Menopause is something that, as a society, we don’t talk enough about, and I believe it’s for several reasons. To begin with, it’s something that women, in a way, are ashamed about because it’s not only a sign of ageing, but it’s also a function that we no longer possess. The power of creating and bearing life has just been taken away from you; to most, it is quite a sad part of ageing. This may lead women to not want to talk about it because it’s just generally not a positive conversation. 

Another reason can be it’s not getting much research or representation in films or media, and like most things for women, there is no support system in place for women going through menopause, and we are just left to kind of get on with it. 

While there are more studies around menopause, primarily with hormonal therapies and non-hormonal therapies, which is a right step forward, these are just very limited. The only solution they are talking about is pharmaceutical, which isn’t always everyone’s cup of tea. Either way, menopause isn’t something spoken about so a lot of us don’t know much other than hot sweats and mood swings, creating a cycle of the next generation being left in a weird middle ground of not knowing what to expect and how to deal with it.

Menopausal skin changes are just another area that hasn’t been spoken about, so women are more annoyed that their skin has changed. To share more knowledge and spread awareness, we will be talking about one of the potential symptoms of menopause and how exactly you can deal with it.

 

What Skin Changes Menopause Can Cause

Amongst other physical changes, your body will go through changes, and your skin is no exception and is a very common side effect of menopause. 

During menopause, your oestrogen levels begin to decline, which are the hormones that promote collagen production and natural oils that leave your skin feeling moisturised, firm and brighter. As a result of these hormonal changes, you might notice your skin feeling dry, itchy, dull, and thinner, and more wrinkles begin to form.

While a lot of people believe that it’s just a natural way of ageing, which it technically is, it’s still scary that after this point, your entire face can change so quickly and can have an extreme effect on your mental health. But with that being said, there are both artificial and natural treatments, foods and supplements that are available beyond the ‘anti-ageing moisturisers’ that help you age more gracefully, so you can feel like yourself in your skin for longer but also just be more comfortable.

 

Skin Treatments & Tips Available To Help Menopausal Symptoms

I would first always recommend going to see a skincare specialist, as not all sizes fit one, and you might be investing in a treatment that you don’t need for your skin type. While you might share the same symptoms as someone else, your skin may benefit from a different treatment. From a personal recommendation, The Clinic Cheshire, which specialises in aesthetics in Cheshire, has a team full of nurses and doctors practitioners, and they know their stuff. Plus, their customers are primarily between the ages of 30 and 55, which says it all.

 

Hydrafacials

This is great for both a deep skin clean and also to rehydrate and breathe some life into your skin. Hydrafacial begins with a lymphatic drainage, cleanses the dead layers of skin, extracts the dead skin and leaves you literally glowing.

I would recommend this, as it removes the pufferness feeling but also, no matter the volume of moisturisers you put on, sometimes your skin can be left feeling so dry, and this essentially helps to reset your skin.

 

Zaffiro

A relatively new treatment on the market works by using thermolifting technology and water peeling, which hydrates, cleans and stimulates the production of collagen, which is exactly what you need during your menopause.

The technology works by gently heating up your skin, which in turn shrinks, thickens and stimulates collagen production, which increases your collagen to what it was originally. They call it a non-surgical facelift, as that’s what it does; it helps reverse the signs of ageing in such a non-invasive way and they tend to recommend anything between 3 sessions initially and then an annual session to maintain the results.

 

Avoid Drying Out Your Skin

As a main symptom is dryness, it’s best to avoid triggers that dry out your skin. One of mine is being in water for prolonged periods; while moisturisers help me, it’s more excessive washing of my face with several cleansers and not putting sufficient sunscreen and moisture throughout the day that causes this to worsen. 

So ensure you are not only using the right creams, such as Obagi and other medical skincare brands, but you are also avoiding such triggers as spraying perfume directly on the skin, wearing synthetic fibres on your skin and using harsh chemicals on your skin.

 

Microneedling

This treatment is all the craze right now, and it’s been working for people with many skin conditions and those who are going through menopause. Microneedling is used by the brand ‘SkinPen’, which creates a tool with tiny needles which are used to penetrate the skin, causing ‘trauma’, but it’s much less scary than that, I promise. These little micro-injuries tell your skin to help it heal through stimulating more collagen production; it’s like a little prompt you need to tell your skin to carry on.

This helps with wrinkles, scarring, and dullness and leaves you with smooth skin. It’s definitely a long-term treatment, but the science and the results are there, so it definitely works.

 

Skin Boosters

Skin boosters, sometimes referred to as injectable moisturisers, are well known for improving your skin’s suppleness and delivering long-lasting moisture. All of the skin boosters readily available, including Profhilo, Lumi, Seventy Hyal 2000, to name a few, apply different concentrations of hyaluronic acid to specific facial regions. Menopause-related dry skin can be improved with skin boosters, leaving behind softer, more hydrated skin that glows.

Be sure to enquire with your practitioner which skin booster would be best suited for your skin’s unique needs. Their professional opinion can help you feel more hydrated and glowing almost instantly.

 

Final Thoughts

Overall, menopausal skin changes are inevitable, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t manageable with natural solutions that are proven to work by medical practitioners and doctors who recommend them. Ensure that when you are getting this treatment, it’s with practitioners you trust and who have a medical background.