Isn’t it enough that the top three symptoms of menopause are hot flashes, mood changes, and weight? Do we really need more? No, but we’re getting them anyway. Skin problems are next on the list.
I had acne at an early age, then rosacea, a small window in my late 30’s with fairly nice skin, then immediately the wrinkles started. Now menopause brings in another slap in the face, but wait! It’s not just my face this time.
What kind of skin problems are caused by menopause?
- Increase in facial hair
- The sebaceous glands under the skin produce a waxy substance, sebum. The hormonal changes of menopause lead to this substance becoming thicker and possibly acne – again!
- Ample blood flow into the capillaries of the skin helps keep it youthful. Lower estrogen production, however, impedes upon this blood flow, resulting in fewer nutrients and oxygen to the skin. This also slows down growth of new skin cells and the ability of the skin to retain water.
- Wrinkling and sagging (and I thought that was just for my ass). Fat deposits under the skin are driven by estrogen. Less estrogen means a shift in the generosity of these fat depots: from face to abdomen. Without this supportive fatty tissue in the face, the skin starts to sag and crinkle. This also occurs in the neck, arms and hands.
- “Elast” refers to elastic, and “osis” means something’s wrong. Put two and two together and you get something being wrong with the skin’s elasticity—abundant during youth. Collagen and elastin, two substances in the skin, are affected by estrogen. Less estrogen = dwindling upkeep and repair of these substances. The result is skin that doesn’t bounce back as easily when tugged at.
- Increased susceptibility to sun damage. Menopause impairs the maintenance of the cells that produce melanin, the pigment that protects against sunburn.
- Age spots. Without adequate estrogen to keep the pigment cells well-serviced, they overproduce in areas where there’s been excessive sun exposure, producing those familiar brown spots.
- Some of the above issues lead to dryness, which in turn can cause itching.
The skin problems caused by menopause can also affect the chest, back, nails, legs and Miss Puss (the tissue in the genitals is similar to that of exposed skin).
Solutions to Menopausal Skin Problems
- Take up weightlifting, martial arts, or self-defense classes (check with your doctor first). Now, what on earth does this have to do with skin? Nothing. But it has everything to do with self-confidence, which can break down as skin integrity breaks down. The ability to kick some ass feels pretty great and gets our minds off of some wrinkles and sagging, making a woman feel younger as our strength increases. I used to see my older friends lose confidence after 50 and I couldn’t really understand it at the time. It is a reality for many women and not just in her head.
- Wear sunscreen, and not just for anticipated prolonged sun exposure like when at the beach or during gardening, but also for incidental sun exposure. Walking in parking lots and walking the dog to the end of the block and back produce a lot of cumulative sun exposure. The SPF should be at least 15.
- Clean up your diet by restricting processed foods and eating more nuts, seeds, raw vegetables and fish. Also take an omega-3 supplement. “Good” fats will help the skin retain moisture and ward off itchiness.
- Avoid hot baths and showers; the water should be closer to warm than to hot. Hot water can make the skin drier. I’ve been taking warm baths with coconut oil (yep, the stuff from Costco is a good deal) thrown in three times a week. It really cuts down on dry skin.
- Don’t scrub areas of your skin with a brush in the name of cleaning them unless it’s the only way to get the grime off. Scrubbing is harsh to the skin. Try to avoid soap in the areas that aren’t truly dirty. It’s one thing to have muddy calves from mountain biking, but if you’re taking a routine shower, simply let warm water gush over these areas.
- Avoid fancy, heavily fragrance soaps. If you’re struggling with dry and/or itchy skin, see what happens when you replace the pretty soaps with a plainer type with little scent. Even a so-called deodorant soap can antagonize the skin.
- After bathing apply a moisturizer and opt for a simpler one. For really troublesome areas like the heels and elbows, apply a thin layer of coconut oil. For dry skin on the face, use a topical like green tea or vitamin C.
- Though scrubbing with soap to clean is not recommended, it’s actually advised to exfoliate to rid the top layer of useless dead
skin cells. But be gentle. - Drink six to eight glasses of water a day to hydrate from the inside out.
- Quit smoking. It promotes wrinkles around the mouth and also overall dryness.
- Give up drinking when you decide the health of your skin is more important than the indulgence. I haven’t gotten to that point yet. My wine is very important to me!
- Exercise will increase collagen. But don’t make all sorts of crinkly faces when you’re getting in those last repetitions.
- When you dry the sweat off your face with a towel after your workout, gently pat it dry; don’t rub.
- Make sure your skin problems don’t have a cause other than menopause, such as low thyroid. Have a complete exam by a dermatologist if the aforementioned treatments don’t work.
Skin problems from menopause are there to stay, but with some smart approaches, they can be greatly minimized. So grab a friend and get that facial you’ve been putting off. Time for a girls’ day out!
What are some treatments that have worked for you? Please share in the comments section what you’ve tried.
Interesting article Lynn on menopause and associated skin problems. As a male, this doesn’t apply to me, but I do know my mom (who is coincidentally also named Lynn) would be interested to read this article as she’s getting up there in age. I’ll be sure to send her the permalink very soon. Thanks!
Hi Paul, thanks for stopping by. I’m sure she’s dealt with some of this fun stuff already (depending on her age). I hope she enjoys the article. Thanks again!
Lynn
Menopause is very interesting. 🙂 It’s funny at 52 I really don’t feel like I should be aging like I am , but I am. And you can see all the changes begin to happen in your body. It isn’t fun. My biggest frustration is the loose skin under my neck and arms. I’ve been working out and drinking bone broth a few days a week as it helps to give the body more collagen. I haven’t really noticed any changes yet, but I’ve only been doing it for a few weeks. As for the coconut oil, I agree with you. I use it for everything. And I’m not ready to give up the wine either. 🙂 Have a great day Lynn.
Hi Wendy, so glad you stopped by. I totally hear ya! I still feel like 25 inside but then I try to get out of bed in the morning and ‘ouch’. I haven’t heard of drinking broth like you describe. That’s interesting and I’ll have to check into that. And as far as wine goes, that’s what keeps me sane through this ordeal. LOL
Thanks again Wendy,
Lynn
This is a cute yet very truthful article, helpful and funny.
I guess what I am experiencing is menopause related as well. My skin on the arms and upper chest has taken on a crepey appearance. Any ideas how to treat that?
Estrogen related,perhaps? Do you think coconut oil would help? I use that on may face all the time.
Hi Diana, Thanks for the kinds words!
Unfortunately, the crepe-like skin in those areas comes with age and can be worse if we were exposed to a lot of sun when we were younger. Coconut oil definitely helps reduce the appearance; I use that all over my skin everywhere:-) . I understand there are some laser treatments that can help but they also come with some hefty costs. You may want to discuss hormone replacement therapy with your doctor, depending one your particular health needs. I know what you mean though, I miss my hair and skin from my 30’s!
Thanks again for stopping by!
Lynn
Very informative content within this simple to navigate through website. It is great how you broke up the content within your website and avoided long paragraphs. It is also great how you added images of the company you were explaining. Very good ideas for anyone who wants better skin, great work
Thanks for stopping by! I appreciate the encouraging words 🙂
Hi Lynn! So many women are going through menopause earlier than expected. This really affects their skin and how they feel on a daily basis. The best bet is to be proactive and research remedies to counteract problems. I know menopause doesn’t last long, but following your tips like avoiding strong fragrances in soap and patting instead of rubbing skin are important. Thank for sharing!
HI LDStudio, thanks so much for stopping by! I appreciate your comments.
Lynn
Hello: Being 60 years old and still having hot flashes at night, etc., I read your post re skin problems and menopause with interest. Some of the information I knew, but I just learned a lot more. And I love your humor – needed that, thank you!
As far as skin problems, what I have experienced most is problems with my nails, which you mentioned briefly. Will you be addressing the issue of nails further in a future post perhaps?
I started getting salon manicures for the first time in my early fifties and ended with gel manicures about 4 years ago. I stopped getting manicures at all due to job lay off and loss of income 3 years ago. However since then, my nails continue to be weak, break and split easily. I have been taking hair,skin, and nail supplements for about 6 months, but they have not really helped. If you have any suggestions for dealing with this problem, I would appreciate them.
Thank you, BarbaraI
Hi Barbara, Thanks so much for the kind words and stopping by.
Yes, nails and hair are a real issue now. I use a nail hardener (almost like a nail polish) almost all the time. That’s the only way I can keep my nails from peeling off my fingers. My toes seem to be ok. Have you tried something like this? It won’t cure the problem but it might reduce the breakage.
I’ll definitely look into an article on this subject!
Thanks for the feedback,
Lynn
Hi Lynn, yes, I’ve been using nail hardener/strengthener for the most part now. It helps some.I look forward to reading future articles from you.
Thanks, Barbara