Understanding Peri-Menopause / Menopause and Its Impact on Skin

We’re all familiar with hot flushes, mood swings, irregular periods, heavier periods, cramps and aching joints being associated with menopause and perimenopause. But what is less recognised is that menopause and perimenopause also brings significant changes to our skin.

As the largest organ in the body, our skin plays a vital role in in our health, and is influenced by numerous factors that can alter its condition daily, including:

Skin changes are very common during perimenopause and menopause. One survey shows that almost half of women (46%) attending a menopause clinic had skin issues arising from menopause. Sometimes, skin conditions that you may have experienced years ago – such as eczema in your childhood, or acne in your teenage years – may flare up, or you may experience a new, and even unexpected skin issue.

In another survey of perimenopausal and menopausal women, 64% reported experiencing dry skin, 56% experienced itching, 30% had developed spots or acne and 22% reported a crawling sensation known as formication.

So how do we deal with this changes?  Read on for advice on common complaints below!

1. SKIN ITCHING

The most common skin complaint among women around the time of menopause is dry skin. Estrogen is required for your skin’s natural hydration mechanisms, as it helps skin produce key substances including: ceramides, sebum and collagen. Without these substances, water evaporates very easily, causing your skin to become dry, scaly and itchy.

how to manage it

Regular soap can be very drying, and it is best to avoid products contain harsh synthetic surfactants as these will simply strip away grease from your skin. Use a gentle, organic castile soap / wash on your body instead of soap such as our Serenity Hand & Body Wash or our Radiance Hand & Body Wash

Try to get into the habit of moisturising your skin twice a day and immediately after a shower or bath, and if you can opt for a body oil or butter rather than a cream or lotion. Body oils have a higher density of moisturising lipids and fats and no synthetic preservatives or fillers. They are the perfect choice for dry skin. Our Serenity body oil contains wheatgerm oil which is helpful for itching and our Body Butter is infused with Rosehip oil which is great for aging / dry skin types.

One other good habit to get into, is to regularly exfoliate. This also helps with pimples and acne (see below) and resurfaces and removes dead and dry skin which contributes to itching. Our gorgeous Hibiscus exfoliator contains rich ingredients that nourish and moisturise while you exfoliate and is a strong recommendation for facial itching. For body itching we recommend our Serenity scrub, which contains whipped Shea Butter so you won’t need to moisturise after use.

Finally, there may be other causes of your itching, aside from dry skin. Sometimes it can be related to release of histamine in the skin, or it could be linked to iron deficiency and thyroid disturbance. If you still continue to experience itching after your have changed your skincare routine to the advised steps listed above, then consult your GP

2. RASHES,REDNESS AND IRRITATION

Flushing and skin irritation is a well-recognised symptom of menopause. It can also occur from rosacea, a condition in which the blood vessels in your skin become very reactive. Rosacea appears to be more common in women, especially during menopause. General skin irritation is also linked to skin dryness and itching - see above.

how to manage it

Simple lifestyle changes, such as cutting down on your intake of alcohol and caffeine, avoiding spicy foods, and protecting your skin from the sun can be the first port of call. We also love to use our soothing skin balm which contains lavender and chamomile - two essential oils that help with inflammation and redness. Our hydrating mist also contains Rose water, produced during the distillation process of Rose essential oil. Rose has long been associated with it’s cooling effects on the skin and is very helpful in reducing redness and calming Rosacea

3. WRINKLES AND SAGGING

Skin will naturally wrinkle as we age. For some it can affect confidence and be very distressing, but for others they won’t care and will embrace the change. Whatever your take on ‘aging’ it’s interesting to know why this occurs.

Firstly bone changes are at play. Research shows that during menopause, women lose bone density (bone strength) from their facial bones – as well as elsewhere in their body –­ bones can become smaller, as old bone tissue is lost faster than new bone tissue grows. In the spine and limbs, this loss of bone tissue and strength makes women more prone to fractures (which is why ensuring you have decent/high levels of calcium in your diet is important). On your face, the loss in bone mass causes hollowing in the mid face, narrowing of the chin, jowls and loss of jawline definition.

Secondly, and I’m sure you’ve read about this - the drop in collagen produced by your body means skin can lose its tightness and become more prone to fine lines and wrinkles, which add to the signs of ageing. An estimated 30% of skin collagen may be lost in the first five years after menopausee. Why? As our estrogen level reduces, we are less able to store fat under our skin which means it loses its natural elasticity. This causes the skin to wrinkle and sag.

Keeping hydrated by drinking plenty of water will help alongside easy diet changes that add Vitamin A to the mix. This vitamin is crucial for firmer skin and you can find it in green leafy veg like Spinach and Kale, Pumpkin Seeds and dried apricots and some dairy. In our products our Timeless Repair is second to none for it’s Vitamin A content, and you can also find it in our Nightly Revive face oil

5. BREAKOUTS and ACNE

Many women have spots, acne and pimple flare-ups around menopause but it is not clear why. It is possible that a drop in estrogen means the ratio of male hormones is relatively higher, and this may trigger acne. For some, acne continues to be a problem, even following estrogen replacement.

How to manage it

First of all look at your skincare. Elminate anything that is full of fillers, synthetic preservatives and heavy butters (avoid Cocoa Butter in natural skincare items in particular as this is highly non-comodegenic). Do NOT turn to anti-spot facial washes, or start using soap on the face. This will strip away all the oil in your skin and paradoxically will encourage an increase in the production of sebum and aggravate the problem

Use a mild and light face oil at night, that is free from all fatty alcohols like our Replenish Face oil, Also invest in a good facial exfoliator and use once a week to clear pores.

Ensure you cleanse every evening with hot water and a clean washed flannel - this will also gently exfoliate on a daily basis.

And if you want to take it a step further invest in some Rosemary, Tea Tree and Lavender water, mix together at a rate of 20% Tea Tree, 30% Rosemary and 50% Lavender, You can use this to tone and freshen the skin and keep the skin clear of bacteria.

So... that's a topline look at some of the most common complaints relating to menopausal skin.  I hope that it's been interesting to read, and as always please reach out to me if you have any questions on marie@bloomremedies.co.uk

Thanks!

Marie x