By Mary Hayse, Licensed Esthetician, Infuse Skin and Body
Menopause is a challenging time for women in many ways. This article will focus on how menopause changes the makeup of the skin and what can be done to counteract these changes. During menopause, hormone levels change. Estrogen is lowered and testosterone is unmasked. These hormonal changes can wreak havoc on the skin.
Hormonal changes can result in the following:
- Loss of collagen and elastin, resulting in loss of skin’s resiliency
- Supporting fat in the face being lost, which causes the skin to wrinkle and sag
- Skin that is more prone to sun damage and brown spots or hyperpigmentation
- Adult acne
- Increase in facial hair
- Dryer, thinning skin
Things you can do to improve your skin during menopause:
- Exercise: Increase circulation and get oxygen to your tissues, benefiting both body and skin especially during menopause — 20-30 minutes a day is recommended.
- Eat right: You should get approximately 30 percent of your calories from carbohydrates (mostly fresh fruits and vegetables); 40 percent from lean protein; and, 30 percent from healthy fats which include essential fatty acids, like the omega-3’s, found in salmon, walnuts and fortified eggs. These fats help produce your skin’s oil barrier, which is essential in retaining moisture in the skin, before, during, and after menopause. If you can’t get enough omega-3’s through food, add a fish oil supplement. In addition, keep your sodium intake to a minimum to prevent fluid retention.
- Drink more water: This will help flush your system of toxins and make your skin glow.
Have a good skin care regimen:
- Cleanse: Cleansing removes debris and prepares skin for other products.
- Treat: Treat your skin with antioxidants. All antioxidants have anti-aging properties and act to protect the skin. Vitamins A (retinoids) and C are the most researched and proven antioxidants for anti-aging. Both help build collagen and are important during menopause. Peptides are another skin care ingredient that is helpful to aging skin. They help minimize fine lines and wrinkles and can increase the thickness of the skin.
- Moisturize: Use a good moisturizer to help with water loss and seal the skin. With the reduction of estrogen, the skin begins to thin and cell turnover is reduced, which can affect the barrier function of the skin. It is important to not only moisturize the skin, but also create a barrier to prevent water loss.
- Apply Sunscreen: Make sure you are protecting your skin from further damage by using sunscreen daily. Melanocytes, cells that produce the protective skin-darkening pigment melanin, are regulated by estrogen. As estrogen drops, we have less natural protection from the sun.
Other Treatments:
- Exfoliation: A good exfoliating treatment every four to six weeks will invigorate the skin, remove dead skin cells, promote collagen production, bring oxygen to the skin and make all home care more effective. Examples of exfoliating treatments include microdermabrasion, hydrafacial, as well as chemical exfoliations.
- Microcurrent treatments: These treatments are another good choice for menopausal skin. They promote collagen growth, tighten sagging skin, and increase the production of ATP, which provides energy to skin cells.
- Waxing: If increased facial hair is an issue, waxing is a quick, inexpensive way to remove hair.
Your skin doesn’t have to show your age, even after menopause. Understanding how the skin is being affected and what can be done to combat changes can go a long way in preventing aging skin.
Mary Hayse at Infuse Skin and Body can help design a treatment program for menopausal skin. She has completed advanced education in skin care management for menopause and hormonal dysfunction. Set up a consultation by calling 309-360-9035.
Photo credit: ranplett/iStock