Hormone fluctuations as you approach menopause can wreak havoc on skin, leading to dryness, uneven skin tone and texture, and sensitivity to harmful ultraviolet rays. Here’s how to revamp your routine during this life stage.
As you approach menopause, you might expect some typical symptoms, like
hot flashes,
night sweats,
insomnia, weight gain, and irritability. But your skin undergoes changes, too.
Your dermis, or the thickest layer of your skin, is sensitive to declining estrogen levels that happen during
perimenopause.
Estrogen helps your skin retain water and promotes collagen production, a protein that gives your skin volume and tightness. Your vulva and vagina may begin to atrophy and the skin become dry and itchy, symptoms of a condition called genitourinary syndrome of menopause.
As estrogen drops, your skin loses some of its ability to stay hydrated and collagen production decreases. You may notice:
- Fine lines and wrinkles
- Sagging skin
- Slower wound healing
- Increased skin sensitivity and irritation
- Skin dryness
- Thinning skin
All of these changes can make it tough to know how to adjust your skin-care routine. But there are some things you can do to maintain your skin health and appearance during this time of life.
Because dry skin is one of the most common complaints, you’ll want to switch to more moisturizing products.
Look for cleansers and moisturizers for your face and body that appear creamy. Avoid foam and gel or those with active ingredients like alpha hydroxy acids, which can be drying, says Lauren Fine, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Chicago, Illinois.
While some high-priced products are worth splurging on, Dr. Fine recommends looking for the following ingredients in tried-and-true drugstore brands:
- Ceramides smooth and soften the skin by filling in gaps between skin cells, helping it retain moisture. CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream combines ceramides with peptides, helping to renew skin overnight.
- Glycerin attracts water to the skin, helping to increase its water content. Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream contains glycerin and is recommended for very dry, sensitive skin.
- Hyaluronic acid is naturally found on your skin and also helps draw moisture from the environment. Clarins Hydra-Essentiel Night Moisturizer is formulated with hyaluronic acid for normal, oily, and dry skin.
Signs of sun damage start to appear as you approach menopause. You may notice
age spots and areas of darker skin on your face, hands, chest, or neck.
To protect your skin, apply sunscreen everyday before going outdoors. This can help fade and prevent age spots, prevent further skin thinning, reduce visible lines, and prevent new wrinkles. It also reduces your risk of getting skin cancer.
Look for a broad-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen, says
Keira Barr, MD, board-certified dermatologist and menopause specialist and the creator of Somatic Skincare. These provide both UVB and UVA protection.
Also, a big part of how much protection your sunscreen offers is how often you reapply, says Dr. Barr. “When you are outdoors for more than two hours, have been sweating profusely, or toweled off after swimming, reapply sunscreen,” she says.
Along with giving your skin extra support to counteract declining estrogen levels, now is also a good time to use skin renewing products that can help reverse some signs of aging.
Retinol
Retinol is a vitamin A derivative available as a prescription or over the counter. It promotes cellular turnover to reveal a fresh, brighter layer of skin as well as an increase in skin thickness, says Fine. Retinol can also help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by slowing the breakdown of collagen.
Barr recommends using a topical retinoid as part of your nightly skin-care routine. Because retinoids are inherently drying and can cause irritation for some people, start by applying a pea-size amount on your skin once or twice a week, then slowly increasing the frequency.
Differin gel is an effective drug store brand also used for acne treatment. Products like Senté Even Tone Retinol Cream have been specifically formulated with sensitive skin in mind, says Fine.
Vitamin C
Topical
antioxidants, like
vitamin C, help to counteract free radicals that cause oxidative stress and skin damage. They can help brighten and soften your skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Vitamin C also helps stimulate collagen production, which can give your skin more structure and support and increase plumpness.
Fine recommends Alastin Skincare's C-RADICAL Defense Antioxidant Serum and Revision Skincare C+ Correcting Complex 30 Percent. Lower-cost options are also effective, which can be a good alternative, since vitamin C products have a limited shelf life.
Healthy skin during menopause is about more than what you put on your face; it's also a reflection of your overall health.
The following lifestyle changes can help you manage symptoms of menopause and support healthy skin as you age:
- Avoid smoking
- Eat a healthy diet
- Get regular physical activity
- Avoid triggers, like alcohol and caffeine
- Manage stress
- Get enough sleep
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), or menopause hormone therapy, is a treatment used to replace estrogen after menopause. It helps treat common menopause symptoms, like hot flashes and vaginal dryness.
Research shows that hormone therapy may also offer skin benefits, like improving thickness, elasticity, and collagen production.
HRT is only approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of vasomotor symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats,
vaginal dryness,
dyspareunia (pain with sexual activity), and bone loss. Topical low‐dose vaginal estrogen can help treat genitourinary symptoms.
While it may have potential benefits for your skin, it also carries risks for certain groups. Because of this, you should discuss hormone therapy with your doctor to determine whether it's right for you.
If skin-care techniques and lifestyle changes don't work or you're concerned about age spots, rashes that don't go away, or slow healing wounds, contact a dermatologist. They can examine your skin for signs of skin cancer and suggest treatment options.
Rachel Green
Rachel Davis
Derek Schulz
Sophia Martinez
Dr. Amara Okafor