September marks the onset of National Menopause Awareness Month; empowering women across the globe to embrace menopause, rather than suffer from its symptoms. Here at Beauty Expert, we’re in full support of what this campaign is all about. Aside from the joys of hut flushes, night sweats, mood swings and thickening waists, menopause can play havoc with the health of our skin and hair. With more than half of British women unaware of the impact that it can have on their skin, it can often be difficult to know of what changes need be made to our skin regimes.
So let us tell you a little more on how menopause affects the skin, as well as giving you some handy tips and recommended products than can help treat it. As they say, “Amazing women don’t have hot flushes, they have power surges” and we couldn’t agree more!
What happens to the skin during menopause?
- Oestrogen and Progesterone hormones rapidly decline which leads to accelerated skin ageing – also known as intrinsic ageing.
- The decrease in oestrogen leads to the loss of collagen which results in the skin becoming thinner. As the sebaceous glands secrete less sebum, this also means the skin will become drier.
- The skin loses resilience, elasticity and firmness, whilst fine lines and wrinkles start to increase and deepen.
- As the skin produces less melanin, it’s more prone to sun damage. Because of this, it’s even more important to protect the skin by wearing a broad spectrum sunscreen each day.
- Redness and flushing on the cheeks can often occur as a result of rosacea or skin reactivity.
- As the oestrogen levels start to decrease during the menopause, testosterone starts to increase. As a result, the skin’s sebaceous glands secrete thicker sebum, giving the appearance of oilier skin. This can lead to adult acne.
Tips for Treating the Skin during Menopause
- As our hormones during menopause start to fluctuate, skin can become unpredictable, so a flexible skincare regime is recommended.
- Gentle exfoliation is recommended to help the build-up of dead skin cells and to keep skin looking radiant.
- Use a broad-spectrum SPF of 30 or higher to protect your skin from sun damage.
- As your skin can get drier, it’s best to switch your cleanser too. Something creamier rather than a gel or foamy cleanser which can often strip moisture away is recommended.
- It’s really important to keep your skin hydrated so try moisturising with a heavier cream and skip on the long, hot showers. Try and moisturise when your skin is damp too to help boost hydration!
- Always moisturise your face, jawline and neck daily. Look out for products that are targeted to help treat lines and wrinkles.
- Age spots can be more prominent during the menopause, so in addition to using an SPF, help fade them with exfoliating products that will remove dull and flaky skin.Always keep your hands moisturised with an SPF hand cream. Try and wear gloves whenever you’re washing up and doing jobs around the house too.
Recommended Products:
Dr Murad’s Resurgence Collection
The Resurgence range from Dr Murad has been specifically developed for hormonal skin. The anti-ageing range helps to increase skin’s firmness, reduce fine lines, and promises to give you a more youthful glow. The Resurgence collection contains soy and wild yam extracts that helps with improving elasticity.
Perricone MD Cold Plasma Anti-Ageing Cream
Dr Perricone’s MD Cold Plasma Anti-Ageing Cream has been based on five years of comprehensive research and development; addressing the 10 most visible signs of ageing. Targeted to treat wrinkles, enlarged pores, dryness, discolouration, redness, uneven skin tone, impurities, loss of firmness, loss of smoothness and loss of radiance, your skin is sure to be looking more healthy and radiant.
Eve Lom Rescue Mask
Help revitalise dry and dull skin with the Eve Lom Rescue Mask. It works as a gentle exfoliator to help detoxify and decongest pores, but without stripping or dying the skin. It’s formulated with camphor, almond and honey-infused kaolin clay so it’ll soothe and condition as well as leaving you with unbelievably soft skin.
