How does menopause affect your skin? You may be experiencing 'typical' menopausal symptoms such as night sweats, facial hair, hot flushes, sensitive skin, thinning hair, or sleep disturbances however, the most obvious is often seen on our faces.

As women age, we have the (unwelcome) transition of menopause and perimenopausal skin to look forward to.

When it comes to your skin during the menopause, it can be temperamental to say the least. As your skin changes, it's a time for change and adjustment away from your usual skincare routine to products that are better suited to deal with these changes and menopausal skin.

Some symptoms can be draining, but there is so much that can be done to ease or even diminish the changes with dietary changes, supplements, exercise - and of course, good skincare to help manage the effects of the menopause on your skin.

Whether you decide to use hormone replacement therapy or not, here we explain the menopause and how best to deal with the most common skin symptoms.

What Is The Menopause?

Menopause happens when your periods stop due to lower hormone levels. The hormone that we tend to talk about in relation to the menopause is oestrogen. You can also be perimenopausal which means that you have symptoms of the menopause but are still experiencing periods.

The average age to experience the menopause is around 45-55 but they can start earlier (or later) or be triggered by other factors such as medication, surgery, or genetic reasons. You are likely to experience the menopause around the same years that your mother did.

While there are many side effects that come with menopause; some of the most obvious ones are present on the skin. Here we look at the most common things to deal with and what steps you can take to tackle these skin changes.

Quench The Dryness

Due to the drop in oestrogen - sometimes referred to as estrogen - dry skin and even itchy skin can be a common skin complaint during the menopause. Oestrogen is required for the quality and quantity of ceramides, sebum, and oil production (your in-built moisturising system). Thankfully, you can replenish your skin's dryness topically very easily.

Swap your usual moisturiser for something a little richer than you're used to and a hyaluronic acid (HA) serum for dehydration relief. Hyaluronic acid is the ultimate drink for your skin! It's able to hold 1000 times its weight in water, meaning it the most powerful natural moisturising ingredient known to science. You should notice a difference almost instantly after application.

Additionally, an essential fatty acid supplement (omega 3, 6 & 9) will help condition your skin from the inside out and promote a soft, supple and vibrant complexion. Advanced Nutrition Programme Skin Omegas+ maintains healthy functions across the rest of the body; impacting your vision, immune system, blood pressure, heart, and brain.

You should also consider switching to a more hydrating cleanser with an oil, cream, or milk texture too for extra skin nourishment.

Hot Flushes?

The bane of menopausal women, hot flushes can strike at any time and usually last for a few minutes (but can feel like hours). While some may just feel short hot flashes of extreme heat, others will suffer perspiration, faintness and even sickness. During these hot bouts, the face, neck and shoulders flush red. Carrying a cooling mist with you at all times to spritz will prevent you from being caught out if you are out and about. Eminence Organic Soothing Chamomile Tonique not only physically cools the skin down but also calms and soothes with infused herbs to restore the skin's balance.

Tackle The Wrinkles

Clinical studies show that women's skin loses around 30% of its collagen production around the first 5 years of menopause. After that, the decline is rather more gradual. Women lose around 2% of their collagen every year for the next 20 years. As collagen diminishes, skin firmness lessens and instead turns into sagging skin.

To tackle fine lines and wrinkles, use skincare ingredients such as vitamin A (retinol), peptides, growth factors, and vitamin C. These ingredients are highly effective and helps aging skin to stimulate collagen production.

Chest wrinkles are a common sight in mature skin. They are caused as hormone levels plummet and skin elasticity lessens. They are most often seen in side sleepers or those with sun damage. These are easily corrected by SilcSkin Decollette Pads after just a few uses.

Suffering From Spots?

Does your skin look how it did when you were a teenager? We get it, acne and breakouts can be distressing. Studies have shown that as estrogen levels fall it means that testosterone, one of the hormones associated with acne, is significantly higher.

Rather than drying out your already parched, menopausal skin with traditional acne products, SkinCeuticals Blemish + Age collection is a 1st-to-market range specifically targeted for adults who are suffering from blemishes but also ageing too.

Suffering From Age Spots Too?

Many women will notice an increase in dark spots appearing on their faces, hands, neck, arms, and chests during menopause. Some women experience more pigmentation on their face called melasma, this is caused by a combination of hormonal changes, too much sun exposure and, sun damage.

Applying a skin-lightening product twice daily will help to diminish the pigmentation over time by reducing the concentration or production of melanin in the skin. It will also address dull skin. It is best to use an all-over treatment (as opposed to a spot treatment) to ensure a uniform complexion and treat any dark spots which are under the skin's surface and haven't become visible yet.

It's imperative to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen too. It's important to wear sunscreen all year round anyway but especially when using skin-lightening treatments as they sensitise the skin.

Consider Supplements

Due to the decrease in collagen naturally produced by your body, it may be helpful to incorporate collagen supplements into your diet in order to increase your diminishing collagen production.

Due to the uplift in collagen when taking the supplements, you can expect an increase in skin elasticity, skin hydration, stronger hair and nails, improved gut health, and better joint mobility (as bone density also decreases during menopause). Brands Rejuvenated and Totally Derma are taken via drink form making it easier for your body to absorb and digest, causing better results.

If you need some further help regarding menopause skin and a new skin care routine then feel free to ask us! All the products featured above are available to purchase at Dermacare Direct with free tracked delivery via Royal Mail. We can help with our expert advice and top tips making your makeup shopping stress-free. You can contact us by live chat, email via [email protected], or pick up the phone now and call us on phone number 0116 251 4848 to speak directly with a friendly advisor.