Vive la libération!
Yes, the onset of menopause can bring a sense of freedom. Okay, you’ll need to travel with a personal fan for a while, but once you muddle your way through the myriad of sometimes confusing symptoms that show up, you may find a reason to celebrate your menopause.
As liberating as the cessation of your period every month can feel, skin changes in menopause due to a decline in oestrogen can feel anything but. You see, a gradual loss of oestrogen is intimately connected to retaining our feminine beauty and begins in the years leading up to menopause, known as peri-menopause.
Amongst the changes in your body, none is more disturbing or confusing than the changes in your skin during menopause. And the gradual loss of oestrogen is intimately connected to the visible appearance of our skin.
Menipause skin change #1: Peri-menopause Acne
At first, you may barely notice a drop in oestrogen. But androgens remain constant. These are the male hormones (testosterone) that all women have. Once a hormone that worked in harmony with oestrogen, testosterone can now freely roam around your body, becoming a dominant hormone and, in some cases, can lead to adult acne.
Not to be mistaken for the pimples of your teenage years, adult acne can often be isolated and inflamed. If this does occur, there are positive steps you can take to minimise the trauma to your skin.
- Seek out the advice of a medical practitioner interested and specialising in women’s hormonal health issues.
- Ask your doctor about using a topical vitamin A (tretinoin) cream. In Australia, tretinoin is only available on prescription to help with skin changes in menopause.
- Be kind to your skin. Choose a gentle, non-foaming cleanser, a moisturiser with essential fatty acids, and serums containing AHA’s, BHA’s, and Vitamin A.
- Continue to protect your skin diligently from the sun to prevent post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, which can occur during the healing phase of adult acne.
- Consult a skincare professional for expert guidance.
Menopause skin change number #2: Sagging skin and a loss of volume
Once you get closer to menopause, some of the changes to your skin can be unsettling, and while acne symptoms may reduce, you may begin to notice more pronounced wrinkling and sagging skin. It’s not that the onset of wrinkles appears overnight, but gradually, you’ll notice a loss of volume in the skin. For many women, including myself, a loss of facial volume is more concerning than the arrival of a wrinkle that traces the path of a smile.
This volume loss can begin to appear under the eyes, on the cheeks, and around the mouth, signalling a loss of fat in the skin and the supporting collagen that gives our skin its strength, as well as elastin that keeps the skin flexible.
Menopause skin change number #3: Hyper-pigmentation, blotchiness and uneven skin tone
What was once a lovely tan is now becoming blotchy pigmentation. Once again, hormonal deficiencies triggered by the onset of menopause are the culprit. With the reduction in melanocyte-stimulating hormones, your pigment production can become dysfunctional, leaving you with uneven pigmentation that seems to have appeared overnight.
One of the most distressing skin conditions for many women, but there are solutions and preventive measures available.
- First and foremost, wear a well-formulated sunscreen all year round. If possible, look for a sunscreen with moisturising properties and potent antioxidants, such as green tea, L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C), and α-tocopherol (vitamin E).
- Niacinamide (Vitamin B3), when applied topically in a serum formulation, helps protect the skin from the sun’s infrared heat, which can exacerbate the onset of uneven pigmentation.
- IPL – Targeted and specific, Intense Pulse Light (IPL). IPL uses light energy to target pigmented cells in your skin by absorbing the light energy and converting it into heat. By heating the cells, unwanted pigmentation is diminished and eventually removed.
Menopause skin change number #4: The structure and contour of your face.
Shrinking bones and dissolving fat pads can alter facial structure and youthful contours. Once again, the slowing down of oestrogen production results in subtle changes to the shape of the face. Bones begin to shrink, and the fatty pads around the eyes and cheeks start to diminish, leaving you with a somewhat hollow and aged appearance to the face.
It all sounds a bit depressing, but there are solutions and measures you can take to slow the changes to your skin in menopause.
- Ensure you maintain adequate vitamin D levels by getting at least 10 minutes of sunshine daily.
- If it’s winter or it’s just not possible to get a daily dose of sunshine, consider increasing your vitamin D intake through your diet by eating eggs, oily fish, mushrooms, and unprocessed cheese.
- Have your vitamin D checked annually. If your levels are low, your doctor will recommend incorporating at least 400IU of a vitamin D oral supplement.
- The loss of fat pads under the eyes gives the eye area a dark and hollow appearance. You might consider dermal fillers. However, consult with your healthcare professional for advice and seek the expertise of a specialist in cosmetic injectables.
Aesthetic solutions for menopausal skin changes
Invest in a skincare regimen with a highly potent and stable vitamin C formula. When used daily, vitamin C is a vital ingredient in building collagen. Look for a serum formulation with a pH below 3.5 with airtight packaging to improve stability, or opt for L-ascorbic acid powder that you can mix with other serums or moisturisers or a lipid-soluble formula containing Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate.
You could consider dermal fillers. When administered correctly, they are effective and safe when used by a skilled healthcare professional. Most dermal fillers consist of the naturally occurring substance hyaluronic acid, which can provide subtle improvements by plumping up the skin when injected into specific areas of the face and restoring volume loss. But it’s not for everyone, and it may not be for you.
High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound targets areas where menopause may be contributing to a loss of elasticity and is beginning to sag. It is a safe way to tighten the skin with minimal social downtime, and results can last for up to 12 months.
Medical Micro-needling activates new collagen. With minimal downtime and side effects, it is an excellent option for improving the visible signs of fine lines and wrinkles caused by collagen loss due to oestrogen decline, sun damage and unhealthy lifestyle habits.
Not quite ready to celebrate?
Yes, I get it; in the early stages of peri-menopause, even though it’s a natural part of life for every woman, it can also be a very confusing time. By the age of around 40, your body will begin to shift into peri-menopause, so even though you may not notice the subtle changes, it’s an excellent time to start managing some of the visible signs in your skin by seeking out professional and medical advice.
Ask your doctor about Hormone Replacement Therapy. Sure, it’s not for everyone, but it’s always good to know your options.
Book Spotlight: The M Word by Dr Ginni Mansberg
If you’re looking for clarity, confidence, and clinical honesty about menopause, look no further than The M Word by Australian GP and media expert Dr Ginni Mansberg.
This book unpacks everything from hot flushes to HRT, weight gain to wrinkles, and does it in a way that’s both informative and reassuring.
You’ll learn:
- Why hormones affect your sleep, mood, skin, and energy
- What treatments and lifestyle changes are worth exploring
- How to advocate for yourself when your GP doesn’t quite “get it”
- What’s normal, what’s manageable, and what to watch out for
It’s a brilliant resource — and one I wish more women had access to earlier.
And now you?
Ramp up your overall health with nutritious whole food and increase your intake of a wide variety of colourful vegetables.
Choose an excellent skincare routine and stick with it.
Take a long, hard look at any dubious habits like smoking, processed foods, sugar intake, and excessive alcohol consumption that might need to be modified.
And most of all, foster a positive attitude and embrace your newfound liberty!
If you’d like to know more about how hormones impact your skin and well-being, you may also enjoy
this article: 💃🏼 Hormone Imbalance Symptoms: The Signs and Solutions.
See you next time,
