The M Word: Your Skin & The Menopause

October is Menopause Awareness Month and sometimes I think there are awareness days and months for just about everything these days, but I’m really pleased to see the Menopause getting more coverage and awareness on a daily basis. I’ve watched the Menopause Mandate with interest on social media this month and it’s great to see so many people actually talking about a subject that really was taboo until even a few years ago. I love to see women helping women and getting involved and supporting each other. So, here goes….

I’m Wendy and I’m Menopausal (yikes – did I say that out loud?!)! My journey on the Meno Motorway has probably been different from yours and yours different from mine, as it is a very personal experience, but I write this from the heart as I know what a roller coaster ride it is for every woman. And regardless of the differences there are some physical symptoms that most of us will go through and those regarding your skin are ones that I hope I can even help with a little…

Why does Skin Change during Menopause?

Way more than just hot flushes and mood swings Menopause really changes your skin…. our body stops making as much collagen and we lose some fat under the skin, and this means the skin’s elasticity drops.  Oestrogen helps skin produce oil and hold onto water, so extremely dry skin during menopause is common thanks to a drop in this hormone.

All this can cause sagging — especially around the neck, jawline, and cheeks — and fine lines and wrinkles.

 Some people will also notice acne as oestrogen levels fall and androgen levels remain stable (androgens are male sex hormones, like testosterone), increasing sebum production and causing pores to become blocked.

Can you Prevent Skin Changes During Menopause?

You may not be able to prevent menopause from taking a toll on your skin, but you can certainly take steps to make your skin look its best.

 Because one of the main factors in skin aging is sun exposure, it’s essential to wear SPF daily — even when it’s cloudy. To help keep hormonal acne at bay, use a cleanser with salicylic acid. This can penetrate pores and dissolve oil.

Hydration is also important for menopausal skin. It’s likely that your face and body will feel drier than usual and using a moisturizer with hyaluronic acid may help draw moisture into the skin It’s best to use moisturizers with hyaluronic acid on damp skin so the ingredient can bond with water.

A moisturizer with ceramides can help moisture from escaping and topping a moisturizer with a facial oil adds even more hydration.

In addition to skin care products, it’s always helpful to eat hydrating foods, drink plenty of water, and try to get quality sleep.

How Can I Help?

Not surprisingly all the menopause changes can make our confidence plummet, just when we need it the most.

There are aesthetic treatments that can also help – including skin boosters and Profhilo (this has honestly been my absolute ‘meno-hero’) as well as anti-wrinkle treatments.  If you’re worried about an over puffed face or a trout pout, then please rest assured that my primary aim at Skin Deep Clinic is to help with little tweaks to give you back any of the lost confidence and ease you through.

I’ve also recently starting using the Zo Skin Health products and I can attest personally to their efficacy in giving me a bit of my glow back as well as treating my drier skin. Skin Deep Clinic are an accredited provider of ZO Skin Health and me or one of my trained colleagues can spend some time on a short consultation to get the right products for you.

If you’d like to discuss any treatments or skin care further, please do get in touch or let’s have a chat next time you are in the clinic and together we can work out the best way to get you back you!

Meantime as always, my very best wishes

Wendy x