Think back to the acne and oiliness many of us experienced during our teenage years, and it’s clear how much our hormones can impact the appearance and integrity of our skin.
The same rules apply to menopause, just in the opposite direction. A sudden drop in estrogen and progesterone levels disrupts the processes that once kept your skin firm and hydrated. Meanwhile, though it remains relatively stable, testosterone can become even more noticeable as estrogen falls.
While it’s true that we all age, the sudden differences we see when we look in the mirror can impact how we feel about our appearance. Fortunately, there are steps you can take and skincare ingredients you can incorporate into your routine to help mitigate the changes.
Collagen Loss
One of the most noticeable changes after menopause is a rapid decline in collagen, the protein that gives skin firmness and elasticity. Because estrogen is necessary for collagen production, your body produces much less of it once you’ve reached menopause—approximately 30% within the first five years—which leads to the laxity and wrinkles we associate with aging.
To counteract collagen loss, look for skincare ingredients that work at a cellular level to support your skin’s natural anti-aging processes.
For example, the Revision Skincare Revox™ Line Relaxer peptides act as messengers that tell your body to produce more collagen and elastin fibers. Similarly, Retinol Complete 0.5% and 1.0% are formulated with the vitamin A derivative that accelerates cell turnover and stimulates the fibroblasts, the cells responsible for collagen production.
Dryness
Estrogen regulates the amount of natural oils your sebaceous glands produce to keep your skin barrier intact, so menopause can make your skin more prone to dehydration. It’s also a self-perpetuating cycle because a compromised lipid barrier makes it hard for your skin to retain moisture, only compounding the dryness issues.
To address menopausal dryness, you should take a two-pronged approach: replenishing moisture and repairing the skin’s protective barrier. Cleansers and moisturizers with humectants draw water from the atmosphere into the skin, providing immediate hydration. One of our favorites is Neostrata Mandelic Clarifying Cleanser, which contains glycerin and tea tree oil to condition your skin as you wash.
Ceramides and fatty acids, like those in CeraVe’s formulations, strengthen the lipid barrier, allowing you to retain moisture longer.
Dullness
Healthy estrogen levels encourage microcirculation in your skin by supporting the vascular functions that dilate blood vessels so it gets plenty of oxygen and nutrients. During menopause, however, diminished circulation combines with inefficient cell turnover, causing dead cells to accumulate on the skin’s surface and giving you an uneven, lackluster complexion.
Regular exfoliation with AHAs like glycolic acid is the key to addressing menopausal skin dullness. These acids are better at addressing signs of aging, such as dryness, fine lines, skin laxity, and hyperpigmentation. Neostrata offers several exfoliating options, including Gel Plus AHA 15 and High Potency Cream AHA 20%.
As for improving microcirculation, the B3 vitamin known as niacinamide helps with nutrient delivery and strengthens your lipid barrier to balance out your hydration levels. Be sure to browse Elta MD for niacinamide in their PM Therapy Facial Moisturizer, UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46, UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 Tinted, and Skin Restore Body Cream.
Breakouts
As if experiencing acne as a teenager weren’t enough punishment, menopause can also bring a resurgence in breakouts, mainly due to the imbalance of estrogen to androgen or male hormones like testosterone. Androgen can become more prevalent, stimulating the sebaceous glands to produce more oil. When paired with slower cell turnover, this is the perfect recipe for clogging the pores and causing blemishes.
While AHAs are preferred for aging skin, BHAs are best for clearing excess oil and other debris out of the pores. CLn Acne Cleanser has 0.5% salicylic acid and is ideal for menopausal skin because of its gentle formula. Advanced Skin Therapeutics Gly/Sal Pads, available with 2%, 5%, and 10% glycolic acid, can also target both cell turnover and pore cleansing in a single swipe.
More Vulnerability to Oxidative Damage
Finally, estrogen helps neutralize free radicals, the unstable molecules emitted by UV rays, environmental pollution, cigarette smoke, and your body’s natural metabolic processes. Less estrogen lessens your skin’s ability to fend off and repair the damage from these molecules, resulting in accelerated aging due to collagen breakdown and photodamage.
Menopause also coincides with the cumulative impact of 45-55 years of environmental exposure and the general slowdown of your skin’s repair mechanisms, making it even harder to recover from oxidative damage.
You’ll want to focus on a multi-layered antioxidant defense to bolster your body’s ability to neutralize free radicals while directly addressing other symptoms of aging. For example, antioxidants like vitamin C help increase collagen production. Vitamin E strengthens the skin barrier, and CoQ10 improves your cell’s metabolic processes.
Of course, sunscreen continues to be a must for protecting your skin from the hyperpigmentation and cellular damage caused by UV light exposure.
The Best Menopausal Skincare Is a Board-Certified Dermatologist
You don’t have to settle for just accepting the changes that menopause brings to your skin. Instead, work with Dr. Elizabeth Briden to learn more about what’s happening below the dermis. She’ll help you address your concerns with targeted treatments and clinically tested products to help you feel confident in your skin during this new life stage.
To book your appointment, please call 952-915-6000 ext 1.
