Six ways the menopause can affect your skin
layer that sits on the skin barrier and protects it too,” says
Dr Naomi Potter from Harley Street Emporium. “Because it’s compromised, we lose more water via the skin. The skin feels dry, looks dull and may be flaky.” While you may think exfoliation is the best solution for flaky skin, Dr Potter says that it’s better to use a good emollient, especially one that contains ceramides – the fatty acids that help protect the skin. She also says to avoid long, hot showers or baths: “Try to reduce the temperature of your showers or baths, as hot water strips the natural oils, and look for soap-free and fragrance-free products.”
TRY: Sunday Riley Ice Ceramide Moisturising Cream, £60 for 50g.
You can suffer itchy skin THE drop in oestrogen and depletion of lipids are also responsible for another unpleasant skin symptom, Dr Potter says: “Some women say it feels like they have ants crawling on their skin and they can’t stop scratching. The scalp and calves are the areas they mention most.”
Keeping showers shorter and cooler can also help soothe itchy skin, and using gentle moisturising products: “Apply a fragrance-free emollient after bathing and go soap-free. Consider oatmeal or coal tar-based shampoos and soaps – you may not love the smell initially, but they can really help reduce the itching.”
TRY: Klorane Oat Milk Ultra-gentle Shampoo, £5.33 (was £8), Escentual
Skin can lose firmness COLLAGEN, one of the key building blocks of skin, starts to decline around the age of 30, when those tell-tale signs of ageing begin.
“Immediately after the menopause, the skin’s collagen levels decrease rapidly and then decrease more gradually,” says Janette Ryan, Education Manager at Vichy. “Around a 30% collagen loss can be observed in the five years following the menopause.”
This can lead to a noticeable loss of firmness and elasticity.
Dr Potter recommends retinol
“for boosting collagen
– it also helps with pigmentation and encouraging cell turnover”.
TRY: Beauty Pie Super Retinol Ceramide Boost Anti Aging Face Serum, £13 for members/£80 for non-members
Dark spots can occur
SKIN tone can be affected in one of two ways, Janette says: “Dull skin due to high sensitivity to oxidative damage at peri-menopause,” meaning the beginning of the menopause, “and dark spots due to stimulated melanin production afterwards.”
She suggests that you: “incorporate daily SPF into your skincare routine 365 days a year”, and look for high-factor (SPF
30 and above) sunscreens that also provide antioxidant protection.
TRY: Vichy Capital Soleil Mattifying 3-in-1 Cream SPF 50+, £17.50, Boots
Rashes can break out
“AN increase in allergies or new onset allergies is quite common,” says Dr Potter. “I see a lot of women with itchy rashes, and if they have rosacea, they’ll often say it gets worse.”
It’s believed this is due to the interaction between the hormone oestrogen and histamine, she says: “Fluctuating hormone levels may interfere with the way we get rid of the histamines that are produced from the foods we eat.
“Getting to the bottom of this can be a long road, as it involves looking closely at the diet to identify possible triggers. It’s best to see a dietician for this. Topical antihistamines can give some relief, but always follow the instructions and see a doctor if things don’t resolve.”
TRY: Cerave Moisturising Cream, £6.75, Feelunique
Acne can make a comeback JUST as spots plague teenagers when they go through puberty, hormone changes can cause acne breakouts during peri-menopause.
“Due to an over-production of sebum [oil], breakouts can be induced when there is an excess in progesterone,” Janette says. “Look for ingredients such as salicylic acid, to help keep pores clear, and help prevent and reduce breakouts.”
TRY: Mpowder Peri-boost Bio-stage No1,
£69 for a 30-day supply