Menopause products that actually work
FrOm night sweats to hot flushes and dry, itchy skin, menopausal symptoms can be uncomfortable and difficult to live with. earlier this month came the welcome news that a breakthrough drug could reduce hot flushes and night sweats by nearly threequarters, after a trial at Imperial College London.
the drug — which works by blocking a receptor in the brain linked to hot flushes — could be offered as an alternative to women who do not wish to take hormone replacement therapy, the researchers say, and it could be available within five years.
But in the meantime, gP and menopause expert Louise newson of menopausedoctor.co.uk shares some of the products that — along with hrt — she recommends to patients.
Silentnight Geltex Premier Pillow
£28.99, amazon.co.uk nIght sweats and the accompanying disturbed sleep are a common menopause symptom. they occur as a result of low oestrogen levels, which naturally decline as the ovaries start to produce less of this hormone. this drop in hormones can affect the part of the brain that controls body temperature. Broken sleep can adversely affect mood, concentration and energy levels during the day.
this pillow contains a layer of flexible, air permeable memory foam that offers good support and can help keep temperature down and so improve sleep.
La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL 50 + Comfort Cream
£15.50, lookfantastic.com the drop in oestrogen tends to make skin thinner, more sensitive and prone to sun damage. a high protection sun cream is important to protect your skin, and I often recommend this one.
Used as a daytime moisturiser on the face, it offers high protection from UVB and UVa rays.
It’s unperfumed and hypoallergenic, so it’s suitable for sensitive skins. even better, it’s noncomedogenic, so unlike many other high SPF sunscreens, it shouldn’t cause spots. It can also be worn under make-up.
ReplensMD Vaginal Moisturiser
£11.49, superdrug.com IrrItatIng dryness (which may be accompanied by itching, discomfort and pain during sex) doesn’t usually improve on its own and can get worse as women age.
this specialist hormone and fragrance-free product contains purified water, moisturising glycerin and oils. Best applied internally every three days with its reusable applicator, it clings to the vaginal lining, helping to hydrate dry tissue and relieve symptoms.
Bamboo underwear
from £8.95, boody.co.uk IF YOU suffer from hot flushes and night sweats, try clothes made from bamboo.
Soft on the skin with a cashmere-like finish, the structure and chemical make-up of this eco-friendly, all-natural fabric helps to keep skin cool by wicking sweat from the body.
Bamboo fibre also has a natural antibacterial effect, so it neutralises odours and washes well, too.
Promensil Cooling Spray
£14.99, boots.com thIS handy, handbag-size spray is useful if you suffer from sudden hot flushes.
the soothing, cooling, peppermint oil and menthol in this water-based spray reduces heat in the skin and leaves you feeling less flushed.
It also contains glycerine, which attracts moisture to the skin and helps keep it hydrated and supple.
POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice
£3.56, large supermarkets SOme women find foods with high levels of natural plant oestrogens (phyto- estrogens) soothe symptoms such as hot flushes and night sweats.
though it’s not proven, the theory is they stimulate the oestrogen receptors in the body.
Pomegranates contain one of the widest selections of plant oestrogens, plus protective, antioxidant vitamin C.
this juice is no substitute for hormone replacement therapy, but I often suggest women try eating and drinking foods rich in phyto-estrogens, to see if they have any effect on their symptoms.
Eucerin UreaRepair Plus Hand Cream
£5.66, escentual.com aS WeLL as causing skin to thin, the drop in oestrogen also affects its natural protective barrier.
hands can quickly become dry and sore.
Wearing rubber gloves for household chores will help, as will regular applications of a rich, unfragranced hand cream such as this one.
It contains urea, a natural moisturising agent that efficiently binds moisture into the skin.