January 23, 2023
5 ways your skin changes during menopause
Menopause, what comes to mind when you hear that term? Hormones changing? No more periods? Getting older? Hot flushes? While these are all some of the changes women experience, our skin also goes through major changes during menopause. Our skin is the largest organ on the body and one of its main functions is protection but so many factors cause our skin to change on a daily basis such as change in seasons, climate, our mood, lifestyle etc. When you add menopause to the mix which affects women’s hormone levels, this also has a significant effect on the appearance of our skin.
Our faces often display outwards what is taking place inside our bodies.
Here are five different ways your skin can evolve as you age (and what you can do to protect your skin’s natural defences).
1. Skin Itching
Itching skin during menopause is one of the lesser-known side-effects caused by a drop in oestrogen. As your oestrogen levels drop, so does your collagen and natural oils that keep your skin moisturised.
Of course, scratching your dry and itchy skin can cause further damage. So treating the problem areas is important.
Make sure you drink plenty of water during the day to limit hydration. Vitamin E supports rebuilding the skin’s collagen and argan soothes irritation. Omega oils, like those in our Argan Skin Rescue, are known to help the skin stay soft and supple.
We recommend using our Probiotic Multi-Mineral Repair Mask, a nutrient-rich treatment cream face mask powered with probiotic minerals essential for healthy skin repair. This innovative treatment infused with Damask Rose and Lavender will boost collagen, diminish wrinkles, and restore healthy, supple firmness to the skin. Magnesium and lavender help to soothe and calm the skin.
2. Rashes
Rashes can coincide with menopause but are not a result of dry, itchy skin. When your hormones change, it can leave you more vulnerable to redness and irritation.
As with itchy skin, supporting the natural production of collagen can help reduce your experience of rashes. Argan is an excellent source of vitamin E to support rebuilding collagen and replenish the skin.
Our Argan Skin Rescue soothes and repairs the skin, especially if you’re experiencing sore rash-prone skin.
3. Wrinkles and sagging
Skin will naturally wrinkle as we age. 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.
Plus, our face is exposed to pollutants and changes in the air so is more prone to wrinkles. Although, the whole body will lose firmness over time.
Keeping hydrated by drinking plenty of water will help. But you will also want to help keep the skin firm. Vitamin A is crucial for firmer skin. This is why we include kale, pumpkin seed oil and rosehip seed oil in our products.
To help lift and firm the delicate neck and decollete area, massage in our T.S.L Tighten, Sculpt and Lift Neck Elixir which is proven to improve the look and texture of the neck area within 28 days.
Created with a blend of antioxidants and peptides, it is a natural way to minimise the signs of ageing.
Or our Argan Anti-Ageing Peptide Serum which combines argan, kale, tripeptides and hyaluronic acid to create a natural barrier for your skin and reduce fine lines.
4. Pigmentation
As you age, your skin may also change colour. You may find that the pigmentation of your skin changes during menopause on your cheeks, upper lips and forehead.
In addition to hormonal changes, sun exposure can also affect pigmentation. When choosing your skincare, look for moisturisers that include ceramides as this helps repair the skin. Hyaluronic acid is a natural ceramide that helps the skin heal and you can find this in our Argan Anti-Ageing Peptide Serum.
You could supplement this with Antioxidant Peptide Mist which contains liquorice to help reduce pigmentation. Plus, we sell this in handy 15ml bottles, so you can take it in your handbag. You can refresh and cool your skin throughout the day, particularly if you suffer from hot flushes.
5. Breakouts
If only acne and spots could end in our teenage years. Yet, as you go through perimenopause, you may find that breakouts begin again. Your balance of hormones changes as you approach menopause.
Plus, life’s stresses, diet and immune system can upset your cortisol and insulin balance. All of this results in breakouts on your skin as you produce more sebum as a result.
To tackle these changes, protect your skin against the outside environment and rebalance with natural skincare that contains Niacinamide (vitamin B). This helps balance sebum which causes oily and combination skin. Plus look out for products containing argan and saw palmetto which can help regulate the sebum on your skin.
Our Balance range is scientifically developed with Niacinamide and Polyphenol-rich extracts of argan, saw palmetto and sesame. These regulate sebum production to reduce shine, soothe breakouts and even out oily and combination skin for menopausal and teenage skin alike.
Protecting your changing skin during menopause
However your skin changes during menopause, it is important that you hydrate and support your skin’s natural development of collagen. You can focus on problem areas such as controlling sebum levels if you have acne breakouts or repairing skin damage with vitamin A and Hyaluronic acid. This will help you target the many changes that naturally happen to your skin as your age.
Support your skincare with a healthy diet and exercise. Mindfulness and taking time out to rest can also help alleviate some of the other symptoms associated with the menopause such as stress, which can in turn manifest itself on our skin. This is because cortisol, one of the stress hormones, is in part managed by oestrogen, so when our oestrogen is dropping it makes us less able to regulate cortisol and we feel more stressed. Rest can take many forms, including mental, sensory, social rest as well as physical. Find something that you find restful: be it colouring, looking at nature, kickboxing, hanging out with a kind friend, meditating or napping… the possibilities are endless. Essential oil blends can also help the mind rest and find balance. Remember to be kind to yourself; menopause affects us all in different ways, listen to your body and do whatever you need to stay happy and healthy.
