Angela’s online yoga classes here.

Aim to relax before bed time to ensure a better sleep.

To learn more about diet, nutrition and lifestyle read the Vitality & Yoga Blogs:

’12 Top Diet Tips For Menopause’

‘Yoga Benefits for Menopause’

If you are experiencing symptoms of menopause or are interested to learn more, seek professional guidance.

Here at Emporium Treatment Clinic our team of specialists are available to help manage menopausal changes.

GP Specialist – in women’s health, including HRT (hormone replacement therapy) bladder control and more.
Laser Hair Removal
Powerform V Bladder Repair Chair

Best Supplements For Menopause

• Menopause Complex
• Organic Herbal women Complex
• Women 40+ Multi
• Organic Ashwagandha
• Calcium & Vit D
• Clear Skin Complex
• Organic Valarian Root – sleep aid
• Magnesium – B6 & Saffron

SHOP HERE

Best Treatments For Menopause Skin:
Having treated skin for over 3 decades, and having experienced menopause myself I truly believe I have selected some of the best treatments to support menopausal skin.

Green Peel® Herbal Peeling
This purely plant-based method of skin peeling can produce outstanding results in skin rejuvenation, anti-ageing, and benefit acne and skin discolouration.
Specific varying amounts of herbal plant mixtures allow the GREEN PEEL® Herbal Peeling Treatment to be adapted to individual skin conditions and personal treatment goals.

Chemical Skin Peels
A Chemical Acid Skin Peel is generally used to remove surface dead skin cells and encourage new healthier skin cells to grow. However chemical skin peels are so advanced that they provide a positive rejuvenating, anti-ageing effect, beneficial also for acne and De pigmentation within the skin.
This skin peel process will almost instantly achieve a rejuvenated, more youthful skin, without any of the side effects associated with invasive surgery.

Nlite Laser
Nlite Laser is a well-established non-surgical, non-invasive skin repair procedure, without incurring any down time.
The Nlite laser energy is delivered to the skin, responding to its deeper layers. The light energy selectively targets dermal structures, without causing damage to the surface of the skin, whereby it can be ‘tricked’ into producing new collagen in response to the perceived injury.

Radio Frequency Rejuvenation
Radio Frequency is the latest generation of non-surgical, non-invasive skin repair procedure without incurring any down time.
Using the Radio Frequency to stimulate the deep dermal structures within the skin, without causing damage to the surface, will result in the body’s natural healing and cell regenerating process to reverse the signs of ageing.
Excellent results in promoting skin rejuvenating with volume, whilst firming and toning the face, neck, and body.

Mpen Micro-needling
M-Pen Micro-needling is an advanced needling device, designed to perforate the skin to increase absorption of pharmaceutical active ingredients and stimulate the production of natural collagen and elastin to promote skin repair and rejuvenation. Specific ingredients can treat pigmentation and uneven skin tone.

Mesotherapy
Mesotherapy is an advanced device which provides the intradermal route in aesthetic ingredients.
Use of the intradermal route is an aesthetic procedure that consists of localised micro-injections into the skin to correct multiple anti-ageing concerns, such as loss of flaccidity, tone, fines lines and wrinkles.

Skin Storm – 6 Elements – HydraFacial
The technology draws on 6 elements of nature; oxygen, thunder, light and water to achieve dramatic results in the improvement of skin imperfections, fine lines, wrinkles, loss of skin tone, and loss of skin volume.
An intense skin treatment that is only available due to the Oxy Ice and Phototherapy technology that creates a chilled, calm, de-stressed and healing environment throughout the skin. Ideal for women experiencing hot flushes.

HIFU Face, Eyes & Neck Lift
3D HIFU (high intensity frequency ultrasound), also known as Ultherapy is the latest generation of non-surgical, non-invasive face and neck lift procedure without incurring any down time.
Using the science of HIFU energy to stimulate the deep supporting structures within the skin and muscles, without causing damage to the surface, will result in the body’s natural healing and cell regenerating process to promote lift, tone and tightening of loose or sagging skin over time.
Excellent results in lifting and firming the entire face, jaw line, neck and eyes.

Contact Angela for a free chat about your skin concerns.
Contact: 07930661971

Author: Angela Taffinder the founder of Emporium Treatment Clinic. A practising Aesthetician for 35+ years, holistic and wellbeing advocate and yoga instructor. The creator of Yoga & Vitality.