Are you suffering from menopause skin changes? Do you want to know how to reverse them? You’re not alone.
As a woman over 40, you may begin to notice thinning hair, mood swings, hot flashes, and fatigue.
The culprit? Menopause.
Menopause affects nearly every area of our lives. Our health, our moods, our hair, our skin- everything! During a time in our lives when so much is changing already, the last thing that we want to worry about is our skin.
In fact, most of us never even thought about the possibility of menopause skin changes. We were too preoccupied with worrying about how menopause would affect other areas of our lives.
However, menopause skin changes are very real and they can be debilitating if not addressed.
Most Common Menopause Skin Changes
Women over 50 oftentimes experience menopause-related skin changes. Many of these conditions exist due to the decrease in estrogen women experience in menopause. Some women may even begin to experience these skin changes during perimenopause.
The drop in estrogen causes lack of collagen production, an increase in pH levels and much more. I have personally struggled with several of these issues. However, through trial, error and expert advice, I have found long-term solutions to my menopause skin changes.
Today, I’d like to share my tips and tricks with you. Here are the top five menopause skin changes and how to reverse them
Menopause and Wrinkles
Every woman knows to expect wrinkles as she ages. But it still comes as quite a shock when your once youthful skin is full of them! The good news? There are ways to prevent excessive wrinkles- and even reverse their appearance.
But why do we get wrinkles in the first place?
This menopause skin change happens because of collagen production. Collagen production slows down as we age due to- surprise- decreasing estrogen levels!
In fact, studies show that women in menopause lose 30% of their collagen in the first five years! Over the next 20 years, collagen decreases at a rate of 2% annually.
On top of looking like raisins, our skin becomes thin and slack as we age, too. This is all thanks to decreasing estrogen levels, as well. When estrogen levels decline, our fat deposits redistribute themselves.
So, what is the solution to this menopause skin change? Increase collagen production.
Top five ways to increase collagen production
- Apply retin-a: I have been using retin-a for 15 years and I swear by it! You can read all about my journey with retin-a here.
- Wear sunscreen daily: Wrinkly and slack skin is much more susceptible to sun damage. But be sure to wear the right kind! Here is my sunscreen guide for women over 50.
- Exercise: When we think of reducing or preventing wrinkles, it’s so easy for us to reach for a pill or a cream. While they can be helpful, many women over 50 forget the importance of exercise for skin health. Exercising triggers muscle development, which stimulates collagen production. It also prevents atrophy- loss of muscle mass- which causes sagging skin. Exercising is the #1 suggestion I have for women over 50. If you haven’t yet, take a look at my easy workouts for women over 50 here.
- Take collagen peptides: Hydrolyzed collagen peptides are something that I eat every single day. Not only do they help prevent and repair wrinkles, but they also increase bone and joint strength and give me a fantastic energy boost!
- Drink aloe vera juice: Several studies have shown the benefits of drinking aloe vera juice to minimize the appearance of wrinkles
- Use hyaluronic acid: Hyaluronic acid is part of my everyday skincare routine. It’s honestly one of my favorite skincare products I own!
Thankfully, these steps are so easy to incorporate into your daily routine! In fact, I’ve been doing most of them myself for years.
Menopause and Itchy Skin
One of the most common problems that women in menopause complain about is dry, itchy skin. Again, we can thank our dropping estrogen levels for this inconvenience. Low estrogen levels are linked to a decrease in collagen production and an increase in pH levels.
Low collagen levels means that our skin won’t produce as much natural oil, so it will become dry and flaky.
Tips to relieve menopause skin change
- Stay hydrated: Drink. Water. I can’t stress this enough! When your skin is hydrated on the inside, it will show in your skin.
- Eat healthy fats: Healthy fats like avocado, coconut oil and cold pressed olive oil will help your skin stay moisturized from the inside out. This is probably the most important step in reducing your dry skin because once I stop consuming these fats, it shows on my face immediately.
- Use an oil-based cleanser: Skin expert Will Fennell from Le Skin Bar says that cleansing oil “cleanses the skin beautifully without drying the skin.” I was lucky enough to interview Will several months back and he gave me the low-down on anti-aging skincare for women over 50. Click here to see the interview!
- Drink bone broth: Drinking bone broth is one of the best ways to restore collagen. Collagen is found in animal bones and when they are cooked, the collagen is drawn out of the bones and into the broth. The collagen will restore elasticity to the skin and decrease inflammation- both of which will help alleviate dry skin. If you’re a vegetarian, you can incorporate seaweed into your diet to achieve similar skin plumping results.
- Take collagen peptides: Collagen peptides help increase collagen production and soothe dry skin. I use the Perfect brand of Hydrolyzed Collagen Peptides. If you’re in Australia, you can find them here and if you’re from elsewhere, you can get them on Amazon.
- Use vitamin A: Vitamin A helps to restore and soften the skin. It can be found in foods like spinach, broccoli and sweet potato. I also use prescription vitamin A, which is strong and effective.
As someone who suffered from dry skin in menopause myself, I know what it’s like.
In fact, I made an entire video detailing my dry skin care routine. You can watch it below.
Menopause and Oily Skin
While many women over 50 suffer from dry skin, some experience a menopause skin change to oily skin. This can be both confusing and disappointing for many women, as none of us want to return to the oily, acne-prone skin of our youth. But for some women, it’s a startling reality!
This menopause skin change occurs because estrogen levels decrease and natural testosterone levels are no longer masked. This imbalance causes the testosterone hormone in our bodies to stimulate extra oil production.
Menopausal oily skin is unpleasant, but these tips can help:
Tips to care for your menopausal oily skin
- Stay hydrated: This may seem counterproductive, but dehydration can actually cause even more oil production.
- Eat more Omega-3s: Omega-3 fatty acids help reduce inflammation in the oil glands. They can be found in foods like salmon and walnuts.
- Consume vitamin C: Vitamin C has antioxidant properties that help reduce oil production. Vitamin C can be found in citrus fruits, papaya, kale and melon.
- Eat dark chocolate: Yep, you heard that right! Dark chocolate has antioxidants called flavonols that help control oil production. So eat away!
If you do have a menopause skin change to oily skin, it’s not all bad. Studies have shown that mature women with oily skin don’t get as many wrinkles!
Menopause and Sensitive Skin
Menopause and sensitive skin is a common menopause skin change. It oftentimes goes hand in hand with dry skin.
Women over 40 who suddenly experience sensitive skin can usually point to menopause as the culprit. Reduced estrogen levels are linked to high high pH levels. High pH levels cause heightened skin sensitivity.
This can come as a shock to many women over 50 who have always had soft skin and could wear any perfume or lotion they wanted. However, in menopause, these women may experience easily irritate skin and even rashes.
If this is something that you experience, don’t worry.
While there is no known way to reverse sensitive skin, there are some ways to prevent rashes:
Tips to care for your menopausal sensitive skin
- Moisturize: The dryer your skin is, the more sensitive it will be. Here are some great ways to keep your skin soft and moisturized.
- Use skincare for sensitive skin: Avoid scented lotions, creams and perfumes. Instead, opt for those approved for sensitive skin.
Menopause Acne
If you experience a menopause skin change to oily skin, then you might also experience menopause acne. Not only is this frustrating, but it’s also insulting. Didn’t we already go through this phase of our lives??
Menopause acne typically occurs because, when estrogen levels drop, androgen levels remain the same.
If you have menopause acne, the best thing for you to do is visit a dermatologist. They may suggest a few things:
- Androgen-blocking products
- Salicylic acid products
- Other acne-fighting products
Only a licensed dermatologist will know what to prescribe for your menopause acne. This is because your skin is unique.
Want to learn some more tips and tricks about how to treat menopause symptoms? Let me know in the comments below!
If you want to see a complete guide to anti-aging skincare, be sure to watch my interview with Will Fennell!
One Response
Which aloe vera juice do you recommend?